Postmodernism

Postmodernism
   Sometimes used so as to include metafiction, fabulation, and literary self-reference, postmodernism is a manifestation of a broader tendency against realism. Unencumbered by the dreams ofdialectical harmony, postmodernism celebrates the contradictions of existence and mixes old and new, high and low forms of literary expression. The mystery story, a "low" genre, for example, is mixed with more traditional "high" narrative in the Swede Kerstin Ekman's Handelser vid vatten (1993; tr. Blackwater, 1997). A similar mixture can be found in some of the work of the Finland-Swedish novelist Kjell Westo, whose books Drakarna over Helsingfors (1996, Kites above Helsinki) and Lang (2002) exemplify some ofthe literary techniques of postmodernism as well as its focus on cultural analysis. These techniques are also found in the work of the Danish novelists Peter Høeg and Ib Michael. The former's novel Frøken Smillas fornemmelse for sne (1992; tr. Smilla's Sense ofSnow, 1993), for example, contains a strong admixture of elements from the thriller.
   Two contemporary Norwegian writers, Kjartan Fløgstad and Jan Kjærstad, exemplify postmodernism in Norway. Fløgstad has written a long series of novels in which anti-realist techniques figure prominently, starting with Dalen Portland (1977; tr. Dollar Road, 1989), while Kjærstad's novel Forføreren (1993; tr. The Seducer, 2003) is the first volume in a trilogy about a television personality.

Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature and Theater. . 2006.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • postmodernism — postmodernísm s. n. Trimis de siveco, 04.01.2009. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic  POSTMODERNÍSM s. n. curent artistic, tendinţă care urmează după modernism. (< engl. postmodernism) Trimis de raduborza, 15.09.2007. Sursa: MDN …   Dicționar Român

  • POSTMODERNISM —    Postmodernism (posuto modan shugi) is a post– World War II literary movement that both continued and reacted against the ideas of modernism. In Japan, the movement began with Tanaka Yasuo’s novel Nantonaku Kuristaru (Somewhat Like Crystal,… …   Japanese literature and theater

  • postmodernism — also post modernism, by 1977, from POST (Cf. post ) + MODERNISM (Cf. modernism). Defined by Terry Eagleton as the contemporary movement of thought which rejects ... the possibility of objective knowledge and is therefore skeptical of truth, unity …   Etymology dictionary

  • postmodernism — the late 20c approach to the arts and architecture which generally distrusts existing ideologies and theories, is spelt as one word, as are the related words postmodern and postmodernist …   Modern English usage

  • postmodernism — ► NOUN ▪ a style and concept in the arts characterized by distrust of theories and ideologies and by the drawing of attention to conventions. DERIVATIVES postmodern adjective postmodernist noun & adjective postmodernity noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Postmodernism — This article is about the philosophy. For the condition or state of being, see Postmodernity. Postmodernism preceded by Modernism Postmodernity …   Wikipedia

  • postmodernism — (houxiandaizhuyi vi) and ‘post ism’ (houxue) Postmodernism as a rubric covering various critical methodologies (deconstruction, post structuralism, post colonialism, New Historicism, and so forth) was assimilated by intellectual and academic… …   Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture

  • postmodernism —    The use of the term ‘postmodernism’ in connection with architecture was not common until the critic Charles Jencks began publishing on the subject in 1975. Jencks described postmodernism as primarily a matter of ‘double coding’, by which he… …   Encyclopedia of contemporary British culture

  • postmodernism —    A term used to identify a broad movement across a number of fields including architecture, art and literature, that is united by its criticism of Enlightenment values and goals, postmodernism entered philosophical use in the 1970s and is… …   Christian Philosophy

  • postmodernism — postmodernist, n., adj. /pohst mod euhr niz euhm/, n. (sometimes cap.) any of a number of trends or movements in the arts and literature developing in the 1970s in reaction to or rejection of the dogma, principles, or practices of established… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”