Overview
Contributes to the understanding and categorization of literary movements
Argues for a rethinking of the definition of postmodernism
Illustrates key aspects of postmodernism via genre fiction
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Defining Postmodernism
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Front Matter
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Postmodernism in Praxis
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book presents a definition of literary postmodernism, using detective and science fictions as a frame. Through an exploration of both prior theoretical approaches, and indicators through characteristics of postmodernist fiction, this book identifies a structural framework to both understand and apply the lessons of postmodernism for the next generation. Within a growing consensus that the postmodern era has passed, this book examines the different conceptions of postmodernism and posits a meaningful definition, one which can provide the foundation for future literary expression. This theory is then applied to genre fiction, particularly detective fiction and science fiction, demonstrating that postmodernism is found in the structure, rather than questions posed about literary expression. Finally, Matthias Stephan considers post-postmodern movements, and how they can be expressed given this definition of literary postmodernism, moving forward to the twenty-first century.
Reviews
“His useful identification and criticism of the insufficiencies of the previous attempts at a unitary definition of postmodernism is straightforwardly valuable. … one of the distinctive qualities of Defining Literary Postmodernism throughout is an interesting debate apropos McHale’s use of the dominant in defining (post)modernist fiction. … postmodernism is worth understanding, and studying, as more than just the thing the present improved upon.” (Ali Dehdarirad, orbit.openlibhums.org, 2021)
“With a daring and inquisitive mind, Matthias Stephan defines literary postmodernism as a structure of consciousness, identifying Deleuze and Guattari’s rhizome as the trope that encapsulates this elusive phenomenon. A feast for thought, Stephan’s engaging – at times provocative – systematisation and modelling of a whole mindset is certain to leave a resounding echo in the mind of readers, inviting them to embrace change and relativism without losing their sense of political agency and direction.” (Maurizio Ascari, Assistant Professor of English Literature, Università di Bologna, Italy)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Matthias Stephan is Lecturer at Aarhus University, Denmark. He researches primarily on postmodernism, and its implications in the Gothic, science fiction, and crime fiction. He is general editor for Otherness: Essays and Studies, and coordinator of the Centre for Studies in Otherness.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Defining Literary Postmodernism for the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Matthias Stephan
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15693-0
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media Studies, Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-15692-3Published: 08 May 2019
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-15693-0Published: 25 April 2019
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 206
Topics: Postmodern Literature, Literary Theory, Fiction