Productive Postmodernism

Consuming Histories and Cultural Studies

By John N. Duvall | Publisher: State University of New York Press

About the book

Productive Postmodernism addresses the differing accounts of postmodernism found in the work of Fredric Jameson and Linda Hutcheon, a debate that centers around the two theorists' senses of pastiche and parody. For Jameson, postmodern texts are ahistorical, playing with pastiched images and aesthetic forms, and are therefore unable to provide a critical purchase on culture and capital. For Hutcheon, postmodern fiction and architecture remain political, opening spaces for social critique through a parody that deconstructs official history. Thinking in the space between these two sharply different positions, the essays in this collection investigate a broad range of contemporary fiction, film, and architecture—from such narratives as Don DeLillo's Libra, Toni Morrison's Beloved, and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, to the vastly different spaces of Las Vegas casinos and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum—in order to ask what the cultural work of a postmodern aesthetic might be.

Editions of Productive Postmodernism

Hardcover
ISBN 9780791451939
Paperback
ISBN 9780791451946
PDF
ISBN 9780791489468

Read an Excerpt

Productive Postmodernism addresses the differing accounts of postmodernism found in the work of Fredric Jameson and Linda Hutcheon, a debate that centers around the two theorists' senses of pastiche and parody. For Jameson, postmodern texts are ahistorical, playing with pastiched images and aesthetic forms, and are therefore unable to provide a critical purchase on culture and capital. For Hutcheon, postmodern fiction and architecture remain political, opening spaces for social critique through a parody that deconstructs official history. Thinking in the space between these two sharply different positions, the essays in this collection investigate a broad range of contemporary fiction, film, and architecture—from such narratives as Don DeLillo's Libra, Toni Morrison's Beloved, and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, to the vastly different spaces of Las Vegas casinos and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum—in order to ask what the cultural work of a postmodern aesthetic might be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Productive Postmodernism about?

Productive Postmodernism addresses the differing accounts of postmodernism found in the work of Fredric Jameson and Linda Hutcheon, a debate that centers around the two theorists' senses of pastiche and parody. For Jameson, postmodern texts are ahistorical, playing with pastiched images and aesthetic forms, and are therefore unable to provide a critical purchase on culture and capital. For Hutcheon, postmodern fiction and architecture remain political, opening spaces for social critique through a parody that deconstructs official history. Thinking in the space between these two sharply different positions, the essays in this collection investigate a broad range of contemporary fiction, film, and architecture—from such narratives as Don DeLillo's Libra, Toni Morrison's Beloved, and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, to the vastly different spaces of Las Vegas casinos and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum—in order to ask what the cultural work of a postmodern aesthetic might be.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Productive Postmodernism?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Cultural and media studies > Cultural studies > Popular culture

Where can I read a sample of Productive Postmodernism?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791451939

How long is Productive Postmodernism and how many pages does it have?

Productive Postmodernism has 238 page(s)

Is Productive Postmodernism part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series SUNY series in Postmodern Culture

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Productive Postmodernism?

John N. Duvall

Who is the Publisher of the book Productive Postmodernism?

State University of New York Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Productive Postmodernism is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791451939) and paperback(ISBN 9780791451946) and pdf(ISBN 9780791489468)

Where can I buy Productive Postmodernism online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Productive Postmodernism?