106-247 Postmodernism

Note

Available as 106-347 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

An introduction to the major theories of postmodernism as a cultural and aesthetic category and postmodernity as a socio-historical concept, demonstrating their application to critical analysis of literature, cinema, television and architecture. Students completing this subject will have a general familiarity with the philosophical, aesthetic and political debates that have surrounded the concept of postmodernism, and will be able to apply this knowledge in the interpretation of specific cultural practices and artifacts.

Assessment

Written work of not more than 5000 words.

Prescribed Texts

Course reader available from the department. Any edition of the following texts is acceptable.

• K Acker, Empire of the Senseless.
• C Brooke-Rose, Textermination.
• D DeLillo, White Noise.
• E L Doctorow, The Book of Daniel.
• S Rushdie, Shame.
• T Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49.
• W Gibson, Neuromancer.
• K Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five.
• Films: O Stone, Natural Born Killers.
• P Verhoeven, Total Recall.