106-036 Postmodernism

Usually 25 points of first year English, see Prerequisites, or 50 points of first year arts including at least 25 points from a specified list of subject areas, see Prerequisites, or first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject is 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 the critical analysis of literature, cinema, television and architecture. The subject combines a strong emphasis on theory with opportunities for case studies of specific postmodern texts, both verbal and visual, aiming to provide students with a general understanding of the theories of postmodernity, and of postmodernism as a set of aesthetic tendencies and stylistic practices evident across the arts and entertainment media.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available. Any edition of the following texts is acceptable:

• K Acker, Great Expectations.
• D De Lillo, White Noise.
• E L Doctorow, The Book of Daniel.
• T Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49.
• S Rushdie, Shame.
• K Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five.
• Films: D Cronenberg (dir), Crash.
• O Stone (dir), Natural Born Killers.