Post Modernism

by Derek C. Maus

Book Overview

A difficult term to define, postmodernism as it relates to literature encompasses varied works that expose the writing process as they tell a good story. This anthology collects essays that offer... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0737706414
• ISBN13: 9780737706413
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Greenhaven Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8

Customer Reviews

All you need to learn not to waste time further with Postmodernism

A succinct presentation on Postmodernism, consisting of well chosen selections that present postmodern views, followed by criticisms of Postmodernism. I found the criticisms clear and the Postmodernist philosophy almost entirely nonsensical. Postmodernism does claim such authors as Peter Handke and Kurt Vonnegut as well as too many others who do themselves have important insights, but Postmodernism seems to have nothing constructive to add. "Deconstruction" is agressive doubt, which would be fine except it appears to be extended by Postmodernists by pointless wordplay and endless complications and verbosity. Escaping rationality provides an excuse for all kinds of imaginativeness and all of it seems meaningless except as a means of holding a duped reader's attention. Don't be duped by convulated word plays into doubting your own good sense. Does any one who writes in an extremely complicated fashion think they'll fool you into suspending critical thought? George Englebretsen's fine short essay "Postmodernism is Irrational" and Walter Laquer's fine short essay "Postmodernism Lacks Lasting Relevance" seem well considered and devastating to Postmodernism. By all means doubt and question constructions. Thinkers have been doing that effectively for millenia. Don't think you need Postmodernism to do that. Certainly doubt me. Reading all the pro-Postmodernist selections in this collection should convince you that the Emperor is straining for elaborate new clothers and should leave you eager to have your good sense confirmed by the final essays critical of Postmodernism.