American Postmodernism 4219-SC008
Survey of American postmodernism from the 1960s to the present. The class examines some early examples of postmodernist fiction and theory, and compares them to contemporary writings to which the label is applied.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
Students are familiar with the historical development of postmodrnism as a concept pertaining to literature, as well as to architecture and the arts.
Students know the main tenets put forth by some major theorists of postmodernism, including Jean Baudrillard, Jean-Francois Lyotard, and Fredric Jameson.
Students have read examples of American postmodernist fiction from the 1960s and from later decades, up to the turn of the century.
Skills:
Students are able to read and analyze theoretical texts in philosophy and cultural studies.
Students are able to read and analyze fictional texts which are experimental in character and which pertain to postmodernity.
Students can express their ideas about the concept and examples of postmodernism.
Competences:
Students prepare for each class, as they are expected to speak in class and to hand in response statements.
Students can conduct themselves in an academic discussion, as the class is devoted to a group discussion of the assigned readings.
Students are able to manage their time to meet the reading requirements and to write the term paper.
Assessment criteria
Final grade based on a text recognition test (50%) and term paper (50%). Any instance of plagiarism will result in a failing grade.
Bibliography
Ihab Hassan, “Toward the Concept of Postmodernism.”
John Barth, “Frame Tale,” “Night-sea Journey,” “Lost in the Funhouse.”
Robert Coover, “The Magic Poker.”
John Barth, ”Literature of Exhaustion.”
Susan Sontag, “Against Interpretation.”
Roland Barthes, “From Work to Text.”
Jean-Francois Lyotard, “Delegitimation” i “Answering the Question: What Is Postmodernism?” [in:] “The Postmodern Condition”.
Thomas Pynchon, “The Crying of Lot 49.”
Fredric Jameson, wybór z “Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism”.
David Foster Wallace, “My Appearance” [in:] “Girl with Curious Hair”.
Jean Baudrillard, wybór z “Simulacra and Simulations.”
Tim O’Brien, “How to Tell a True War Story” [in:] “The Things They Carried”.
Additional information
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