Postmodernism and Beyond

elective courses

Ability to read and discuss literary and theoretical texts in English.

Classroom

We will discuss characteristically postmodernist works - stories, novels, theoretical essays from the 1960's and 1970's - as well as later texts, some written as ideological reactions to postmodernist theory and practice (for example Don de Lillo's White Noise), others at an apparently great remove from ideological polemics (for example Harry Mathews' Cigarettes). Issues to be discussed include the role of conventions in perceiving and representing the world, technology and the sublime, mathematically generated narratives, and the interpretative challenges of language poetry.

We will discuss characteristically postmodernist works - stories, novels, theoretical essays from the 1960's and 1970's - as well as later texts, some written as ideological reactions to postmodernist theory and practice (for example Don de Lillo's White Noise), others at an apparently great remove from ideological polemics (for example Harry Mathews' Cigarettes). Beginning with a postmodernist "classic" - Donald Barthelme's "The Glass Mountain" - we shall examine how conventions structure the reading and writing of literary texts, of scientific and philosophical texts, and of the text each of us writes every day and calls the world. Robert Coover's short stories and Vladimir Nabokov's Pale Fire will also be discussed in this regard. The aspect of postmodernism we will focus in the first part of the course is its destructive play with aesthetic and epistemological conventions. Then, Jean Baudrillard's essay on simulacra provides the sequel to Don de Lillo's satirical novel, which leads to a discussion of what is normal, what we understand by normalcy, and why. The theoretical issues involved here are, most importantly, technology and the sublime, the status of philosophy and religion in the American mediocracy, and the erosion of humanist ideals in the postmodern academy. This takes us to the polemic between Lyotard and Habermas and the political characteristics of postmodernism vs. modernism. We then move sideways to Harry Mathews and the OULIPO to see how literary texts can be generated mathematically. We will also read a poetic commentary on this method by John Ashbery. Next, Fredric Jameson's distinction between parody and pastiche, the latter being, in his view, a preeminently postmodern mode of writing, is set against David Foster Wallace's story "Girl with Curious Hair."

Donald Barthelme: The Glass Mountain

Robert Coover: The Magic Poker; The Babysitter

Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse Five

William Burroughs: Naked Lunch

Jean Baudrillard: Simulations and Simulacra

Don de Lillo: White Noise

Ishmael Reed: Mumbo Jumbo

Fredric Jameson: Postmodernism

David Foster Wallace: Girl with Curious Hair

Sherman Alexie: Do Not Go Gentle

Harry Mathews: Cigarettes

Learning outcomes pertaining to students enrolled before the 2022/23 academic year:

Knowledge:

- students develop a deep understanding of cultural symbols and their role in interpreting such products of culture as liiterature, popular culture and the fine arts;

- in-depth familiarity with the principal currents and trends in literary, cultural and language scholarship within the framework of English philology

Skills:

- students acquire the ability to analitycally evaluate and fully appreciate the diversity of opinions represented in the texts under discussion and make use of them as sources of inspiration, rather than threats to their own value systems.

- the ability to interpret, analyze, hierarchize and synthesize contents ad phenomena in their linguistic, cultural, social, historical and economic dimensions

Social competence:

- tolerance of otherness, respect for different cultural bahviors, as well as diiferent individual worldviews.

- recognize the nature of dilemmas, problems, conflicts, and seek optimal ways of resolving them

Learning outcomes pertaining to students enrolled in the 2022/23 academic year:

A graduate will be able to

K_W01 Identify and characterize on an advanced level the place and status of literary studies within the humanities

K_W02 Describe on an advanced level the current trends in literary research on American postmodernist writing

K_W04 Characterize on an advanced level the principles of research design in literary studies, with special focus on the application of methods and tools in formulating research problems in the field of American postmodernist writing

K_W05 Identify the notions and principles pertinent to intellectual property and copyright

A graduate is able to

K_U01 Apply advanced terminology and notions pertinent to literary studies, with special emphasis on the study of American postmodernist writing

K_U02 Apply advanced research methodology within literary studies, respecting ethical norms and copyright law

K_U04 Analyze literary phenomena and draw generalizations on their basis in the context of societal, historical and economic factors on an advanced level, as reflected in American postmodernist writing

K_U05 Discern alternative methodological paradigms within literary studies, with special emphasis on the study of American postmodernist writing

K_U07 Use modern technology in the process of learning and communicating with academic teachers, colleagues, representatives of various institutions and fellow participants in classes and projects, applying various channels and techniques of communication

A graduate is ready to

K_K01 Apply knowledge and skills obtained during the course of studies to undertake lifelong learning, as well as personal and professional development

K_K04 Assess critically one’s own knowledge and skills related to the studies

K_K06 Value cultural heritage and cultural diversity as well as individual opinions

Final written exam. Class attendance and participation in class discussions will also be taken into account. Number of absences allowed: 3.