To what extent is the word postmodern an effective critical term for describing late twentieth-century literature and culture?
To what extent is the word 'postmodern' an effective critical term for describing late twentieth-century literature and culture? In her article 'Postmodern Literature does not exist', Lena Petrovic claims that postmodernism, though a valid term in politics and society, is not the correct term to describe the literary and cultural movement of the late twentieth-century. Postmodernism, in so far as it means an obliteration of this kind of the creative self, its dispersal, to use the current idiom, into a plurality of subject positions inscribed within language, is the negation of art. False and misleading in the literary debate, the term 'postmodern' has its legitimate uses elsewhere, of course. It is employed meaningfully to describe the massive material and political changes that have lead to the post-industrial, consumer, or mass media society, and to the re-colonization by that society of the rest of the not yet so postmodern world. It is valid, too, when applied to a mood or a state of mind accompanying or generated by these changes [...] which pervade popular media culture and is endorsed and promoted, whether intentionally or not, by major postmodern theorists. (Petrovic, p. 2) I think this is an interesting statement, because I agree that postmodernism is a term that is rightfully used in political, philosophical and sociological theories. However, the problem with
Read the first 15 lines of the 'Wise Children'.Consider the appropriateness of this extract as an introduction to the novel as a whole.
Read the first 15 lines of the 'Wise Children'. Consider the appropriateness of this extract as an introduction to the novel as a whole. Carter has condensed a number of reoccurring themes and viewpoints into the first 15 lines of the novel. Indeed, the first two lines of this extract introduces the reader to the central theme of duality with Carter using the symbol of the city as a starting point. ''Why is London like Budapest? Because it is two cities divided by a river.'' Although the significance of this statement is not entirely clear from the beginning pages, after reading the novel as a whole it is apparent that the issue of duality is a central theme. We are presented with various sets of twins, each with their own personalities, comedy compared to tragedy, illegitimacy compared to the 'conventional' family, England compared to America, the Chances compared to the Hazards. Although it is a short extract and therefore couldn't possibly introduce all the characters or go into her point of view in detail, it undoubtedly establishes Dora's situation and her unusual outlook on life Arguably the most important phrase in this section is ''welcome to the wrong side of the tracks'' as this applies to most of the issues Dora deals with throughout the novel. Of course there is the idea that she is an illegitimate child and therefore doesn't feel that she entirely fits
What, in your opinion, is the intended effect of Palomar on the reader? And what effect does the book actually achieve?
What, in your opinion, is the intended effect of Palomar on the reader? And what effect does the book actually achieve? It is difficult to differentiate between a book's intended effect and its actual effect, especially when dealing with an author as well known and as renowned as Calvino, because it is understandable to agree that the effect he intended was the same as the effect he achieved. However, in order to examine Calvino's aims properly it is important to realise his personal views on Palomar. It is said that Palomar is in part an autobiographical novel. Palomar is not Calvino, but Palomar's way of thinking, his dilemmas and confusion about his own life philosophy mirror the way that Calvino, to an extent, led his own life. Calvino intended to make Palomar a laughable character. At first, we might think that Palomar's way of dealing with life is an admirable one - questioning everything and trying to come up with his own philosophy rather than following the masses and ignoring the possiblity of "knowledge". One of the best examples of this is when Palomar is in the cheese shop. He deliberates obsessively over which type of cheese he will have, until he is brought back to the real simplicity of the situation by the cheese shop owner and he thinks "L'ordinazione elaborata e ghiotta che aveva intenzione di fare gli sfugge dalla memoria; balbetta; ripiega sul più ovvio,
Discuss the way that children's literature works variations on the theme of 'the missing parents
Discuss the way that children's literature works variations on the theme of 'the missing parents'. Children's Literature covers many different themes; war, fantasy, mystery, etc. Many themes are apparent to the younger reader, whereas some are more likely to be noticed by an adult reader. This means that children's literature is accessible to all ages, with different pieces of information within the text becoming clear each time it is read. After studying various children's texts, a key theme, that most, if not all books shared, was noticed. In these texts the theme of 'missing parents' was prominent, though in some texts it has been modified to a more general, 'missing adults'. Often the first thing a story does is to remove the adult influence, leaving the child to solve problems on their own. This is regarded as important in most cases, as these stories are usually about the child's transition into adulthood. The Secret Garden is a prime example of a children's text that centre's around the theme of 'the missing parents'. Mary Lennox is a sour faced, sickly child who was born in India to wealthy British parents. Unwanted by her parents, Mary is left in the care of a servant, Ayah; after an outbreak of cholera, Mary loses her parents and is shipped to England. Once at Mistlethwaite Mary is left to her own devices, she is told of her Uncle who is still grieving his Wife
It is clear when upon reading a novel that it does much more than simply lists the events as they occur. The narrative structure used in Equianos Travels and The Pilgrims Progress clearly support this theory.
Scott Francis Introduction to Narrative: "There is much more to the telling of a story than simply listing what happens" Compare and Contrast the Narrative Methods of any two texts Studied in for this unit. It is clear when upon reading a novel that it does much more than simply lists the events as they occur. The narrative structure used in Equiano's Travels and The Pilgrims Progress clearly support this theory. They do however tell the story in very different ways. The novel Equiano's Travels are regularly presented as a slave narrative with autobiographical qualities. This is because Olaudah Equiano's own narrative recounts the tale of how he was kip napped and sold into slavery at the age of eleven in the 1700's. In this narrative, Equiano tries to recover a memory that is accurate for him rather than simply listing what happens. Elman V. Francis, a literature analyst describes the narrative as "an autobiography, which reads like an epic."1 John Bunyan's novel, The Pilgrims Progress is very different to Equiano's Travels in terms of its narrative structure is because the narrative of this of this novel is depicted as an allegorical narrative. The novel has a strong theological message in a very direct way. It symbolises an underlying meaning. Unlike Equiano's Travels, Bunyan has used a fictional apparatus to tell the truth. This is seen a similar way in the form of
The City of Ladies
Christine de Pesan can be considered the world's first professional female writer. During the fourteenth century, pre-dominant male authors wrote negatively about females. In her book, The Book of the City of Ladies, de Pesan confronts misogyny and defends women's virtue by providing many historical examples. The book begins with Christine, cast as one of the main characters, who is upset after reading a book by Matheolus about women's inferiority. She ponders on the subject, unconvinced by his claims but also doubtful because many scholars support his ideas. She despairs in a monologue to God asking him why women were made imperfect and if she could have been born a man. Three celestial figures appear to her; allegorically portraying Reason, Rectitude, and Justice. The rest of the book is a conversation between Christine and the three symbolic ladies that circulates around the goodness and nobility of ancient females, building of the City of Ladies, and defense against the misogyny by sexist male writers. The Book of the City of Ladies is Christine's portrayal of womanhood. She shows that females are equal to men in intellect, spirit, and physical attributes. She cites various achievements of warriors, pious wives, devoted daughters, scholars, and poets from mythology, literature, and the Bible whom uphold the reputation and good nature of women. These women of the past and
An Analysis of an Advertisement
Introduction to Semiotics and Communication Course Assignment - An Analysis of an Advertisement August 6, 2002 The advertisement is one for 'Silken Vodka' (a made up company). The Vodka bottle was taken from the 'Smirnoff' website and the model for the ad was taken from 'Cosmopolitan' magazine (June 2000 issue). Additionally, the slogan was taken from the 'Find Your Voice' campaign for 'Virginia Slims'. The meaning that is being sent out is a statement of female independence and self-sufficiency while still retaining the exterior beauty and luxury associated with being female. 'Silken Vodka' attempts to make the advertisement as ambiguous as possible in order to add power to the ad. Through minimalization of the positive space, the negative space (and its lack of detail) enhances the subject. The first impression of the ad implies any number of suggestions that discreetly hint at every possible product targeting women, including makeup, perfume, jewelry, or beauty aids. However, upon closer inspection, the article is in fact an advertisement for alcohol. Initially the viewer's eye is first drawn to the face of the women. From there, a subtle string of font leads the viewer's eye to towards the product name and slogan. This small line of words acts as a visual guide (an index), rather than as text, finally pointing the way to the iconic signifier (i.e. the vodka bottle).
Sonnet 130. William Shakespeares Sonnets is a collection of 154 sonnets published in the early 17th century towards the end of the Renaissance period. It was addressed to two distinct audiences in mind.
William Shakespeare's Sonnets is a collection of 154 sonnets published in the early 17th century towards the end of the Renaissance period. It was addressed to two distinct audiences in mind. The first 126 sonnets are written to a young man while Sonnets 127 to 154 are addressed to a "dark lady". Emotional conflicts are covered in depth as a main theme in these sonnets and this essay will examine Sonnet 130, a parody of courtly love in light of the context in which it was based. The sonnet form evolved during the high Italian Middle Ages, most famously in the vernacular lyrics of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) and Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374). The form of a book sized collection of sonnets was a familiar lyric genre at the end of the Renaissance (late 16th century). French and Italian poets favored the "Italian" sonnet form - two groups of four lines, or quatrains (always rhymed a-b-b-a a-b-b-a), followed by two groups of three lines, or tercets (variously rhymed c-c-d e-e-d or c-c-d e-d-e). This condensed five rhyme palette (a-e) creates a sonorous music in the vowel rich Romance languages. However, in English, the scheme can sound contrived and monotonous, particularly in a series of sonnets on the same theme. Thus, Shakespeare followed the more idiomatic rhyme scheme which interlaces a rhyming pair of couplets to make a quatrain. Overall, it is presented as three
Critical appraisal 1: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Critical appraisal 1: "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Instructor: Dr. Sally Carpentier Due to: July 9th, 2008 Compiled by: Tamila Shamiryan Vancouver Island University This short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. "The Yellow Wallpaper" begins with a women being diagnosed with temporary nervous depression. She is prescribed with lots of rest and is forced to stay in a room with nothing to do but look at some yellow wallpaper. This causes the woman to go gradually insane; but, other than the wallpaper, there are far better reasons for her insanity: Her husband, John, superior males and society. The story has a spectacular ending with the wife finally dominating her husband, but, at the cost of her sanity. Women are meant to be housewives in this period. "I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal -- having to be too sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition." Using the phrase "in spite of them" shows that no one was really in favor of her writing. This includes the women. Her use of "having to be too sly about it" shows that she doesn't like the secretiveness as she uses "too". This makes me suspicious to how far society has a dislike for her writing as she has to be overly sly when doing it. The woman is unconventional and therefore looked down on by society. She does not
How does McEwan create interest and suspense in the opening chapter of Enduring Love?
How does McEwan create interest and suspense in the opening chapter of Enduring Love? The first chapter of Enduring Love is all about the accident that brings all the characters together in the novel and introduces them to us. There are a lot of interesting techniques used in this chapter which create interest and suspense. There are at least ten points I could talk about but I have decided to talk about three at length. One of the main conventions used by McEwan in the first chapter of Enduring Love is the delaying of information. This convention is used a lot in films and books and works brilliantly in this chapter. McEwan starts by giving us a very brief account of what happened before the accident. The main character Joe and his wife Clarissa are having a picnic, enjoying themselves. They are about to start on a bottle of '1987 Daumas Gassac' when they hear a man's shout. This is the point where information about what happened is held from us. There is no description of what is taking place. McEwan uses phrases like 'the danger' and 'the encounter' to describe the event. This is a clever technique to use because it really frustrates us to not know what is going on whilst the character clearly does. It almost forces us to read on. He also releases very small pieces of information about the accident as well, that also allow interest and suspense. Phrases such as 'the