Postmodernity, Postmodernism and postmodern literature are familiar and excessively used concepts by now. As a result it has become increasingly difficult to know what they mean or refer to. In this seminar we will read five examples of postmodern literature and watch one postmodern movie and discuss how these text can be understand within the context of postmodernism and postmodernity. We will also debate some of the main terms and suggestions of postmodern theory supported by various classical essays on postmodernism. Please try to read most of the novels before the beginning of class—if any texts are not available they will be ready for copying on a reserve shelf in the library. Please sign yourself up for this class in the virtual classroom in Moodle! The key is "Pomo". No registration through Agnes! Required Readings: · A reader with essays on postmodernism will be available at Sprintout (S-Bahn Bögen) by April 1st. · Thomas Pynchon (1966), The Crying of Lot 49 · Paul Auster (1985), City of Glass · Richard Brautigan(1977), Dreaming of Babylon · Jean Rhys (1966), Wide Sargasso Sea · Marilynne Robinson (1980), Housekeeping Movie: · Mulholland Drive (2001), dir. David Lynch Requirements: · Summary (report) of one meeting of the seminar. · MAP: term paper (15 pages if English is your first field, 25 pages if it is your second). |
