Modernism, Postmodernism, Post-postmodernism: Conceptualizing Literary Periods and Theorizing Postmillennial Culture
August 31st, 2012
The term 'postmodern' is a challenge in itself. How can something after ('post') our present time ('modern') exist right now? And what can it mean to say that the 'postmodern' has passed? This lecture will provide an overview of theories of – for lack of a better term – post-postmodernism. Following a summary of key definitions of postmodernism and salient characteristics of postmodern cultural products, the lecture will address recent statements suggesting postmodernism's demise. Some theorists characterize the new era as a turn away from the postmodern. Others claim the opposite – namely, an acceleration of postmodern conditions. Still others view the age as a mix of both extremes. The lecture will cover this spectrum of opinions, providing concrete examples of literature, film, art, and architecture. Students will leave with an understanding of the concepts informing this nascent debate and, hopefully, a fresh perspective that will enrich their consideration of contemporary cultural products.
Elizabeth Kovach received her BA in English from Barnard College (New York) and her MA in Comparative Literature from Ludwig Maximilians University (Munich). She is a PhD student and member of the International PhD Program for Literary and Cultural Studies in Giessen. Her dissertation deals with post-9/11 American literature that exhibits a self-conscious departure from postmodern strategies and mechanisms. Research interests include American literary modernism, theories of postmodernism and 'post-postmodernism,' film theory, psychoanalytic theory, and trauma studies.