Postmodernism emerged in the second half of the 20th century as a rejection of modernism and authority. It is characterized by pastiche, parody, quotation, and self-referentiality, playing with images and ideas rather than adhering to traditional forms. Postmodern works reference and copy other texts to subvert mainstream ideas and question what is considered appropriate or fashionable. They are ironic, playful, and nostalgic, chopping up and rearranging styles and genres to comment on their construction.

1. Postmodernism

2. You wot?
 Post
= After
 Modernism = Now or up to date
 Bit of a contradiction in terms

3. Modernism
1st ½ of C20th

4. Modernism
 An
attempt to express the upheavals and
uncertainties of the time
 In art, traditional forms were rejected
 Art was no longer ‘realistic’
 Poetry didn’t have to rhyme
 Books didn’t use proper sentences or even
words.

5. From this

6. to this

7. and from this

8. to this

9. Postmodernism
2nd ½ C20th

10. Postmodernism
Definition
Postmodernism is often associated with a
revolt against authority and signification and
a tendency towards pastiche, parody
quotation, self referentiality and eclecticism.
The Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought

11. ‘…revolt against authority and
signification…’
 Does
not reflect the standard order of things
 Rebels against mainstream ideas
 Subverts what is considered fashionable and
appropriate
 Tend to play with images and ideas rather
than stress bow down to ‘high art’

12. Playing with an image

13. …and

14. ‘…pastiche, parody quotation…’
 They
refer to, borrow from and sometimes
outright copy other, older or contemporary
texts (often to make fun of, or point out the
absurdities of the ideas behind those texts).

15. ‘…self referentiality…’
 Means
that postmodern texts often refer to
their own construction
–
The text knows it’s a text and will make fun of
itself

16. To conclude – sort of

17. Postmodernism is:
 Ironic
 Playful
 Nostalgic
 Chops
things up an re-arranges them
 Borrows from other styles
 Makes fun of genres, texts and narratives