Fredric Jameson is an American postmodern theorist born in 1934. He studied Western philosophy at Haverford College and traveled extensively in Europe. Jameson developed postmodern theories with Jean Baudrillard based on his studies in Western philosophy. His work had significant influence in China. Some of Jameson's main theories include the breakdown of distinctions between high and low culture through pastiche in modern media. He also theorized about postmodern architecture as being constructed without clear purpose or focus. Jameson has been influential but also received some criticism.

1. Theorist research – Fredric Jameson
Jameson in 2006
Personal information:
Nationality – American
Date of Birth – 14th April 134
Region of study - Western Philosophy
University of study - Haverford College.
Theories:
Jameson, along with Baudrillard, developed many postmodern theories that were based on his
previous studies in the region of Western Philosophy. Having earned a vast amount of
experience from travelling to mainland Europe after graduating from Haverford, Jameson has
grown to become a well respect and decorated postmodern theorist. A lot of his work is well
appreciated in China, where his work had the biggest effect on the people, out of any country
he had been to previously.
Below are some of Jameson’s main theories regarding postmodernism.
The breakdown in the distinction between high and low culture – High and low culture
are two forms of art work that people across the world have, and always will enjoy. The two
types of art are separated into two different forms because of the way that they are enjoyed
aesthetically. High culture art is something that is usually traditional and executed with
enormous amounts of skill and practice. The easiest example of high culture art is paintings

2. that we can view in galleries across the world. Traditional paintings, ancient architecture and
literature are all examples of high art.
Low culture is the binary opposite of high culture. As already mentioned, high culture is
traditional, priceless and almost irreplaceable. Low culture art is usually something that is
sold to people on a mass basis, such as TV adverts, series and films. The standard definition
of Low culture is; “A derogatory term for some forms of popular culture that have mass
appeal”. The mass appeal of low culture is probably the reason as to why it is regarded as
low instead of high. Because of mass appeal, it can almost be said that it is created without
any real meaning, other than to please consumers.
Jameson believed that there is now no real distinction between the two types of art. Both high
and low culture is shown together in various media texts. An example of this distinction
breaking down is through Pastiche. If a piece of high culture art is copied or imitated through
Pastiche, then it may lose all of its aesthetic merits. This sees relegation from high to low and
is commonly used throughout modern media.
Examples of where this has occurred include music videos and film – a lot of modern day
media revolves around copying or imitating, because of the lack of original ideas in the
world.
Postmodern architecture:
Despite leaning slightly away from the stereotypical postmodern factors of music and film,
Jameson theoretically described something that is now known as postmodern architecture.
This idea is both applicable and metaphorical, but supports the idea of postmodern regardless.
Jameson defines postmodern architecture as something that has been put in place without any
real reason or focus.
Quotes:
“The standardization of world culture, with local popular or traditional forms driven
out or dumbed down to make way for American television, American music, food,
clothes and films, has been seen by many as the very heart of globalization.”
“It is s afe st to gras p the concept of the postmodern as an attempt to think the pre sent
historically in an age that has forgotten how to think historically in the first place. ”

3. Criticisms of Jameson:
Jameson has been criticized by a few others.
Oskar Lafotine said: “If you try to figure out what the people called Modernists today understand the
term modernity.