This document provides an overview of metanarratives and their discussion by Jean-Francois Lyotard. It defines metanarratives as grand narratives that delve into historical or personal narratives to provide insight into societies. It discusses how Lyotard viewed postmodernism as an incredulity toward metanarratives. Examples of metanarratives discussed include Marxism, the American Dream, and narratives in the film Babel. The document also provides biographical information about Lyotard and his introduction and analysis of the concept of metanarratives.

1. Understanding
Metanarratives in the light
of Cultural Studies
Prepared by Nirali Dabhi

2. Introduction
Name: Nirali Dabhi
Roll number: 13
Enrollment Number: 4069206420220006
Sem: 3 M.A
Paper number: 205
Paper Code: 22410
Paper Name: Cultural Studies
Topic: Understanding Metanarratives in Light of Cultural Studies
Submitted to: Smt S.B. Gardi, Department of English, M.K.B.U
Email: niralidabhi95@gmail.com

3. What is
Metanarratives?
01
Metanarratives
in Babel
The American
Dream
04
Jean-Francois
Lyotard
02
Metanarratives
Postmodernism
03 Marxism
Table of contents
05
06

4. What is Metanarratives?
● The term "metanarrative," which can also
be referred to as "meta-narrative" or
"grand narrative".
● "Meta" derives from the Greek word
meaning "beyond," while "narrative"
refers to a story characterized by its
communication.
● In French, the term "metarecit" or "grand
recit" refers to a narrative that delves into
narratives concerning historical
significance, personal experiences, or
knowledge, ultimately providing insight
into a society.

5. ● Marxism and functionalism are examples of metanarratives.
● Metanarratives have legitimization. The tragedy of the modern
society is that it has given full legitimacy to the hegemony of
metanarratives.
● Lyotard refers to the destruction of Jews by the Nazis. Their
destruction is supported by the metanarrative theory of the
superiority of Aryan race as claimed by Hitler.
● The term is best known for its use by Jean-François Lyotard in
the following quotation: “Simplifying to the extreme, I define
postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives”.
● By this Lyotard asserted that the postmodern condition is marked
by growing doubt in grand narratives that once provided
structure and meaning, like individual exceptionalism,
information limits, and progress in Western thought during
modernity.

6. Jean-Francois Lyotard
● Born - 10 August 1924 Versailles, France
● Died - 21 April 1998 (aged 73) Paris, France
● French philosopher, sociologist, and literary theorist.
● The term "metanarrative" was introduced by French
philosopher Jean-François Lyotard.
● In his book The Postmodern Condition: A Report on
knowledge.
● He remarks, "I define postmodern as incredulity toward
metanarratives for various reasons,'’
● Lyotard is widely regarded as one of the most influential
postmodern theorists.

7. Metanarratives and
Postmodernism
● The Postmodern Condition, first published in French in 1979
and in English in 1984. In it Lyotard opposes the heterogeneity
of “little narratives” to the dogmatism of “meta narrative.
● In Lyotard's term, It means a story or narrative that is
presumed to have great generality and represents a final and
apodictic truth. Because of the great thinkers’ era, men such as
generalized critical intellect – in fact the very idea of an
intellectual – was a product of enlightenment. Intellectuals
were called “philosophers” who enjoyed celebrity and prestige.
Lyotard calls Metanarratives or Grand narratives.

8. Metanarratives in Babel
● Directed by - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
● Written by - Guillermo Arriaga
● Babel is a 2006 film which reflects the problems and gap
between metanarratives and little narratives like powerful of
developed country to the small country.
● In Babel, metanarratives reflected in two powerful
countries, as the first worlds that have an authority to press
the third worlds or small communities. Those
metanarratives are USA, Japan and Old Generation in
Japan.
● Babel written by Guillermo Arriaga through its condition of
each country and conflict can be analyzed by using the
theory of postmodernism that reflected in Lyotard’s thought.

9. The American Dream
● The "American Dream" is a quintessential
metanarrative in the United States.
● This narrative has been deeply ingrained in
American culture and has influenced the
aspirations and values of generations.
● The "American Dream" is deeply connected to the
concept of metanarratives because it represents a
grand narrative that shapes cultural beliefs and
values.
● The American Dream is a metanarrative that
provides a broad narrative framework for
understanding success and prosperity in
American culture.

10. Marxism
● Marxism is a metanarrative that offers a comprehensive
explanation of the socio-economic and political
dynamics of society.
● It is deeply connected to the concept of metanarratives,
as it encompasses worldview that seeks to explain the
nature of class struggle, historical materialism, and the
dynamics of capitalism and socialism.
● Marxism, with its focus on class struggle, the role of
labor, and the quest for a classless society, is a
metanarrative that shapes our understanding of
capitalism, socialism, and the dynamics of power and
inequality in contemporary society.

11. ● Many Christians believe that human
existence is innately sinful but offered
redemption and eternal peace in heaven –
thus representing a belief in a universal
rule and a telos for humankind. See also
Universal History.
● Freudian theory holds that human history
is a narrative of the repression of libidinal
desires.
● The Enlightenment theorists believed that
rational thought, allied to scientific
reasoning, would lead inevitably toward
moral, social and ethical progress.

12. References
● Datta, Soumya Narayan. “International Journal of Social Science and
Economic Research.” International Journal of Social Science and Economic
Research, August 2018, https://ijsser.org/2018files/ijsser_03__272.pdf.
Accessed 21 October 2023.
● Hunt, Lynn. “Foucault’s Meta-Narrative.” Contemporanea, vol. 17, no. 2,
2014, pp. 302–08. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24653773.
Accessed 21 Oct. 2023.
● LYOTARD'S, JEAN FRANCOIS. “CRITICS TOWARD METANARRATIVES IN
THE MOVIE BABEL VIEWED BY JEAN FRANCOIS LYOTARD'S THOUGHT: A
STUDY OF POSTMODERNISM WaOde Fa.” Institutional Repository UIN
Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, 2010,
https://repository.uinjkt.ac.id/dspace/bitstream/123456789/8546/1/WAOD
E%20FADHILAH%20FITRIAH-FAH.pdf. Accessed 21 October 2023.

13. ● Ross, Annie. “(PDF) Challenging metanarratives: The past lives in the
present.” ResearchGate, October 2019,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336514429_Challenging_met
anarratives_The_past_lives_in_the_present. Accessed 21 October 2023.
● Smith, James K. A. “A LITTLE STORY ABOUT METANARRATIVES:
LYOTARD, RELIGION, AND POSTMODERNISM REVISTED.” pdcnet.org, 9
March 2019, https://doi.org/10.5840/faithphil200118333. Accessed 21
October 2023.
● Stephens, John, and Robyn McCallum. Retelling Stories, Framing
Culture: Traditional Story and Metanarratives in Children's Literature.
Garland Pub., 1998.
● Taylor, Victor E., and Gregg Lambert, editors. Jean François Lyotard:
Politics and history of philosophy. Routledge, 2006.

14. Thank you