Postmodernism and popular culture / Angela McRobbie.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McRobbie, Angela.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Popular culture--Study and teaching.

Popular culture.

Postmodernism--Political aspects.

Postmodernism.

Postmodernism--Social aspects.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (344 p. ) 10 b/w illus.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 1994.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

An intellectual adventure, this book engages with some of the most important academic debates of our time. In this provocative book, John Docker takes his readers on an intellectual adventure. The journey includes a tour of the history of modernism, consideration of the development of postmodernism, explanation of structuralism and poststructuralism and discussion of the debates around each. It combines polemical force with intellectual rigour, reclaiming popular culture from the forces opposed to it. In this provocative and timely book, John Docker takes his readers on an intellectual adventure. The journey includes an introductory guided tour of the history of modernism, consideration of the development of postmodernism, explanation of the difference between structuralism and poststructuralism and discussion of the debates and conflicts around each. Along the way readers will visit the architecture of Le Corbusier, take a ride on the Sydney monorail, watch Prisoner (Cell Block H) on TV, come into contact with Derrida, read some crime fiction and enter into the world of carnival. The book engages, in a stimulating and illuminating way, with some of the most important academic debates of our time. It combines polemical force with intellectual rigour, reclaiming popular culture from the forces opposed to it. John Docker's personal style and accessible prose will introduce postmodernism to many interested general readers and students intimidated by other dense, theoretical tracts. The breadth and intelligence of his cultural history will make the book essential reading for scholars, in a range of disciplines, around the world.

Contents:

Preface; Introduction; Part I. Modernism in Conflict: 1. Architectural modernism; 2. Literary modernism; 3. Modernism versus popular literature; 4. The Frankfurt School versus Walter Benjamin; 5. Flowering of an orthodoxy; 6. Myths of origin; 1970's screen theory and literary history; Part II. Modernism and Postmodernism: 7. Architectural postmodernism: learning from Las Vegas; 8. From Las Vegas to Sydney; 9. Are we living in a Postmodern Age?; 10. Mapping Frederic Jameson's grand narrative; 11. From structuralism to postructuralism: Derrida; 12. Cultural studies; Transitional moments from modernism to postmodernism; Part III. Carnival: 13. Bakhtin's carnival; 14. Dilemmas of a world upside down; 15. Fools: carnival-theatre-Vaudeville-television; 16. Fool, trickster, social explorer - the detective; 17. Crime fiction as a changing genre; 18. Melodrama, farce, soap opera; 19. Melodrama in action: Prisoner or Cell Block H; Conclusion: Carnival and contemporary popular culture; Notes; Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-203-16833-X

0-415-07712-5

0-521-46598-2

1-134-90086-4

1-134-90087-2

1-280-07499-X

9780203168332

OCLC:

56317496