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Postmodern Narrative Theory (Transitions) by Mark Currie

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How have developments in literary and cultural theory transformed our understanding of narrative? What has happened to narrative in the wake of poststructuralism? What is the role and function of narrative in the contemporary world?In this revised, updated and expanded new edition of an established text, Mark Currie explores these central questions and guides students through the complex theories that have shaped the study of narrative in recent decades. Postmodern Narrative Theory , Second establishes direct links between the workings of fictional narratives and those of the non-fictional world charts the transition in narrative theory from its formalist beginnings, through deconstruction, towards its current concerns with the social, cultural and cognitive uses of narrative explores the relationship between postmodern narrative and postmodern theory more closely presents detailed illustrative readings of known literary texts such as Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and now features a new chapter on Coetzee's Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man.Approachable and stimulating, this is an essential introduction for anyone studying postmodernism, the theory of narrative or contemporary fiction.

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First published June 22, 1998

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Mark Currie

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Steven.
Author 1 book111 followers
April 6, 2008
The title is misleading: this book is not about narrative strategies in postmodern texts. It is a survey of what is going on in narrative theory since the demise of modernism. It could just as easily have been titled “Contemporary Narrative Theory.” That said, this is no mere survey. Currie is combative, and downright ornery at times. He argues with every point of view he presents. The primary thing that Currie documents is the transition that has occurred in Narratology. He argues that it is not in fact dead, its roots in formalism perhaps eclipsed, but that only served to surface new issues. This is not an easy book. Despite a chapter entitled “Terminologisation” where Currie rails against criticism’s penchant for terminology for terminology’s sake, he never quite escapes it himself. He offers an interesting reading of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde that will send me off to read that book to see if his reading is on target.
390 reviews55 followers
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March 31, 2022
Genuinely entertaining (in the bits I could follow, I skipped a few chapters), I always forget how fun it is to read literary theorists being shady about other literary theorists. Currie is in general just a very good writer! Also shoutout to historiographic metafiction, gotta be one of my favorite genders

Profile Image for Kim Matheson.
47 reviews29 followers
November 13, 2013
I happened upon this book quite by accident, and I'm so glad I did. I loved it! It is not for the faint of heart, so those who approach it looking for an undergraduate-level introduction to narrative theory will be blindsided. In my case, it served as an excellent peek into the current state of postmodern narratology precisely *because* of its depth and the included doses of philosophy. Part of this book's genius is that it inserts all its complexity into the philosophical/theoretical discussions and all of its clarity into the framing questions about narratology. Because that split happened to align with my own relative strengths and weaknesses, this volume just served my purposes really well. I'll want to return to it.
Profile Image for Helvy.
Author 69 books949 followers
February 22, 2008
Transitions critically explores movements in literary theory. Guiding the reader thruogh the poetics and politics interpretative paradigms and schools of thought...
Profile Image for Molly.
450 reviews
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August 11, 2021
I won't pretend I understood this book. It's more of a history of how narrative theory has gotten to where it is today, which is part of what narrative theory is today, but also a little difficult to get into when you don't have a basis in the subject.

It's a book I'll come back to when I feel ready because what I understood was either enlightening or really funny, like how petty some professors and philosophers turned out to be.
Profile Image for Chadwick.
306 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2019
A useful survey of post classical narrative theory. Came out just before unnatural narratology became a thing, and is a bit out of date as a result. The reading of Jekyll and Hyde that Currie does at the end is excellent, and provides a very useful example of how powerful and useful post classical approaches to narrative can be.
Profile Image for Abtin Mainson.
48 reviews12 followers
May 19, 2021
It is an excellent book for individuals who have an excellent narrative theory background and want to know more about Post-Modern narration. Should you have no experience with narration theory, you should avoid this book until you read tons of books about narration and viewpoint.
I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I do.
Profile Image for Joyce.
802 reviews22 followers
April 21, 2023
i may disagree with some of currie's bitching but i still like that he does it
22 reviews
September 21, 2010
Although in reality likely confined to first year undergraduate reading, this is a book for anyone with an interest in the evolution of the narrative. The first chapter whips through the history of narratology , to bring us up to date with narrative theory. The second shuns (and mocks) the jargon that makes the field normally so unintelligible to the lay-person.

Currie proposes that even as the narrative becomes ubiquitous in post-modernist theory, that the narrative is not dead.

The book concludes with two interesting case studies, including one on Jekyll and Hyde. His commentary on the narrative within that novel is most interesting, and could almost be read separately to the main text by those with an interest in the intricacies of that novel.
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