The Politics of Postmodernism

by Linda Hutcheon

Continuing the project begun in The Poetics of Postmodernism , Linda Hutcheon focuses on the politics of representation. Looking at both mass media and high art forms, she challenges the seeming transparency and apparent apolitical innocence of our visual images and verbal stories, asserting that these construct rather than reflect or express our experience of the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theory, Philosophy, Politics, Literary Criticism

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Lysergius]

Not sure I fully agree with the whole notion of postmodernism. Rather depends on an acceptance of the concept of modernism I think. Still the arguments are coherent, the range of sources quoted very wide. Reasonably lucid al in all...

[Ruan]

Whether you agree or not with Hutcheon's ideas, there is a lot to find in such a short and thought-provoking book. Readable and informative. Highly recommended.

[Маx Nestelieiev]

прекрасна Гатчен-3: продовження її "Поетики", деякі уточнення і політичні зауваги (фактично зміщення уваги на ПМ як на політичний проєкт)+більше про архітектуру і фотографію

[Rachel Macdonald]

Hutcheon argues that postmodernism creates critical distance in cultural texts only to undo it. again. and again. and again and again and again. No wonder everyone's exhausted nowadays (new sincerity here we come? pls?)

[ManMothz]

Hutcheon’s central thesis, that postmodernist techniques both question and re-inscribe power (Sort of like a mediaeval jester. A jester was the only one who could undermine the King, but he could only do so because the King allowed him to, and there was only a point in doing so because of the power the King had) is well taken, but she’s a bit too hard on Jameson I think. Jameson’s issue with postmodern literature and art is that they have no central history, no central politics. Hutcheon balks at this, but then accepts a similar version of this criticism when talking about feminist and post-colonial approaches.
Maybe I’m being a little sensitive because he just recently passed. There’s a chance I don’t know what I’m on about.

[Justin]

Before reading, I was only familiar with Hutcheson's essay on historiographic metafiction, but the rest of the book is equally compelling. A good antidote to Jameson's (in my opinion) dismissive attitude towards the postmodern.

[Mahitosh Mandal]

I recommend both - The Poetics of Postmodernism and The Politics of Postmodernism - to my students. Extremely accessible for students and scholars alike.

[Jay Shelat]

While not as grandiose and groundbreaking as its predecessor, The Politics of Postmodernism compellingly interrogates postmodern literature and photography with a methodology that focuses on the politics of representation.

[Kiki]

Closer to a 3.5. Digestible introduction to postmodernism, although I wish Hutcheon emphasized fiction as much as she did photography. Helpful intersection of feminist theory and postmodern aesthetics.

[Dan]

Acquired Jun 28, 2005
Attic Books, London, Ontario