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Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

by Christopher Butler (Author)

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review
`a pre-eminently sane, lucid, and concise statement about the central issues, the key examples, and the notorious derilections of postmodernism. I feel a fresh wind blowing away the miasma coiling around the topic. ' Ihab Hassan, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

`the most intellectually incisive, coherent and comprehensive meditation upon the history and significance of postmodernism that I have yet encountered.' Patricia Waugh, University of Durham

`easily the best introduction to postmodernism currently available' Hans Bertens, Utrecht University

Product Description
Postmodernism has become the buzzword of contemporary society over the last decade. But how can it be defined? In this highly readable introduction the mysteries of this most elusive of concepts are unraveled, casting a critical light upon the way we live now, from the politicizing of museum culture to the cult of the politically correct. The key postmodernist ideas are explored and challenged, as they figure in the theory, philosophy, politics, ethics and artwork of the period, and it is shown how they have interacted within a postmodernist culture.

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Product Details

Paperback: 152 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 16, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0192802399
ISBN-13: 978-0192802392
Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.4 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #197,191 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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Citations (learn more)

6 books cite this book:

Just A Theory: Exploring The Nature Of Science by Moti Ben-Ari in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
The Politics and Philosophy of Michael Oakeshott (Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought) by Stuart Isaacs in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Political Ideologies: An Introduction by Andrew Heywood in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith: Questioning Truth in Language, Philosophy And Art by Crystal L. Downing in Back Matter
The Year of the Euro: The Cultural, Social, And Political Import of Europe's Common Currency (Contemporary European Politics and Society) by Robert M. Fishman in Back Matter

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	5% buy Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) 3.2 out of 5 stars (5) $9.32
	4% buy Foucault: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) 4.7 out of 5 stars (3) $8.54

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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3.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Postmodernism for beginners (but then, aren't we all...), October 31, 2005

By	FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Postmodernism is a tricky thing to define. According to Christopher Butler, 'it is certain of its uncertainty', and he intentionally writes 'about postmodern artists, intellectual gurus, academic critics, philosophers, and social scientists...as if they were all members of a loosely constituted and quarrelsome political party.' Butler draws on the work of Derrida, Jameson, Barthes, Althusser and Foucault to provide an intellectual basis for the idea of postmodernism, but does not confine his study to critical and literary theory. The idea of postmodernism is one that has spread into politics and other social sciences, art and the humanities, and even the hard sciences in many ways.

Because postmodernism is more of a method or discourse than a set theory (at least so far as typical Anglo-American concepts of theory would have it), Butler worries that some of postmodernism is lost in translation - owing so much to the French intellectual foundation, and owing much to nuance and subtle readings, the translation of postmodern ideas has been slow to be exactly transferred. This is also in part due to the resistance of English and English-speaking intellectual constructs to permit some of the linguistic aspects of postmodernism in any easy way.

One of the key issues of postmodernism is the idea of grand narratives and metanarratives, and changing the way one uses text, language and symbolic items to interpret the world. This is where deconstruction and reconstruction come into play. Butler addresses these issues in terms of philosophy, history, art and expression, as well as ethical and political theory. He claims that the ideas of postmodernism tend to be more successful in the ethical and political realm, dealing with issues of identity, selfhood, difference and autonomy, all of which tend to be linguistically constructed and supported.

Butler quotes Jameson as seeing the postmodern as 'the disappearance of a sense of history', in culture and in philosophy. The question of Pontius Pilate, 'What is truth?' gets played out again and again in postmodern circles in ways the early Romans and Christians would never have thought. Butler worries for the postmodern condition, stating 'Postmodernists are by and large pessimists.' He says that postmodern thinkers are better at deconstruction than construction/reconstruction, and worries that much of what postmodernism inspires is bleak and dark.

Some reviewers of this text have noted a bias against postmodernism in Butler, which is probably a bit misplaced. Butler is biased against some of the outcomes of postmodernist thinking, and goes a bit further in this Very Short Introduction that perhaps is best in describing what might be the outcome of the logical extreme. Still, this is a very good introduction to the underlying principles of postmodernist thought, with some of the applications in various disciplines of the underlying framework.

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23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critical Theory, June 23, 2005

By	rctnyc (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

I was pleased to find that Prof. Butler discusses "post-modernist" theory critically and with intellectual rigor. I was concerned that this short introduction would be either a hymn to post-modernist theory or an uncritical recitation of post-modernist ideas. Instead, Prof. Butler analyzes and criticizes the sources, substance and implications of various post-modernist methodologies -- deconstruction, Foucaultian analysis, post-colonialism -- as these have been embraced, partially-embraced, and adapted in literature, the visual arts, architecture and popular culture. The reader learns alot about post-modernist theory, but from a critic who is skeptical as well as informed. Would the "episteme" have "replicated" his example.

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It is what it says it is, January 8, 2007

By	Allan Revich (Toronto, CANADA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book serves as a fairly straightforward introduction to postmodern thinking. Unfortunately, it is overly critical of postmodernism, which may discourage the curious beginner from pursuing the subject further. It might have been more appropriately titled, "Postmodernism: A Very Short Critique". While there is nothing inherently wrong with casting a critical eye on postmodernism, an introduction should be more balanced than this book is. I would recommend "Teach Yourself Postmodernism by Glenn Ward as a better introduction.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Unintelligible for the uninitiated
I'm a student of contemporary art, and I consider myself educated and well read, but I find even this brief "introduction" to be chock full of the jargon and philosophical... Read more

Published 15 months ago by Steve in San Francisco

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly POMO
Despite some of the reviews that indicated Christopher Butler's tone was negative toward Postmodernism in this VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION, I found the book very helpful with my... Read more

Published 22 months ago by John Conner

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Butler touches on all aspects of PM thought/aesthetics in; literature, architecture, art theory etc. and nails it right on the head. Read more

Published on March 10, 2007 by E. Lorge

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully concise explanation
This book is a great read, even for a total novice, if it is read quickly without fussing over names or knowedge of artists. Read more

Published on January 9, 2007 by art teacher

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Good
Along with Culler's Literary Theory Butler's Postmodernism represents a commendable "Very Short Introduction" to controversial ideas in the humanities. Read more

Published on January 16, 2006 by Jonathan A. Gottschall

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing read
I've read the Very Short Introduction series on Poststructuralism and Art Theory, and they were excellent (I use them in my classes, because they're so clear and concise,... Read more

Published on October 6, 2005 by floyd

2.0 out of 5 stars Only for the prejudiced
This book will probably be enjoyed for those that feel baffled or awed at the conceptual and verbal exuberance of postmodern theory (and their theorists' chutzpah), or looking for... Read more

Published on September 23, 2005 by Arturo Esposito

5.0 out of 5 stars What a very short introduction should be
This book is exactly what a very short introduction should be: clear, concise, observant and critical. It is also well written and easy to read. Read more

Published on July 5, 2005 by S. O. Slake

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction
I am an art student and bought this book with an awareness of postmodernist artists' work, but with little understanding of the movement. Read more

Published on June 28, 2003

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