The Postmodernism The postmodernism in Nice Work by
The Post-modernism The post-modernism in «Nice Work» by David Lodge and «The Reluctant Fundamentalist» by Mohsin Hamid FRANCESCO FLORITTO VB
NICE WORK ( David Lodge) • There is a subject position in an infinite web discourses • One of the phenomena that attracted the post-modern literature is the inability to encompass the complexity of the real with a single cognitive discourse • Every text is a product of intertextuality, a tissue of allusions and quotations of other texts • Also quotations are characteristics of post-modern literature • We product ourselves in language : “you are what you speak and not what you eat” • Once again it’s used a quotation to explain the thoughts of the female protagonist
• • Robyn belonging to a very different social species from Vic Wilcox Two characters so different but at the end they are involved in sentimental story • Post-modern artists enjoy to play with the narration’s trap; nothing is determined. • Her feminism doesn’t seem to affect her behaviour In this sentence we can read the sense of uncertainty. There is also a sort of hint to the psychology of the character but not deeply , only on the surface.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist( Mohsin Hamid) • Contrast between western capitalism and Islam • One of the main themes of post-modern literature is the consumer society with its contradictions • American conformism and Muslim fundamentalism. • Other important themes are the complexity of the reality and virtual reality created by media. Post-modernism tries to show to the reader the truth even of the weak, defeated, exploited men. • Reader can see threat of terrorism also inside the protagonist’s thoughts even if he’s grown up culturally in USA • Conspiracies, intrigues, secrets, are other social phenomena underlined by post -modern literature
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