Clothing and Its Connotations in Postmodern American Fiction

A Discussion of Bret Easton Ellis's 'American Psycho', William Gibson's 'Pattern Recognition' and Nicholson Baker's 'A Box of Matches'

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Clothing and Its Connotations in Postmodern American Fiction by Theresa Wenzel, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Theresa Wenzel ISBN: 9783640174744
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: September 23, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Theresa Wenzel
ISBN: 9783640174744
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: September 23, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Göttingen, 25 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Clothes, as Diana Crane establishes in her book Fashion and Its Social Agendas, 'are a major tool in the construction of identity, offering a wide range of choices for the expression of lifestyles or subcultural identities' (171). However: 'Social scientists have not articulated a definitive interpretation of how a person constructs social identity in contemporary society' (Crane 2). This might be one of the reasons why clothing has found its way into fiction, contributing to the characterization of protagonists and fictional world alike. The versatility of postmodern texts makes the analysis of clothing in connection with the process of constructing identities especially rewarding. The term postmodernism is hard to define. In the preface to his book The Illusions of Postmodernism Terry Eagleton makes a distinction between postmodernism and postmodernity: The word postmodernism generally refers to a form of contemporary culture, whereas the term postmodernity alludes to a specific historical period. Postmodernity is a style of thought which is suspicious of classical notions of truth, reason, identity and objectivity, of the idea of universal progress or emancipation, of single frameworks, grand narratives or ultimate grounds of explanation. (vii) Postmodernism, then, reflects these notions in what Eagleton calls 'a depthless, decentred, ungrounded, self-reflexive, playful, derivative, eclectic, pluralistic art which blurs the boundaries between 'high' and 'popular' culture, as well as between art and everyday experience' (vii). Although his definition is not in favor of postmodernism, it does indicate how diverse subject-matter as well as style in postmodern texts can be. In other words, 'anything goes' (Mayer 543).

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Thesis (M.A.) from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Göttingen, 25 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Clothes, as Diana Crane establishes in her book Fashion and Its Social Agendas, 'are a major tool in the construction of identity, offering a wide range of choices for the expression of lifestyles or subcultural identities' (171). However: 'Social scientists have not articulated a definitive interpretation of how a person constructs social identity in contemporary society' (Crane 2). This might be one of the reasons why clothing has found its way into fiction, contributing to the characterization of protagonists and fictional world alike. The versatility of postmodern texts makes the analysis of clothing in connection with the process of constructing identities especially rewarding. The term postmodernism is hard to define. In the preface to his book The Illusions of Postmodernism Terry Eagleton makes a distinction between postmodernism and postmodernity: The word postmodernism generally refers to a form of contemporary culture, whereas the term postmodernity alludes to a specific historical period. Postmodernity is a style of thought which is suspicious of classical notions of truth, reason, identity and objectivity, of the idea of universal progress or emancipation, of single frameworks, grand narratives or ultimate grounds of explanation. (vii) Postmodernism, then, reflects these notions in what Eagleton calls 'a depthless, decentred, ungrounded, self-reflexive, playful, derivative, eclectic, pluralistic art which blurs the boundaries between 'high' and 'popular' culture, as well as between art and everyday experience' (vii). Although his definition is not in favor of postmodernism, it does indicate how diverse subject-matter as well as style in postmodern texts can be. In other words, 'anything goes' (Mayer 543).

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Die Notwendigkeit eines US-Imperialismus zur Stabilisierung der Weltordnung by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book IFRS 16, der neue Leasingstandard. Analyse und Vergleich der Neuregelung by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Gentrification in Berlin Kreuzberg zwischen 1989 und 2000 by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Trainingsplan Fußball - Vom Freizeitkicker zum Profifußballer by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Medicinische Policey by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Grundlagen und Prinzipien der Jungenarbeit by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Client-Server-Infrastruktur und -Architektur für Espresso by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Aspekte einer matthäischen Christologie dargestellt anhand des Messiasbekenntnis des Petrus (Mt 16, 13-20) und ausgewählter Perikopen by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Gesundheitliche Ungleichheit und Ernährung bei Kindern und Jugendlichen by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Rational-Choice-Theorien im kritischen Diskurs by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Lernen und Gedächtnis - Episodisches Gedächtnis und Augenzeugengedächtnis bei Kindern by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Das Menschliche Bewusstsein in Philosophie und Neurowissenschaft by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Mathematik Grundschule: Symmetrie. Spiegelbildlich ergänzen (Klasse 3) by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Grundlagen des europäischen Medizinprodukterechts: Einführung in die CE-Kennzeichnung by Theresa Wenzel
Cover of the book Religion in den Medien by Theresa Wenzel
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy