1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910779014403321

Autore

Matthews Graham

Titolo

Ethics and desire in the wake of postmodernism : contemporary satire / Graham Matthews

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New York, : Continuum, 2012

ISBN

1-4725-4241-X

1-280-57933-1

9786613609106

1-4411-3439-5

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (209 p.)

Collana

Continuum literary studies

Disciplina

809.3/9357

Soggetti

Fiction - History and criticism - Theory, etc

Satire

Ethics in literature

Desire in literature

Postmodernism (Literature)

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index

Nota di contenuto

You do an awfully good impression of yourself: fear and uncertainty in Bret Easton Ellis' Lunar Park -- Nihilism and the sublime in Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club -- Revolution and the multitude in J.G. Ballard's Millennium People -- Evil is to morality as magnolia is to paint: ethics and aesthetics in Will Self's Dorian: an imitation -- Sex tourism and the politics of enjoyment in Michel Houellebecq's Platform -- Feminism, satire and critique in the work of Tama Janowitz

Introduction -- 1. "You Do an Awfully Good -- Impression of Yourself" - Fear and Uncertainty in Bret Easton Ellis' Lunar Park -- 2. Nihilism and the Sublime in Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club -- 3. Violence and -- the Multitude in J.G. Ballard's Millennium People -- 4. "Evil is to Morality as -- Magnolia is to Paint" Ethics and Aesthetics in Will Self's Dorian: An Imitation -- 5. Sex Tourism and the Politics of Enjoyment in Michel Houellebecq's Platform -- 6. Feminism, Satire and Critique in the Work of Tama Janowitz -- Bibliography -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

What is the significance of writing in the wake of postmodernism? The



previous decade has seen a growing interest in criticism of postmodern ethics and aesthetics from theorists and writers. This book begins to answer what art form or critical methodology might take its place.  Exploring the work of six contemporary novelists - Bret Easton Ellis, J.G. Ballard, Will Self, Michel Houellebecq, Tama Janowitz and Chuck Palahniuk - Ethics and Desire in the Wake of Postmodernism delivers a series of interventions into six key areas of contemporary debate: fear, nihilism, revolution, ethics, enjoyment and feminism. The book goes on to develop an innovative critical methodology which reinvigorates the ability of art and literature to engage in ideological critique. Rather than valorising separatism, plurality or indeterminacy, this approach delivers a critical framework which enacts a radical de-centering of the fundamental coordinates of contemporary society.