Critiques of Postmodernism : A Marxist Perspective

Summary

The video script offers an in-depth exploration of postmodernism from a Marxist perspective, focusing on the critiques presented by Frederic Jameson and Terry Eagleton. It discusses how postmodernism is seen as a cultural expression of late capitalism, characterized by a breakdown of distinctions between high and mass culture, a fascination with 'schlock' and 'kitsch,' and a move towards pastiche and parody. Jameson argues that this leads to a loss of historical context and originality in art, making it difficult for art to serve as a medium for political or cultural critique. The lecture also touches on the concept of the 'political unconscious' in narratives and how postmodern narratives may act as tools for managing and repressing social anxieties, rather than as catalysts for change. The summary emphasizes the depthlessness of postmodern art, the role of photography, and the waning effect in postmodern culture as key concerns for Marxist critics.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture discusses critiques of Postmodernism from a Marxist perspective, focusing on the incompatibility of postmodern concepts with Marxist ideology.
• 🎨 It highlights the works of Frederic Jameson and Terry Eagleton, who critiqued postmodernism's departure from Marxist ideas and its cultural manifestations.
• 👨‍🏫 Jameson, a leading figure in literary theory and notable Marxist critic, is known for exploring the socio-economic and cultural changes raised by postmodernism.
• 🏛️ Postmodernism is characterized by the blurring of boundaries between high culture and mass culture, which is a point of contention for Marxist critics.
• 🔍 Jameson criticizes the postmodern fascination with 'schlock' and 'kitsch,' seeing them as symptoms of cultural degradation and commercialization.
• 🎭 The lecture touches on the concept of 'kitschification' of cultures as a postmodern condition, where art is reduced to easily marketable forms.
• 🖼️ Jameson contrasts the depth and meaning in Van Gogh's 'A Pair of Shoes' with the surface-level appearance of Warhol's 'Diamond Dust Shoes,' illustrating the loss of depth in postmodern art.
• 🔄 Postmodernism is criticized for promoting pastiche and parody, with a lack of originality and a culture of imitation, which Marxists find problematic.
• 🌐 The critique extends to the impact of mass culture in postmodern society, where commercial culture is not just present but is integrated into art, leading to a loss of radical distinction.
• 📉 Jameson argues that postmodern art reflects the cultural logic of late capitalism, suggesting that it is a super structural expression of American economic domination.
• 🚫 The lecture concludes by emphasizing the difficulty of political or critical art in the postmodern era, as postmodernism tends to assimilate the radical into the commonplace and reduces art to commodities.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the NPTEL course session on Postmodernism and Literature?

The main focus of the session is to critique postmodernism from a Marxist perspective, discussing the various criticisms leveled against postmodernism, particularly by Marxist theorists.

What are the two seminal works that Jameson and Eagleton critique from a Marxist viewpoint?

Jameson and Eagleton critique the works of Baudrillard and Lyotard, who introduced concepts like hyperreality, simulation, and the incredulity toward metanarratives.

What is Frederic Jameson's perspective on postmodernism in relation to capitalism?

Jameson views postmodernism as an offshoot of late capitalism, suggesting that it is not just a historical period but a dominant age that reflects the context of late capitalist society.

How does Jameson describe the relationship between postmodernism and the breakdown of high culture and mass culture?

Jameson criticizes postmodernism for erasing the frontier between high culture and mass culture, which he sees as a political tendency that shows a dominant shift towards capitalism.

What is the meaning of 'kitsch' in the context of postmodern culture as discussed by Jameson?

In the context of postmodern culture, 'kitsch' refers to art forms that are considered in poor taste but appreciated in a particular context, often in an ironic way, and are reduced into easily marketable forms.

What is the concept of 'schlock' and how does it relate to postmodern culture?

'Schlock' refers to cheap, inferior goods that have become extremely popular in the postmodern digitized culture, reflecting the commercialization and globalization of art.

What is the main criticism against postmodern art according to Jameson?

Jameson criticizes postmodern art for its characteristic mode of pastiche and blank parody, suggesting that it lacks originality and depth, and is more about imitation than creating something new.

How does Jameson argue that postmodernism leads to the disappearance of the subject and the loss of history?

Jameson argues that the breakdown of distinctions in postmodernism, along with its fascination with 'schlock' and 'kitsch', leads to the disappearance of the subject and the loss of history, which in turn deprives art of originality.

What is the significance of the comparison between Vincent Van Gogh's 'A Pair of Shoes' and Andy Warhol's 'Diamond Dust Shoes' in Jameson's critique?

The comparison highlights the difference between high modernist art and postmodernist art, with Van Gogh's work offering depth and a connection to peasant life, while Warhol's work represents the depthlessness and commodification of postmodern culture.

What are the three major features of postmodernism that Jameson criticizes in his work?

The three major features that Jameson criticizes are the emergence of a new kind of depthlessness, the role of photography and the photographic negative replacing art, and the waning of affect in postmodern culture.