A Dictionary of Postmodernism

A Dictionary of Postmodernism presents an authoritative A-Z of the critical terms and central figures related to the origins and evolution of postmodernist theory and culture. Explores the names and ideas that have come to define the postmodern condition – from Baudrillard, Jameson, and Lyotard, to the concepts of deconstruction, meta-narrative, and simulation – alongside less canonical topics such as dialogue and punk Includes essays by the late Niall Lucy, a leading expert in postmodernism studies, and by other noted scholars who came together to complete and expand upon his last work Spans a kaleidoscope of postmodernism perspectives, addressing its lovers and haters; its movers and shakers such as Derrida; its origins in modernism and semiotics, and its outlook for the future Features a series of brief essays rather than fixed definitions of the key ideas and arguments Engaging and thought-provoking, this is at once a scholarly guide and enduring reference for the field

Acknowledgments ix Preface x Note on contributors xiii Description xiv Introduction 1 Dictionary Barthes, Roland (Tony Thwaites) 3 Baudrillard, Jean (Niall Lucy) 7 Cultural studies (John Hartley) 12 Culture (Niall Lucy) 19 Deconstruction (Claire Colebrook) 27 Deleuze, Gilles and Guattari, Felix (Claire Colebrook) 30 Derrida, Jacques (Tony Thwaites) 34 Dialogue (John Hartley) 39 Differend (Niall Lucy) 44 Discourse (Robert Briggs) 52 Eco, Umberto (John Hartley) 56 Essence (Robert Briggs) 62 Foucault, Michel (Robert Briggs) 69 Globalization (John Hartley) 76 Habermas, Jürgen (Claire Colebrook) 81 Hassan, Ihab (Darren Tofts) 84 Hyperreality (Robert Briggs) 89 Jameson, Fredric (Niall Lucy) 96 Jencks, Charles (John Hartley) 105 Lacan, Jacques (Tony Thwaites) 110 Lyotard, Jean-François (Niall Lucy) 113 Metanarrative (Niall Lucy) 118 Minor(itarian) (Niall Lucy) 128 Modernism (Niall Lucy) 130 Modernity (Niall Lucy) 137 New media (McKenzie Wark) 139 Paraliterature (Darren Tofts) 144 Phrase (Claire Colebrook) 148 Poststructuralism (Tony Thwaites) 149 Punk (McKenzie Wark) 151 Remix (Darren Tofts) 156 Representation (Darren Tofts) 160 Ronell, Avital (Claire Colebrook) 164 Semiotics (Niall Lucy and John Hartley) 167 Simulation (Niall Lucy) 172 Situationism (McKenzie Wark) 178 Sokal affair (McKenzie Wark) 182 Transcendental signified (Robert Briggs) 188 Truth (Tony Thwaites) 190 Žižek, Slavoj (Tony Thwaites) 194 References 196 Index