TLDR;
This lecture explores the complexities and contradictions within the concept of the "postmodern wave" in literary history. It challenges the blanket term of postmodernism, questioning its validity and usefulness in categorising literary periods. The lecture also examines key figures associated with postmodern thought, such as Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida, and their impact on literary criticism and Western philosophy.
- The lecture questions the usefulness of "modernism" and "postmodernism" as overarching terms for literary periods.
- It highlights the irony of figures like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound being labelled modernists despite their anti-modern sentiments.
- It introduces key postmodern thinkers like Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida and their influential ideas.
Introduction to Postmodernism [0:17]
The lecture begins with an introduction to the postmodern wave in English literature, featuring Professor Beem Singh Dahiya. The professor expresses reservations about the term "postmodernism," arguing that it's an inaccurate and overly broad label for the period following modernism. He points out that modernism itself is a problematic term, coined by figures like Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot around World War I, who then categorised all preceding Western literary history as "traditional."
The Problem with "Postmodernism" as a Label [1:05]
Professor Dahiya elaborates on the issues with using "postmodernism" as a blanket term. He contrasts it with earlier, more specific period designations like the Elizabethan, Augustan, and Victorian ages, which were linked to distinct historical, socio-economic, and political contexts. He argues that "modernism" and "postmodernism" are vague and block a nuanced understanding of literary history, failing to capture the unique characteristics of different eras. The professor questions the logic of using a single term to describe everything after World War I for potentially thousands of years.
The Irony of the "Modernists" [11:37]
The lecture highlights the irony that figures like Eliot and Pound, who popularised the term "modernism," were themselves deeply anti-modern. They were medievalists and conservatives who opposed modern industry, democracy, and science. Professor Dahiya finds it strange that these individuals were able to impose their label on the world and be accepted as "modernists." He mentions Ezra Pound's move to Italy due to his perception of America as uncivilised and Eliot's famous poem "The Waste Land" as an iconic representation of modernism. Pound's support for fascist leaders like Hitler and Mussolini is also mentioned, further complicating the notion of him as a "modernist."
Challenging Accepted Literary History [15:29]
Professor Dahiya advocates for a re-evaluation of literary history, criticising traditional histories from Oxford and Cambridge for misleading people. He stresses that just because something is printed in a book doesn't make it inherently true or beyond questioning. He encourages a critical approach to history and a rejection of unquestioning acceptance.
Key Figures of Postmodernism: Roland Barthes [16:59]
The lecture transitions to discussing key figures associated with postmodernism, starting with Roland Barthes. Barthes' influential essay "The Death of the Author" (1968) is introduced, drawing a parallel to Nietzsche's "Death of God." Barthes argued that the author's identity and intentions are irrelevant to the interpretation of a text; only the text itself matters. This marked a radical shift in focus from the author to the words on the page.
Ferdinand de Saussure and the Technicality of Language [25:25]
The lecture introduces Ferdinand de Saussure, a linguist whose work influenced postmodern thought. Saussure's "general introduction to Linguistics" proposed defining things negatively, by what they are not, rather than by their positive attributes. This approach is criticised as problematic and overly technical, reducing language to a set of signs and symbols and removing the human element. Saussure's key terms – sign, signifier, and signified – are presented as examples of this reductive approach.
Reassessing Roland Barthes and the Role of the Author [29:40]
Professor Dahiya resumes the discussion on Roland Barthes and his "Death of the Author" concept. He introduces the American critic E.D. Hirsch, who questioned Barthes' ideas. Hirsch argued that words cannot arrange themselves and that the author's intention is inherent in the arrangement of words. He points out that every author has a unique style and structure of thought, making it impossible to eliminate the author's presence from their writing. The lecture emphasises that copyright laws and the practice of attributing books to authors further contradict the idea of the author's irrelevance.
Michel Foucault and the Instability of Knowledge [39:50]
The lecture moves on to Michel Foucault, another key figure in postmodern thought. Foucault's two famous books, "Civilization and Its Discontents" and "History of Sexuality," are discussed. "Civilization and Its Discontents" posits that the progress of civilisation is based on negatives and dissatisfactions. "History of Sexuality" challenges the notion of fixed and eternal definitions of "man" and "woman," arguing that these concepts are historically and culturally contingent, shaped by ideas formulated in the 19th century. Foucault's work encourages a review of Western thought and an understanding that change is constant.
Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction [49:19]
Jacques Derrida and his concept of deconstruction are introduced. Deconstruction involves understanding how something was made and then dismantling it to reveal its underlying structure. Derrida's book "Writing and Difference" is mentioned, emphasising the importance of differentiating things rather than isolating them. Derrida challenged the entire philosophy of the West, arguing that it needs to be deconstructed to overcome wrong ideas and conventions.
Conclusion: Rethinking Postmodernism [54:42]
The lecture concludes by emphasising the importance of remembering Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida as key figures of postmodernism. Their work questioned the foundations of modernism and compelled a rethinking, re-examination, and reconstruction of Western history, philosophy, and literary history. The lecture ends with a note that the next session will discuss post-colonialism.