Capitalism, Modernism and Postmodernism

Capitalism, Modernism and Postmodernism Eagelton’s essay, Capitalism, Modernism and Postmodernism, was first published in the New Left Review in 1983 in which his post Marxist analysis of literature is exposed. He accounts for capitalism influence on art and its role. The capitalist and late capitalist areas have seen two new forms of literature appear: modern and postmodern. The modern, Eagleton explains, â€Å"In bracketing off the real social world, establish[es] a critical, negating distance between itself and the ruling social order†[1], while postmodern works accepts the fact that it is a commodity and thus conflicts between its material reality and its aesthetic structure. Capitalism has turned art into a commodity, and after analysing this claim, the characteristics of modern and postmodern genres will be analysed, so as to understand literature’s role. Eagleton explains how â€Å"High modernity [†¦] was born at a stroke with mass commodity culture.†[2] Capitalism, as defined by Marx is the bourgeois doctrine by which they are in possession of the modes of production and manufacture goods, sold for a profit. According to most Marxist thinkers, including Eagleton, art became one of the goods that the bourgeoisie wants to monopolise, produce and sell. Art has become a commodity, dissolved into social life. Eagleton denounces the effects of late capitalism on art: â€Å"if the artefact is a commodity, the commodity can always be an artefact. Art and life indeed interbreed†[3]. Eagleton points out that that the â€Å"performative principle†, which he redefines as the deliverance of goods, also applies to the capitalist conception of art. The use of â€Å"best seller† as criteria of advertisement for literature proves that literature has become a mass commodity good. Art and literature have been influenced by some characteristics of late capitalism, such as virtual reality based on mass consumerism. Our society focuses on commodities sold to and ideologically integrated by the consumer: â€Å"The commodity is less an image in the sense of a â€Å"reflection† than an image of itself, its entire material being devoted to its own self-presentation†[4]. Art has become centred on its own image, role and place within society, because it has somehow lost its utopian role of mirroring the world, as if capitalism has perverted its function: â€Å"If the unreality of the artistic image mirrors the unreality of its society as a whole, then it is to say that it mirrors nothing real and so does not really mirror at all.†[5] Modernism and postmodernism are genres that emerged in the capitalist and late capitalist stages. They seem to have a common point: to focus on their role and concentrate on self identity. Eagleton uses de Man’s deconstructivist theory to define modernism: â€Å"Literature defines and pre-empts its own cultural institutionalisation by textually introjecting it, hugging the very chains which bind it, discovering its own negative form of transcendence in its power of literally naming, and thus partially distancing, its own failure to engage in the real.†[6] Modernism attempts at representing the real, but cannot do so and raises a paradox: it â€Å"resists commodification†[7] but is nonetheless part of it, thus part of the social and cultural superstructure of society, which it denies. Denying being part of the capitalist mass commodity is the very core of modern failure to represent the real. Postmodernism appears as a more cynical genre. Some of its features are the blurring of boundaries, pastiche and grotesque. It does not attempt to represent the world, since it is virtual, and would thus fail to describe it. Postmodernism seems to be very different from modernism on the ground that: â€Å"If the work of art really is a commodity, it might as well admit it†[8] and â€Å"become aesthetically what it is economically†[9]. Eagleton also suggests that postmodersism aims at parodying the commodity production, without adding any meaning in it; if meaning was added in the pastiche, making it parody, it would serve to alienate the self from reality, and according to postmodern thought, there is no reality it can be alienated from. All these features aim at empting the social content of art. Eagleton assessed the features of literature genres characteristic of capitalist stages, in order to draw a critical and theoretical approach of literature. He seems to focus on its ideological role, which is, more than its representational value, its only role left. Modernism deconstructs the â€Å"unified subject of bourgeois humanism, draws upon key negative aspects of the actual experience of such subject in late bourgeois society, which often enough does not at all correspond to the official ideological version.†[10] Indeed, literature acts as an ideology denouncing ideology. Capitalist ideology professes that mass consumption finally fulfils libidinal desires, when in fact, as modernism exposes, takes us away from our self and reality, from the â€Å"unified subject†Ã¢â‚¬â€a harmonious society—that late bourgeoisie claims to have reached. Postmodernism, despite not embracing the reality of society, draws upon ideological inconsistencies of the bourgeois di scourse, thus rendering itself ideological. It shows the incapacity of complying with the capitalist ideology: â€Å"the subject of late capitalism is neither simply the self-regulating synthetic agent posited by classical humanist ideology, nor merely a decentred network of desire, but a contrary amalgam of the two.†[11] The impossibility for the self to comply with all its obligations—familial, consumering, working—in the late capitalist society is denounced by postmodernism. It seems that Eagleton places literature at the centre of ideology, as a resistance to bourgeois ideology. De man explains that â€Å"the bases for historical knowledge are not empirical facts but written texts, even if these texts masquerade in the guise of wars and revolution†[12]; literature is at the heart of our knowledge, ideologically built, and seems to remain so, decades after the end of ideology was proclaimed. BIBLIOGRAPHY Modern Criticism and Theory, a Reader. Ed. D. Lodge. Eagleton, â€Å"Capitalism, Modernism and Postmodernism†. Longman: London and New York, 1988. 1 Footnotes [1]Modern Criticism and Theory, a Reader. Ed. D. Lodge. Eagleton, â€Å"Capitalsim, Modernism and Postmodernism†. Longman: London and New York, 1988. p 392. [2] Ibid. [3] Ibid. p386-387. [4] Ibid. p.387. [5] Ibid. [6] Ibid. p.391. [7] Ibid. p.392. [8] Ibid. [9] Ibid. p.393. [10] Ibid. p.395. [11] Ibid. p.396. [12] Ibid. p.390.

Free Essays - Victorious Achilleus of the Iliad :: Iliad essays

Victorious Achilleus of the Iliad  Ã‚   From reading book twenty two in the Iliad it is clear, from the beginning, that Achilleus will prevail in the battle against Hektor.   The reader is given many hints from the text that Achilleus will succeed.   Homer, the writer of the text, feels he will win, and so gives the reader hints of his victory though his narration, and through the words of Hektor's parents, and the gods.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, Hektor's father encourages his son to allow other men to fight with him in battle against Achilleus.   He says, "Hektor, beloved child to not wait the attack of this man alone, away from the others.   You might encounter your destiny eaten down by Peleion, since he is far stronger than you" (Homer 436).   Hektor's father assumes that if Hektor fights alone he will certainly lose.   Hektor's father knows what a great warrior Achilleus is, and so seeks to convince his son to cast away his pride, admit he is weaker, and solicit support from his fellow Trojans.   He has already lost a few sons at the hands of Achilleus and expects that Hektor cannot possibly win.   Since his father recognizes his weakness, this is the first hint about the outcome of the battle.   But Hektor, brave man that he is, will not be so easily convinced that Achilleus is stronger.   Even Hektor's mom is skeptical he can triumph over Achilles and begs him, "Do not go out as champion against him, o hard one; for if he kills you I can no longer morn you..." (Homer 437).   She too has little faith that he will overcome Achilleus and is concerned he will die at the hands of this great warrior.   She is so worried she does not even want him to fight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Next, Homer gives the reader a few more indirect suggestions about the outcome of the battle.   When Hektor first sees Achilleus approaching, he does not act like a extremely brave warrior.   Homer explains, "And the shivers took hold of Hektor when he saw him, and he could no longer stand his ground there, but left the gates behind, and fled, frightened..." (Homer 438).   Obviously, it seems unlikely Hektor can slay Achilleus since he is so afraid he cannot even stand his ground.   If he has no confidence in his fighting ability surely most readers will also think he is unable to win and that is why he chooses his only option-fleeing.

Part Five Chapter XIV

XIV When Shirley opened the bedroom door, she saw nothing but two empty beds. Justice required a sleeping Howard; she would have to advise him to return to bed. But there was no sound from either the kitchen or the bathroom. Shirley was worried that, by taking the river road home, she had missed him. He must have got dressed and set off for work; he might already be with Maureen in the back room, discussing Shirley; planning, perhaps, to divorce her and marry Maureen instead, now that the game was up, and pretence was ended. She half ran into the sitting room, intending to telephone the Copper Kettle. Howard was lying on the carpet in his pyjamas. His face was purple and his eyes were popping. A faint wheezing noise came from his lips. One hand was clutching feebly at his chest. His pyjama top had ridden up. Shirley could see the very patch of scabbed raw skin where she had planned to plunge the needle. Howard's eyes met hers in mute appeal. Shirley stared at him, terrified, then darted out of the room. At first she hid the EpiPen in the biscuit barrel; then she retrieved it and shoved it down the back of the cookery books. She ran back into the sitting room, seized the telephone receiver and dialled 999. ‘Pagford? This is for Orrbank Cottage, is it? There's one on the way.' ‘Oh, thank you, thank God,' said Shirley, and she had almost hung up when she realized what she had said and screamed, ‘no, no, not Orrbank Cottage †¦' But the operator had gone and she had to dial again. She was panicking so much that she dropped the receiver. On the carpet beside her, Howard's wheezing was becoming fainter and fainter. ‘Not Orrbank Cottage,' she shouted. ‘Thirty-six Evertree Crescent, Pagford – my husband's having a heart attack †¦'

Coyotes essays

Coyotes essays Most of the general population would be able to recall that coyotes are members of the dog family, and that they generally inhabit the northwest United States. Other than that, not much attention is paid to this particular canine. It will try to avoid man, as man will try to avoid it. There is, however, a very complex science behind this wild dog of the northwest. The habitat, physical nature and instinctive behavior of this animal make it easy for an onlooker to become uninterested, but those traits are also what have made it almost a symbol of the Native American and Western cultures. The coyote is an animal that is called by many names. The term coyote itself, meaning little wolf, comes from the Native Americans, more specifically the Aztecs (Bansfield 286). These are peoples that have lived and co-existed with the coyote for as long as their cultures have been around. Their terminology reflects not a scientific view of the dog, but a natural view of its existence within the ecosystem. Following its genealogy, it is in the class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Canidae, and it is given the scientific name Canis latrans, meaning barking dog (Forsyth 169). This is the term given to it by a group of educated scientists who studied and analyzed the dog in its own habitat and in an experimental setting and decided it more resembled the domesticated canine than the wild wolf. Although the coyote is typically associated with the open northwest, it can now be found throughout the United States. Sightings of this canine now commonly occur from eastern Alaska to New England, and Florida north to Canada (Bansfield 288). Not native to the state of Ohio, its adaptability to changes caused by urban sprawl can be seen in the fact that it can presently be found in all 88 counties of Ohio. In the spring of 1995, a pair of coyotes was even spotted in ...

Changing Landscape of Linear Broadcast TV Channels

Changing Landscape of Linear Broadcast TV Channels s, it has been specifically emphasized over the latest readings and latest marketing responses of the consumer. The approach has been specifically initiated to offer an upgrade research over the concerned topic. Research Question The research is a practical approach in understanding the derivative consequences of IP TV with on-demand content as a part of developmental structure of achieving broadcasting preferences. The roles of advertising strategies and marketing options are very much integral to the study process. The research has been initiated on the basis of following questions: What is the current value chain of IP TV with on-demand content? What are the basic features for the attainment of progression of IP TV with on-demand content in TV industry? How can one identify the competitive modes faced within the ranges of IP TV with on-demand content? What is the role of advertisements and commercialised persuasion of programs in the development of profit margins in this business? Research Design The research design will follow quantitative research methodology. Under this proceeding relevant modes of interviews and questionnaire distributions proceedings will be initiated. There will be two modes of collecting data. The first will be initiated through distribution of questionnaires among selected samples of consumers from different age groups. This will further get followed by some exclusive interviews from some professionals from relevant fields. The data collected from the questionnaires will be based on the speculative aspects of understanding consumer demands and their preferences regarding the technological assistances offered in the field of TV watching. F added by this mode there will be the provision for interviews too. From the relevant field of TV marketing and technology survey providers; 5 to 7 people will be selected for exclusive interviews related to the stand point of role of IP TV with on-demand content in present consumer market. These interviews will also be the base for understanding consumer demands and the modes to supply the same. The findings will be based on the collected data from the questionnaires and the interviews. The collected data will be analysed as per chi-square analysis and the status of the hypothesis will be analysed thereby. Every proceeding will be done from practical field of analysis and thus the entire data collecting mode will based on statistical derivations. There will be an expected hypothesis and through chi-square this hypothesis will be investigate to get the current mode of understanding the status of IP TV with on-demand content and the related concerns for its developments. Latest investigatory bases will be the basics for understanding the current trends and assessments related to the IP TV with on-demand content among the small selected sample in a particular region. Managing Your Dissertation The process to manage the dissertation will follow strict deadlines and very systematic persuasion of research methodology. The quantitative research methodology and the readings will be the core base for deriving practical and theioretical aspects related to the subject. Collection of data and meeting the primary sources will be initiated with proper understanding of secondary sources.

The Massive Modularity Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Massive Modularity Theory - Essay Example It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations which pertain to products of natural or sexual selection. The main concept of evolutionary psychology is that the human mind consists of information-processing mechanisms which have evolved through natural selection. These mechanisms are called adaptations that are functionally specialized to deal with problems in certain circumstances and environments, and therefore it must have specific and richly structured contents.1 This type of psychology has also been proposed as a metatheory not just of psychology but also of the fields in social sciences. Evolutionary psychology has also been said to be a predominant theory that has principles which are functional to all of the disciplines of social science. There have been studies that propose evolutionary psychology as the uniting elements present in different fields. The evolutionary psychology’s metatheory is consisted of chain of command in the level of analysis.2 What programs the human mind? Why do thoughts and ideas differ from one individual to another? Is there a specific portion of the mind allocated for a particular action? The Massive Modularity Theory presents the argument that biological systems are designed and constructed in a way that a person would need to have massively modular organization of the mind. In addition to this, it was also said that the human mind is a biological system and is complex so the human mind must be massively modular in its organization.3 This theory is further studied in this paper. Evolutionary Psychology In the past, the branches of social sciences and biology have different opinions towards the subject of how the mind works. With evolutionary psychology in place, connecting biological and social science ideas and theories is now possible by providing conceptual analyses of specific questions: analyses that move step by step and integrating evolutionary biology with psychology, and psychol ogy with social and cultural phenomena.4 Evolutionary psychology is a method of psychology that studies the inherited architecture of the human mind as a product of the evolutionary process. It is a conceptually integrated approach in which the theories of â€Å"natural selection† are used to produce hypotheses about the design features of the human mind.5 There are 3 levels of explanation in evolutionary psychology. In between levels, extrapolations can be made in between each level. These manipulations are made in order to get the appropriate results for various types of populations. The 3 levels are noted to be 1) adaptive problem, 2) cognitive program, and 3) neurophysiological basis. With these levels being laid down, the primary principle in the evolutionary psychology still remains to be the human brain being the corporal structure. In the modern times, the brain is being compared to the computer where there is a designated chip or program for various functions and one would not over manoeuvre other programs for it to malfunction.6 It has been believed by evolutionary psychologists that there is a certain connection between adaptive problems and evolving structured mechanisms in solving the evolutionary process. During the time of Charles Darwin, people believed that humans are social animals and they learn from experiences and behaviours.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Essay Example The plot of the story plays a significant role in presenting the gothic aspect of the novel. Frankenstein succeeds in his aim when he creates a human, but when sees the outcome of his experiment, he is utterly disappointed. When the live human comes out of the machine his monster like appearance makes Victor to abhor his creation. â€Å"When I thought of him, I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so thoughtlessly made.† (Shelly 100). The monster disappears and then reappears in Geneva killing Victor's brother, William Frankenstein and that sets off a series of killings, leading to a tragic end for all characters. Victor creates a female or romantic companion for the Monster, so they can live together. However, he kills that female companion, fearing about the repercussions of that creation. Monster as a form of revenge cut shorts Victor’s romance by killing his lover and bride, Victoria on the wedding nigh t. Thus, the romance of both Victor and Monster faces violent and tragic ends, due to the actions of each other. The existence of supernatural being in the form of Monster and its destructive powers which results in the tragic end to the romantic affairs of both the Monster and Victor, brings forth the elements of gothic romance. The other gothic convention utilized in the novel is the gloomy manner in which the nature is depicted. The descriptions of natural settings throughout the novel follow the genre of Gothic Romance. When Victor decides to bring an end to the ruin caused by the monster created by him, he follows the monster in the icy regions of the Arctic. In course of his chase, the nature is described by him and the monster in a way which terrifies the human mind.   The monster’s inscriptions in the bark of the trees reveal the extreme nature prevalent in the region, he is heading for. â€Å"Follow me; I seek the everlasting ices of the north, where you feel the misery of cold and frost, to which I am impassive.† (Shelley 244). Nature is presented in its darkest aspects, as it brings hardships to human beings and terrorizes their mind. Nature made it more difficult for Victor to pursue the monster. The structure of the novel also adheres to the form of Gothic Romance. The story in the novel is presented through letters and journal entries, which was a common aspect in various Gothic romances.   Ã‚  Ã‚  The work Frankenstein is a Gothic romance which incorporates some elements of science fiction as well. The creation of a human being by Victor in the novel resembles the workings of a science fiction. Shelley is influenced by the political turmoil that prevailed during her time and her experience of this unrest is reflected in the character of Victor and plot of the novel. A scientific experiment causes a serious of horrific events in the novel. â€Å"Frankenstein's brilliance created a new organism-his abandonment, however, created a monster.† (Shackleford). The monster that is brought to life by a scientist evokes fear and lends Gothic effect to the novel. Victor, who creates the monster, is tormented by his own creation. â€Å"Frankenstein’s monster stands for technology that runs out of control out of control, that destroys its human creature.† (Potts & Murphie 99). Science fictions depict scientific