Jameson

Fredric Jameson covered many important concepts that we have previously discussed in class. Jameson analyzes the postmodern in numerous ways and tries to grasp the postmodern concept. He begins by insinuating that there is a type of radical break in some form of thinking, that postmodernism starts when something ends. Jameson also discusses how postmodernism allows cultural dominance to become an integral part of the movement. This cultural dominance that is a byproduct of postmodernism, “allows for the presence and coexistence of a range of very different, yet subordinate features” (484). Jameson goes on to point out obscurity and sexually explicit material and compares how there was a movement in acceptance of this material seen publicly over the course of the generations. Fifty years ago, sexuality was not appropriate in public and yet now, we treat sexuality as a normalcy. Another postmodern effect that has graced our society is the forms of patronage being produced by art. Jameson stresses that not only is postmodern culture dominating the presence of sexuality seen in media, but also points out postmodernisms dominance over the economy. Jameson recognizes these changes as “the transformation of the very sphere of culture in contemporary society” (485). Without the emergent forms of culture, then we are stuck in a heterogeneity society. Our being thrives on these new forms of cultural dominant ideals because without them, we would be stuck doing the same old thing. For instance Jameson interpretation of this notion, “…transformation of this drab peasant object would into the most glorious materialization of pure color in oil paint is seen as a Utopian gesture” (487). Essentially, the postmodern culture takes boring objects and glamorizes them to a point, which in turn presents us with the notion of ideology. This concept connects Jameson’s description of hermeneutical, which is when we take a simple conceptual form and replace it with an ultimate truth. Jameson goes on to question this notion of truth in the rest of the reading by addressing intertexuality, commodification of objects, spectacles, transformation of the real into pseudo-events and revolution in power technology.