The postmodern structure of consciousness

Stephan, Matthias J

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Description

Title

The postmodern structure of consciousness

Author(s)

Stephan, Matthias J

Issue Date

2016-03-16

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Rushing, Robert

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Rushing, Robert

Committee Member(s)

• Blake, Nancy
• Stenport, Anna
• Hansen, James

Department of Study

Comparative & World Literature

Discipline

Comparative Literature

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Postmodernism
• Structure
• Detective Fiction
• Science Fiction
• Postmodern Novel
• Postmodern Theory

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to present a reductive definition of the concept of literary modernism. As such, I identify the metaphor of the postmodern structure of consciousness, as the best tool by which to both identify and understand postmodernism in its literary expression. This is done through an analysis of epistemological and ontological questions, considered specifically in the genre fiction categories of detective fiction and science fiction respectively. Those genres were specifically chosen as they best exemplify texts which have epistemological and ontological dominants, and through an analysis of the genres themselves, and their inherent structures, I argue that one can see how the postmodern structure of consciousness comes to serve as the best means by which to understand our contemporary society. Through the structural nature of this understanding that I see this as reflective of a postmodern understanding of society, I argue that postmodernism allows for the change sought after within society as currently constructed, and this project identifies the structural means by which such change can come about.

Graduation Semester

2016-05

Type of Resource

text

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Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Matthias Stephan

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