The Persistence of Jameson's Postmodernism Analysis

Year 2024, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 283 - 303, 08.01.2025

Koray Kırmızısakal

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the elements of Fredric Jameson’s analysis of postmodernism that remain relevant today. Although the term and periodization of postmodernism may seem to have lost popularity in contemporary theory, many theorists agree that capitalism has undergone a radical transformation since the 1970s. With this final stage of capitalism, the cultural and economic spheres have overlapped, and every aspect of daily life has become commodified more than ever before. In this article, after explaining Jameson’s concept of postmodernism as a historical condition and a mode of production-subjectivity, I argue that the theory remains valid in all three areas that constitute the triptych under the headings of a. the waning of affect, b. immediacy, c. new depthlessness, and d. pastiche and nostalgia. Ultimately, I contend that the decline of postmodernism should be interpreted as a sign of its complete realization.

Keywords

Fredric Jameson, postmodernism, immediacy, waning of affect, pastiche

Jameson’ın Postmodernizm Analizinin İnadı

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Fredric Jameson’ın postmodernizm analizinin günümüzde güncelliğini koruyan unsurları öne çıkarma amacı taşımaktadır. Postmodernizm güncel teoride bir terim ve dönemselleştirme olarak popülerliğini kaybetmiş gibi görünse de pek çok teorisyen, kapitalizmin 1970’lerden itibaren radikal bir şekilde dönüştüğü konusunda hemfikirdir. Kapitalizmin bu son aşamasıyla birlikte, kültürel alan ile ekonomik alan birbirinin üzerine katlanmış ve gündelik hayatın her zerresi hiç olmadığı kadar metalaşmıştır. Bu makalede, Jameson’ın postmodernizm kavramını tarihsel bir durum ve üretim-öznellik tarzı olarak açıkladıktan sonra, a) duygulanımın sönümlenmesi, b) dolayımsızlık c) yeni derinliksizlik, d) pastiş ile nostalji başlıkları altında teorinin günümüzde triptiğin konusunu oluşturan her üç alanda da halen geçerli olduğunu iddia ediyorum. Makalede postmodernizmin gözden düşüşünün aslında onun tamamen kendini gerçekleştirmesinin bir belirtisi olarak algılanması gerektiğini savunuyorum.

Keywords

Fredric Jameson, postmodernizm, dolayımsızlık, duygulanımın sönümlenmesi, pastiş

Thanks

I am grateful to Dr. Öznur Karakaş for her valuable comments and criticisms.

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