by Christopher Butler
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Product Description
Postmodernism has become the buzzword of contemporary society over the last decade. But how can it be defined? In this highly readable introduction the mysteries of this most elusive of concepts are unraveled, casting a critical light upon the way we live now, from the politicizing of museum culture to the cult of the politically correct. The key postmodernist ideas are explored and challenged, as they figure in the theory, philosophy, politics, ethics and artwork of the period, and it is shown how they have interacted within a postmodernist culture.
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Average Customer Review:
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Unintelligible for the uninitiated, 2008-03-22
I'm a student of contemporary art, and I consider myself educated and well read, but I find even this brief "introduction" to be chock full of the jargon and philosophical pretensions of a lot of high-level art criticism. Even though the author playfully tries to put these pretensions in their place, the book is still very dense and filled with the philosophical verbiage of the postmodern art criticism world.
That being said, this book is a surprisingly comprehensive review of the philosophical underpinnings of the postmodern movement. But it's frustrating and dense, and if you're not already fascinated by this world, it will bore you to death.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
 Thoroughly POMO, 2007-08-28
Despite some of the reviews that indicated Christopher Butler's tone was negative toward Postmodernism in this VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION, I found the book very helpful with my growing understanding of meta-narrative terminology and classifications. Also, as pointed out by other reviewers, is the fact that defining a meta-discourse that supposes universal definitions are not possible, poses special problems that I feel Butler handled very nicely.
Butler, simply and rightly, maintained his neutrality on the subject, which it seems, should be the first of Post-modern goals. In other words, Postmodernism is neither good nor bad.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent, 2007-03-10
Butler touches on all aspects of PM thought/aesthetics in; literature, architecture, art theory etc. and nails it right on the head.
It is fair to say, as some reviewers pointed out below, that he is certainly not a cheerleader for PM theory. He shows no mercy and points out all of the glaring contradictions of PM dogma as he sees them. (And so much the better, considering that much writing on the subject frustratingly skims over the absurd aspects of PM in favor of joining in on the lovefest).
Nevertheless, this is a very clearly written and fair-minded little document.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
wonderfully concise explanation, 2007-01-09
This book is a great read, even for a total novice, if it is read quickly without fussing over names or knowedge of artists. You can still get the big picture about the concepts underlying Postmodernist thinking and work. It is filled with references to work done in the style which will require some research for the average reader to get a more precise understanding of the artistic developments made under the influence of these ideas.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
It is what it says it is, 2007-01-08
This book serves as a fairly straightforward introduction to postmodern thinking. Unfortunately, it is overly critical of postmodernism, which may discourage the curious beginner from pursuing the subject further. It might have been more appropriately titled, "Postmodernism: A Very Short Critique". While there is nothing inherently wrong with casting a critical eye on postmodernism, an introduction should be more balanced than this book is. I would recommend "Teach Yourself Postmodernism by Glenn Ward as a better introduction.
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