Realism: Aesthetics, Experiments, Politics

This book explores the three aspects of realism: its 19th-century aesthetics, experiments with and against it in the 20th century, and the politics of realism, particularly its ambitions to map the complex realities produced by global capitalism and climate catastrophe. It juxtaposes aesthetics, experiments, and politics to challenge the opposition between realism and experimental literature and address pressing questions of literary and cultural studies. The readings assembled here showcase the diversity of literary realism from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries and the ongoing controversies surrounding its definitions and deployments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Realism, a pervasive critical term and revitalized aesthetic practice, manifests in various forms. This comprehensive volume brings together three essential aspects for a thorough understanding of realism: its 19th-century commitment to transforming reality into a subject of serious art, the experiments with and against realism by 20th-century modernist, postmodernist, or magical realist writing, and the politics of realism, particularly its ambitions to map the complex realities produced by global capitalism and climate catastrophe. By juxtaposing aesthetics, experiments, and politics, this book challenges the conventional opposition between realism and experimental literature, emphasizing that realism, owing to its dedication to a changing material and social world, cannot be static but must continually experiment.

The innovative chapters of this book address pressing questions in literary and cultural studies, such as the complex relationship between historical materialism and new materialisms, the intersection of science and art, and the diverse aesthetic and political implications of conducting systemic analyses versus depicting the specificity of the local. Some chapters delve into the radical aesthetic projects of classical realist authors like George Eliot, Émile Zola, and Joseph Conrad, while others explore the experimental engagements with realism by authors such as B.S. Johnson, J.M. Coetzee, or Rachel Cusk. Additionally, the book analyzes the political dimensions of realism found in contemporary anglophone novels by writers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, David Mitchell, or Rohinton Mistry.

The readings assembled in this volume showcase the rich diversity of literary realism across the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, highlighting its enduring relevance and adaptability. It serves as a testament to the power of literature to capture and reflect the complexities of our world, offering insights into the past, present, and future of realism as a critical and artistic practice.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501385520