Satirizing Modernism: Aesthetic Autonomy, Romanticism, and the Avant-Garde

Satirizing Modernism explores 20th-century novels that satirize avant-garde artists and authors, using experimental techniques associated with literary modernism. These works were under-recognized and received poor reviews at the time of publication, but have increasingly been acknowledged as groundbreaking and influential. The book presents an alternative account of literary modernism that revises literary history and continues to be felt today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 27 December 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Satirizing Modernism delves into a comprehensive examination of 20th-century novels that employ a satirical approach to critique avant-garde artists and authors, while also utilizing experimental techniques associated with literary modernism. These remarkable works, including Wyndham Lewis' The Apes of God, William Gaddis' The Recognitions, and Gilbert Sorrentino's Imaginative Qualities of Actual Things, were initially under-recognized and met with poor reviews upon their publication. However, over time, their significance has been increasingly acknowledged as groundbreaking and profoundly influential.

By examining these novels, Satirizing Modernism seeks to present an alternative perspective on literary modernism, which should be understood neither as a radical departure from the past nor as an outdated set of aesthetics overshadowed by subsequent postmodernism. These works engage in a self-reflexive critique of their own aesthetics, thereby expressing an unconventional modernism that not only revises literary history but continues to resonate in contemporary times.

Through their satirical lens, these novels expose the flaws and contradictions within the artistic and literary movements of the 20th century. They challenge the notion of artistic purity and originality, highlighting the commercialization and commodification of art. They also critique the elitism and intellectualism prevalent in modernist circles, exposing the exclusivity and exclusionary practices that marginalized certain voices and perspectives.

Moreover, Satirizing Modernism explores the complexities of identity and representation in the context of modernism. These novels challenge traditional notions of gender, race, and class, subverting stereotypes and exploring the fluidity and multiplicity of human experiences. They challenge the notion of a fixed and universal truth, instead emphasizing the subjective and contextual nature of knowledge and understanding.

In conclusion, Satirizing Modernism offers a valuable contribution to the study of literary modernism. By examining these satirical novels, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and contradictions of 20th-century artistic and intellectual movements. These works not only revise our understanding of literary history but also continue to inspire and influence contemporary writers and readers. Through their self-reflexive critique and unconventional approach, they demonstrate the enduring power of modernism to challenge and transform our understanding of the world.

Weight: 344g
Dimension: 154 x 230 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501348082