Additional Resources

Many books and articles about Postmodernism have been published in the last decade or so. Below is a selected list of texts which may assist you in further reading about Postmodernism.

The Postmodern Turn Against Reason

Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory: Approaches, Scholars, Terms (Irena Makaryk, 1994)
This book is divided into three areas. Firstly, it examines the historical and cultural context out of which new schools and approaches arose. Secondly, it examines the achievements and influences of certain theorists and the final part deals with the vocabulary of literary theory. It provides a good introduction into a variety of literary fields and well structured.

The A-Z Guide to Modern Literary and Cultural Theorists (Stuart Sim, 1995)
A comprehensive list of critics and theorists including Postmodern thinkers such as Barthes, Derrida and Saussure. It has been compiled by 34 different contributors, with each entry providing biographical information, a list of published texts and an account of the theorist's main work and their impact.

Encyclopedia of Literary Critics and Criticism (Chris Murray, 1999)
A clear, wide-ranging and authoritative guide to literary theory and criticism. Most entries are cross-referenced which are helpful for readers to explore themes systematically.

Encyclopedia of Postmodernism (Victor E. Taylor and Charles E. Winquist, 2001)
A concise and comprehensive coverage of a range of academic disciplines, critical terms and central figures relating to the vast field of postmodern studies. The disciplinary essays, critical terms and biographies form an interconnected study which can be particularly useful in identifying the influences of Postmodernism.

Postmodernism: The Key Figures (Hans Bertens and Joseph Natoli, 2002)
Provides concise summaries of Postmodern literary critics and theorists written by a diverse group of scholars.

Introducing Postmodernism (Richard Appignanesi and Chris Garratt, 2006)
This book traces the pedigrees of Postmodernism in three areas: art, theory and science. It focuses around the main theorists and their impact on this elusive way of thinking. Although not as comprehensive as other texts, it provides a basic and sufficient introduction.

The Routledge Companion to Postmodernism (Stuart Sim, 2006)
This guide is divided into two parts. The first part explores Postmodernism in its history and cultural context. Ranging from politics to cinema, it explores the influence of Postmodernism in a range of disciplines. The second part contains a short encyclopaedia containing critics and theorists as well as terms which have relate to Postmodernism.

Language and Thought

Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of Human Sciences (Jacques Derrida, 1966)
Of Grammatology (Jacques Derrida, 1967)
Writing and Difference (Jacques Derrida, 1978)
Derrida has written several seminal essays that argue about the construct of meaning. His essays are often difficult to comprehend.

Death of the Author (Roland Barthes, 1967)
Considered a significant essay in Postmodernism - it examines the relationship between text and author.

What is an Author? (Michel Foucault, 1969)
An examination into the relationship between the text and author. The essay has several interesting points on the function of the author role and can be easily read and understood.

The Postmodern Condition (Jean-François Lyotard, 1979)
A pessimistic approach to the ideas of postmodernity. It examines the "question of knowledge" and introduced the notion of metanarrative. It is often hard to understand at times.

Literary Theory: A Guide for the Perplexed (Mary Klages, 2006)
This book has ten chapters exploring different facets of literary theory, ranging from humanist literary theory to feminism. The last chapter in the book is focused around Postmodernism. It provides clear and concise introductions, particularly useful for readers who have no prior knowledge.

Derrida for Beginners (Jim Powell, 2007)
This is an easy-to-digest summary of Derrida's works and influence on language and meaning.

Further Critical Readings

POSTmodernISM - A Practical Bibliography (Ihab Hassan, 1971)

Modernity versus Postmodernity (Jurgen Baudrillard, 1980)

Simulacra and Simulations (Jean Baudrillard, 1981)

Postmodernism and Consumer Society (Fredric Jameson, 1983)

Irony, Nostalgia and the Postmodern (Linda Hutcheon, 2000)

What Was Postmodernism? (Ihab Hassan, 2000)