Posthumanism in the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut - Matter That Complains So

Posthumanism in the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut: Matter That Complains So re-examines the prevailing critical consensus that Kurt Vonnegut was a humanist writer. While more difficult elements of his work have often been the subject of scholarly attention, the tendency amongst critics writing on Vonnegut is to disavow them, or to subsume them within a liberal humanist framework. When Vonnegut's work is read from a posthumanist perspective, however, the productive paradoxes of his work are more fully realised. Drawing on New Materialist, Eco-Critical and Systems Theory methodologies, this book highlights posthumanist themes in six of Vonnegut's most famous novels, and emphasises the ways in which Vonnegut troubles human/non-human, natural/artificial, and material/discursive hierarchical binaries

List of contents

Introduction
Section One: Comic Material
Chapter One: Cat’s Cradle: The Life and Times of Ice-nine
Chapter Two: Breakfast of Champions: Rebirth Suspended
Section Two: Environment and Evolution
Chapter Three: Mother Night: A Nation of Two
Chapter Four: Galapagos: Writing on Air
Section Three: Space and Time
Chapter Five: The Sirens of Titan: Matter That Complains So
Chapter Six: Slaughterhouse-Five: "Poo-tee-weet?"
Conclusion

About the author

Andrew John Hicks completed his undergraduate degree at Royal Holloway University of London, his MA at the University of Exeter, and his PhD at the University of Bristol, UK. His work focuses on American and Postmodern Literature and Posthumanist Critical Theory. He currently resides in Exeter, UK.

Summary

Posthumanism in the Novels of Kurt Vonnegut: Matter That Complains So draws on New Materialist, Eco-Critical and Systems Theory methodologies to highlight posthumanist themes in six of Vonnegut’s most famous novels, challenging the prevailing critical consensus that he was a humanist writer.

Product details

• Authors: Andrew Hicks, Andrew John Hicks, Hicks Andrew
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2020
• EAN: 9780367858551
• ISBN: 978-0-367-85855-1
• No. of pages: 242
• Series: Routledge Research in American Literature and Culture
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; USA, English, LITERARY CRITICISM / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Semiotics & Theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / American / General, PHILOSOPHY / Movements / Humanism, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, LITERARY CRITICISM / Humor, United States of America, USA, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary theory, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000