Glossary

12.9 Fredric Jameson

7 min read•august 20, 2024

Fredric Jameson's Marxist approach to literary theory analyzes texts through the lens of late capitalism and postmodernism. He explores how economic systems shape cultural production, blurring lines between art and commerce in the contemporary era.

Jameson's key concepts include , , and the distinction between pastiche and . His work examines how literature both reflects and challenges dominant social structures, offering insights into the complexities of modern society.

Jameson's Marxist approach

  • Fredric Jameson is a prominent American literary critic and Marxist political theorist who analyzes literature and culture through the lens of Marxist philosophy
  • His approach focuses on understanding cultural production within the context of the capitalist economic system and its historical development
  • Jameson's Marxist perspective allows him to critique the ideological underpinnings of literary texts and their relationship to broader social and political structures

Late capitalism critique

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  • Jameson argues that the contemporary era is defined by the logic of "late capitalism," a phase marked by the global expansion of corporate power and the commodification of all aspects of life
  • In late capitalism, culture becomes increasingly integrated into the processes of economic production and consumption, blurring the lines between art, entertainment, and commerce
  • The pervasive influence of late capitalist ideology shapes the production and reception of cultural artifacts, including literature, film, and other media

Postmodernism as cultural logic

  • Jameson sees postmodernism not as a distinct artistic style or movement, but as the cultural logic that corresponds to the economic conditions of late capitalism
  • Postmodern cultural production is characterized by a collapse of historical depth, a flattening of affect, and a proliferation of depthless images and simulacra
  • Jameson argues that postmodernism reflects the fragmentation and disorientation experienced by subjects in late capitalist society, where traditional notions of identity, community, and historical progress have been eroded

Key concepts in Jameson's theory

Political unconscious

  • The political unconscious refers to the idea that literary texts contain repressed or unacknowledged political and social meanings that can be uncovered through Marxist analysis
  • Jameson argues that all cultural production is inherently political and that texts must be interpreted in relation to the historical and ideological conflicts of their time
  • By reading texts symptomatically, critics can reveal the ways in which they mediate and transform social contradictions and class struggles

Cognitive mapping

  • Cognitive mapping is a concept Jameson develops to describe the need for individuals to situate themselves within the complex totality of late capitalist society
  • In an era of global economic and cultural interconnectedness, cognitive mapping involves the creation of mental maps or representations that allow subjects to navigate and make sense of their social reality
  • Literature and other cultural forms can serve as tools for cognitive mapping, providing readers with symbolic resources for understanding their place within the larger system

Pastiche vs parody

  • Jameson distinguishes between pastiche and parody as two different modes of intertextual reference in postmodern culture
  • Parody involves a critical distance from the original text, using irony or satire to subvert or challenge its meaning
  • Pastiche, on the other hand, is a neutral mimicry or imitation of past styles without any critical or satirical intent, reflecting the loss of historical depth in postmodern culture

Utopia and ideology

  • Jameson sees literature as a site where utopian impulses and ideological constraints come into conflict
  • Utopian elements in literature express a desire for a radically different social order, while ideological aspects work to contain or neutralize these subversive energies
  • By analyzing the utopian and ideological dimensions of literary texts, critics can uncover the complex ways in which literature both challenges and reinforces dominant social structures

Jameson's interpretive horizons

Text as socially symbolic act

  • Jameson views the literary text not as an autonomous aesthetic object, but as a socially symbolic act that is deeply embedded in the historical and political contexts of its production
  • Texts are seen as symbolic resolutions of real social contradictions, mediating and transforming the conflicts and tensions of their historical moment
  • By approaching texts as socially symbolic acts, critics can uncover the ways in which literature both reflects and intervenes in the social struggles of its time

Allegorical reading strategies

  • Jameson advocates for an allegorical mode of interpretation that reads texts as symbolic expressions of larger social and political meanings
  • Allegorical reading involves tracing the multiple levels of signification within a text, from its surface content to its deeper ideological and utopian dimensions
  • By employing allegorical strategies, critics can uncover the hidden social and political implications of literary works, revealing their engagement with the conflicts and contradictions of their historical moment

Metacommentary and mediation

  • Jameson emphasizes the importance of metacommentary, or the critical reflection on the process of interpretation itself, as a key aspect of Marxist literary analysis
  • Metacommentary involves examining the ways in which texts mediate between different levels of meaning and social reality, as well as the role of the critic in constructing and interpreting these mediations
  • By engaging in metacommentary, critics can reflexively interrogate their own interpretive practices and the ideological assumptions that shape their readings of literary texts

Influences on Jameson's thought

Hegel and dialectical thinking

  • Jameson's approach is heavily influenced by the dialectical philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, which emphasizes the dynamic interplay of contradictory forces in the development of history and thought
  • Dialectical thinking involves the recognition of the inherent contradictions and tensions within social reality and the attempt to overcome these contradictions through a process of negation and synthesis
  • Jameson applies Hegelian dialectics to the study of literature and culture, seeing texts as sites where social contradictions are symbolically resolved or transformed

Althusser's structural Marxism

  • Louis Althusser's structural Marxism, which emphasizes the relative autonomy of ideology and the role of state apparatuses in reproducing capitalist social relations, is another key influence on Jameson's thought
  • Althusser's concept of , or the process by which individuals are constituted as subjects through ideological practices, informs Jameson's understanding of the relationship between culture and subjectivity
  • Jameson draws on Althusserian concepts to analyze the ways in which literary texts both reflect and reproduce dominant ideological structures

Adorno and late capitalism

  • The critical theory of Theodor Adorno, particularly his analysis of the culture industry and the commodification of art in late capitalism, is a significant influence on Jameson's approach
  • Adorno's critique of the false reconciliation of art and commerce in the culture industry informs Jameson's understanding of the ideological function of mass culture in late capitalist society
  • Jameson builds on Adorno's insights to develop his own account of the relationship between postmodernism and the logic of late capitalism

Jameson's literary analysis

Realism and its limits

  • Jameson examines the historical development of realism as a literary mode that emerged in the context of the rise of bourgeois society and the consolidation of capitalism
  • He argues that realism represents a significant attempt to cognitively map the social totality and to represent the complex relationships between individuals and their historical context
  • However, Jameson also recognizes the limits of realism, particularly its tendency to naturalize bourgeois ideology and to suppress the contradictions and conflicts that underlie the apparent stability of social reality

Modernism as transitional phase

  • Jameson sees modernism as a transitional phase between realism and postmodernism, marking a crisis in the ability of literature to represent the increasingly complex and fragmented nature of modern society
  • Modernist texts are characterized by a heightened sense of subjectivity, a breakdown of traditional narrative forms, and an emphasis on the aesthetic autonomy of the work of art
  • Jameson argues that modernism reflects the contradictions of late capitalism, particularly the tension between the increasing abstraction of economic processes and the persistence of older forms of social and cultural life

Postmodern literature examples

  • Jameson analyzes a range of postmodern literary texts, including the works of writers such as Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo, and Bret Easton Ellis, as examples of the cultural logic of late capitalism
  • These texts are characterized by a flattening of affect, a collapse of historical depth, and a proliferation of depthless images and simulacra
  • Jameson argues that postmodern literature reflects the fragmentation and disorientation of the subject in late capitalist society, as well as the increasing commodification of culture and the erosion of the boundaries between high art and mass entertainment

Critiques of Jameson's approach

Totalizing tendencies

  • Some critics argue that Jameson's approach is overly totalizing, attempting to subsume all cultural phenomena under a single, overarching theoretical framework
  • Jameson's emphasis on the primacy of the economic and his tendency to read all cultural production as a reflection of the logic of late capitalism is seen by some as reductive and deterministic
  • Critics suggest that Jameson's theory may overlook the complexity and specificity of individual texts and cultural practices, as well as the agency of cultural producers and consumers

Neglect of identity politics

  • Jameson's focus on class and the economic dimensions of culture has been criticized for neglecting the importance of other forms of identity and social struggle, such as race, gender, and sexuality
  • Some critics argue that Jameson's theory fails to adequately account for the ways in which these other forms of identity intersect with and complicate class politics
  • Jameson's emphasis on the primacy of class is seen by some as a limitation that obscures the full complexity of social and cultural life

Eurocentrism accusations

  • Jameson's theory has been accused of being Eurocentric, focusing primarily on the development of Western capitalism and its cultural manifestations
  • Critics argue that Jameson's analysis may not fully account for the specificities of non-Western societies and cultural traditions, or for the ways in which these societies have been impacted by colonialism and globalization
  • Jameson's reliance on a largely Western canon of literary and theoretical texts is seen by some as a limitation that may reinforce cultural hierarchies and marginalize non-Western perspectives

Key Terms to Review (11)

Cognitive mapping: Cognitive mapping refers to the mental representation of spatial relationships and environments, allowing individuals to navigate and make sense of their surroundings. This concept is crucial for understanding how people perceive and interpret complex social and cultural landscapes, particularly in a postmodern context where traditional structures and narratives may be fragmented or absent.
Cultural Capitalism: Cultural capitalism refers to the integration of cultural practices and products into the logic of capital accumulation and economic exchange. This concept highlights how cultural elements, such as art, music, and literature, become commodified and serve as vehicles for profit within a capitalist society, shaping consumer behavior and societal values.
Cultural Hegemony: Cultural hegemony refers to the dominance of one cultural group over others, shaping societal norms, values, and beliefs in a way that promotes the interests of the ruling class. This concept helps to understand how certain ideologies become mainstream and how power dynamics influence cultural narratives, often leading to the acceptance of these dominant ideologies as 'common sense' or 'natural.'
Dialectical criticism: Dialectical criticism is an analytical approach that emphasizes the dynamic interplay of conflicting ideas and social forces within a text, allowing for a deeper understanding of its meanings and implications. This method not only explores contradictions but also reveals how cultural, historical, and social contexts shape literary works. It fosters a critical perspective that encourages readers to consider multiple viewpoints and the broader societal implications of a text.
Historical materialism: Historical materialism is a philosophical approach to understanding human society and its development through the lens of material conditions, particularly the means of production. This concept suggests that economic factors and class relations fundamentally shape historical development and social structures, influencing everything from culture to politics.
Ideological criticism: Ideological criticism is an analytical approach that examines how literature and other cultural products reflect, reinforce, or challenge the ideologies that shape society. This perspective considers the social, political, and economic contexts that influence a text, exploring how power dynamics and belief systems are represented and perpetuated within narratives. By unpacking the underlying ideologies, this criticism aims to reveal the ways in which texts can either support or contest dominant cultural norms.
Interpellation: Interpellation is a concept that describes the process by which individuals recognize themselves as subjects through ideological structures and practices that address them. This recognition often happens unconsciously, as people respond to cultural and social cues that shape their identities and beliefs. Interpellation connects deeply with how ideology functions in society, the ways power is maintained through hegemony, and the insights provided by theorists like Louis Althusser and Fredric Jameson about cultural representation and critique.
Parody: Parody is a humorous or satirical imitation of a particular genre, work, or style, often exaggerating characteristics for comedic effect. This art form highlights the conventions of the original while simultaneously critiquing or commenting on it. Parody serves as a lens to reflect cultural norms, social issues, and artistic conventions through its playful mimicry and subversion.
Postmodernism, or, the cultural logic of late capitalism: Postmodernism, often described as the cultural logic of late capitalism, refers to a complex set of ideas and cultural practices that emerged in the late 20th century. It emphasizes the fragmentation of identity, the blurring of boundaries between high and low culture, and the questioning of grand narratives and truths. This term connects to concepts of consumerism and commodification that define contemporary society, highlighting how cultural expressions reflect and shape economic realities.
The political unconscious: The political unconscious refers to the idea that literary texts are shaped by and reflect the underlying political and social forces at play during their creation. This concept suggests that narratives often reveal suppressed or repressed historical events and ideologies, acting as a means for authors to address complex social issues, power dynamics, and cultural struggles that may not be overtly stated. It emphasizes how literature is not just a reflection of individual experience but is intertwined with broader societal contexts.
The political unconscious: narrative as a socially symbolic act: The political unconscious is a concept that refers to the idea that narratives are not just stories but are deeply intertwined with the social and political conditions of their time. This means that texts and narratives reflect and express the underlying ideological conflicts, social tensions, and collective anxieties of a society. By examining these narratives, one can uncover the ways in which culture and politics shape each other, revealing hidden meanings and power dynamics in society.
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