Introducing Lyotard: Art and Politics (Critics of the Twentieth Century)

The first truly introductory text on Lyotard, this book situates Lyotard's interventions in the postmodern debate in the wider context of his rethinking of the politics of representation. Bill Readings examines Lyotard's relationship to structuralism, Marxism and semiotics, and contrasts his work with the literary deconstruction of Paul de Man; he positions Lyotard's work so as to draw out the implications of poststructurlaism's attention to difference in reading. Lyotard's willingness to question the political and examine the relationship between art and politics is shown to undermine the charge that deconstruction abdicates political and social articulation. The first truly introductory text on Lyotard, this book situates Lyotard's interventions in the postmodern debate in the wider context of his rethinking of the politics of representation. Bill Readings examines Lyotard's relationship to structuralism, Marxism and semiotics, and contrasts his work with the literary deconstruction of Paul de Man; he positions Lyotard's work so as to draw out the implications of poststructurlaism's attention to difference in reading. Lyotard's willingness to question the political and examine the relationship between art and politics is shown to undermine the charge that deconstruction abdicates political and social articulation. -- Provided by publisher. The first truly introductory text on Lyotard, this book situates Lyotard's interventions in the postmodern debate in the wider context of his rethinking of the politics of representation. Bill Readings examines Lyotard's relationship to structuralism, Marxism and semiotics, and contrasts his work with the literary deconstruction of Paul de Man; he positions Lyotard's work so as to draw out the implications of poststructurlaism's attention to difference in reading. Lyotard's willingness to question the political and examine the relationship between art and politics is shown to undermine the charge that deconstruction abdicates political and social articulation. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series Title......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Editor’s Foreword......Page 7 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Abbreviations used for Works by Lyotard......Page 13 Introduction......Page 14 Glossary......Page 24 Mobile Supplement I: After the Event......Page 28 1. Figure......Page 30 2. Postmodernity and Narrative......Page 67 3. Politics and Ethics......Page 91 Mobile Supplement II: Work......Page 132 Notes......Page 142 Bibliography......Page 160 Index......Page 164 Book Cover 1 Half-Title 2 Series Title 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Editor鈥檚 Foreword 7 Preface 10 Acknowledgements 12 Abbreviations used for Works by Lyotard 13 Introduction 14 Glossary 24 Mobile Supplement I: After the Event 28 1. Figure 30 2. Postmodernity and Narrative 67 3. Politics and Ethics 91 Mobile Supplement II: Work 132 Notes 142 Bibliography 160 Index 164 This examination of postmodern philosopher Jean-Francois Lyotard's work traces his attacks on structuralism, Marxism and semiotics, contrasts his work with the literary deconstruction of Paul de Man and draws out the implications of post-structuralist attention to the art of reading.