It isn't the best book I have read on the subject, but does a pretty good job of presenting complex concepts in a simple way...
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"Introducing Postmodernism", by Richard Appignanesi, is just as its name suggests, a good basic introduction to Postmodernism. This small and engaging book traces the origins of the concept and its evolution, from the points of view of theory, art and science. Truth to be told, it isn't the best book I have read on the subject, but does a pretty good job of presenting complex concepts in a simple way, and giving you a general idea of what Postomodernism is about.
If that is what you are looking for, this is likely to be the book for you. In case you need or want to know more, you will need to read other books too, but this would be nonetheless an adequate starting point. From my point of view, "Introducing Postmodernism" is worth your time. Recommended :)
Belen Alcat
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Wonderful, impenetrable- of no use on its own.
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As a reference book on postmodernism, this is a great. As a piece of art on postmodernism, it is also a triumph. As an introduction, however, it is completely and utterly useless. If you want to begin to understand the ideas in this book, pick up a "Teach Yourself Postmodernism"- far superiour as an introduction, but it misses out the most recent developments, and is not nearly so fascinating. Until then, this book serves an a labrynthine novelty- afterwards, it becomes a very useful and elegant reference book.
Possibly the only book I've ever read to jump from 1 to 5 stars on second reading.
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Brilliant for a student
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As a student of Sociology, I am always needing sources of reference to help me understand difficult ideas and theories. This book, (and the Introducing Sociology book) is brilliant for helping someone studying, or simply interested, sociology. The knowledge gained from reading this book can also be used in subjects like English, history and geography. It can also be put to use in everyday life. Just as the rest of the books in this series, Introducing Postmodernism helps break down, simplify and explain the important and relevant issues of the title.
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Introducing, my foot!
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I have the 1995 edition of this book - same cover, same authors, presumably the same text inside, but with the title "Postmodernism for Beginners". I think that title falls foul of the Trade Description Act, but so, I think, does the present one. I know a little about Postmodernism from a much better short book (Christopher Butler's "Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction", Oxford 2002), and I found particularly the first half of the Appignanesi book absolutely impenetrable. That first half, unlike Butler's, includes Structuralism in Postmodernism; but on Structuralism you would do much better to read John Sturrock's short "Structuralism" (Paladin), which is much more lucid and accessible, even if it doesn't have pictures in it! The second half of the Appignanesi book does at least have some suggestive ideas about the contemporary world.
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Where's the glossary?
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I'm an A level art student so i was half expecting this book to be a little beyond me, but my art tutor found it incredibly hard going too. It's a good idea to put all the hard words in bold, but it would be a better idea to actually explain what they mean. On the upside this book has left me wanting to find out a lot more, maybe thats because i now know a lot of the words and don't know what they mean. I hope they make one of the 'dummies guides' to postmodernism soon!
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