Who doesn’t want to write this blog post? Olivia doesn’t, Olivia doesn’t! But I will, because I love you all, and I know how much you love reading my enthralling posts, and links. You should definitely check out my links, right now. Don’t even read my post, just start clicking. You’re welcome. Okay back to why I’m here;
By definition, we are told that postmodernism is a style in architecture, art, literature, and criticism developed after and often in reaction to modernism, characterized by reference to other periods or styles in a self-conscious way and a rejection of the notion of high art. I think it’s apparent throughout Cat’s Cradle that the author is trying to reflect this idea in his work by use of characters and situations that reject and almost satirize the idea of absolute truth.
The narrarator of the novel follows a religion called Bokonism, which so happens to be all founded on “shameless lies”. By having a religion that is founded on lies, the author is clearly satirizing the idea of religion that is normally founded upon its own “absolute truth”. This fictitious religion in the story also serves as the foundation for the entire novel which clearly shows how the entire book is oozing with postmodern ideals and themes.
Another example of postmodernism in the story can be found in Newt’s painting. It’s described as “small and black and warty” with “scratches made in black, gummy impasto”. Clearly this abstract painting does not follow the strict guidelines of modernism; neither does the fact that each character was able to freely critique and derive his/her own meaning from the piece. By refusing to follow any rules when creating the painting and see one clear dominate meaning in it, the characters are defying all ideals of modernism and embracing those of postmodernism.
Who's done writing their blog post? Olivia is, Olivia is! That's right suckers.
