An Introductory Guide to Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism

I first used Sarup's guide in my early days at university and, at the time, thought this a concise, lucid and accessible introductory text. Later, after coming to grips with the seminal works of the thinkers in Sarup's guide, I realised just how much was taken and used from their texts without any direct references or acknowledgement! I also feel however that sometimes Sarup's prejudices showed, in that certain thinkers and "thought" were given less attention than others according to his own discretion of who was siginificant and important in the academic hierarchy! His reading of Derrida is suspect, here it would be better to get your hands on "Deconstruction" by Christopher Norris as a primer to this essential thinker. Another gripe is the section on Michel Foucault! This is just not good enough. The ramifications of Foucault's work (especially with regard to feminisms, such as the works of Judith Butler and Susan Bordo, and David Halperin's text on Foucault and queer theory,"Saint Foucault"), are still being felt, as his genealogical and archaelogical investigations of power and knowledge, subvert and undermine hegemonies and discourses as we know them. This said, and all-in-all, Sarup offers a fairly comprehensive guide, albeit "very" introductory, of most of the thinkers and thought synonomous with postmodernism and post-structuralism.

The field of cultural criticism can be difficult to approach. Madan Sarup's book provides exactly what the title states, an excellent introduction to Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism. His coverage of the critics and philosophers who espouse these schools of thought serve as a solid foundation for further studies. His comparisons of the theories of different authors was especially helpful, as was his treatment of the feminist critics, who seem to be often overlooked.

Sarup's book gives an excellent comprehensive introduction to two of the most prevelant theories/philosophies of literary and cultural criticism. Poststructuralism and Postmodernism are not easy concepts to get a grip on, but Sarup's book will help anyone interested. It is a necessity for anyone who wants to better understand the culture that we all participate in every day. The book outlines the key concepts of the major thinkers of poststructuralism (Derrida, Barthes, Lacan, Foucault) and postmodernism (Lyotard, Baudrillard, Jameson). It deals with concepts such as deconstruction, psychoanalysis, the relationship between power and history, hyperreality, etc. I recommend it for any student of literature as well as anyone interested in the increasingly popular field of cultural criticism.