The beauty of the ordinary stuff is an important element of minimalist literature. Especially Frederick Barthelme used elements like brands, surfaces, malls, parking lots - ordinary stuff - in his short stories. His special way of writing concerning things of everyday life is analyzed in this term paper.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Frederick Barthelme's Aesthetics
2.1 The Author
2.2 Minimalism – History and Critique
2.3 Features of Minimalism
2.4 Ordinary Stuff – Comparison between Carver and Barthelme
2.5 Denial of Consumer Criticism
2.6 What is the Ordinary Stuff
2.7 Purposes and Benefits of Barthelme's Aesthetics
3 Examples for Ordinary Stuff in Driver and Cleo
4 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines how Frederick Barthelme integrates the "ordinary stuff" of contemporary consumer society into his short stories, analyzing how he finds beauty in everyday items and settings without resorting to traditional consumer criticism.
- The role of minimalism as a distinct literary style.
- A comparative analysis between the aesthetics of Frederick Barthelme and Raymond Carver.
- The function of brands, artificial materials, and common settings in Barthelme’s narratives.
- The psychological and narrative benefits of an ordinary-based aesthetic.
- The practical application of Barthelme’s philosophy in the stories "Driver" and "Cleo".
Excerpt from the Book
2.7 Purposes and Benefits of Barthelme's Aesthetics
The first of all reasons for this concentration on ordinary stuff becomes apparent in the excerpt of the interview with Frederick Barthelme which was already mentioned before. "[M]y business is not to sit around and attack the way we live." In another interview, Barthelme says: "[I]f you can derive satisfaction from the parking lot, the shopping mall, the highway, more power to you. The more you can develop a capacity to generate – from whatever stimuli – these feelings of extraordinary nature, the better off you are. [...]The person who can stand in the parking lot and feel the complex beauty of the space is better off than the person who can only stand there and think the parking lot is a horror, a blight, a pitiful thing." According to this statement from the author, we can derive a first argument for the positivity, for the beauty of ordinary stuff. It is a very simple, trivial argument which says, we should be satisfied with the things we have. For the reason of mere self-protection were taking advantage, if we can enjoy the simple things which surround us in everyday life and do not have to chase after unreachable dream worlds. Additionally it is exhausting to get angry about our own culture all of the time and to condemn consumerism for instead wishing to live in an untouched nature, for example.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the subjectivity of beauty and outlines how Barthelme shifts the focus from traditional sublime nature to the "ordinary stuff" of everyday life.
2 Frederick Barthelme's Aesthetics: This section provides a biography of the author, situates him within the minimalist movement, and explores his rejection of consumer criticism in favor of aestheticizing common objects.
3 Examples for Ordinary Stuff in Driver and Cleo: This chapter applies the theoretical findings to concrete textual evidence from two specific short stories within the collection Chroma.
4 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes how Barthelme’s preoccupation with the mundane serves to enhance reader experience and offers a positive philosophy for navigating contemporary life.
Keywords
Frederick Barthelme, Minimalism, Ordinary Stuff, Consumerism, Aesthetics, American Short Fiction, Raymond Carver, Narrative Devices, Consumer Society, Literature, Artificiality, Setting, Everyday Life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the aesthetic focus of Frederick Barthelme's short stories on mundane, everyday objects—referred to as "ordinary stuff"—and investigates why he highlights these elements.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the definition of minimalism, the differentiation between realism and postmodernism, the role of consumer products in narrative, and the refusal to view capitalism solely through a critical lens.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The research goal is to analyze how Barthelme finds beauty in modern, artificial environments and how this aesthetic choice functions as a unique approach to contemporary literature.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing on theoretical frameworks regarding minimalism and comparing Barthelme’s stylistic choices with those of contemporary peers like Raymond Carver.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body covers the development of Barthelme's specific aesthetics, a breakdown of common motifs (such as parking lots, malls, and brands), and a detailed analysis of two selected short stories.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Frederick Barthelme, Minimalism, Ordinary Stuff, Consumerism, and Narrative Aesthetics.
How does Barthelme’s view on parking lots differ from conventional literary portrayals?
While many see such settings as "blights" or symbols of alienation, Barthelme argues that they can be viewed as "supplementary sources of beauty" and a "100% human creation" that should be appreciated.
Why does the author argue that Barthelme is not criticizing consumerism?
Through interviews, the paper demonstrates that Barthelme views the products of our consumer culture as an intrinsic, unvarnished part of human existence rather than something to be attacked or replaced.
- Quote paper
- Matthias Dorsch (Author), 2009, The Beauty of Ordinary Stuff in Frederick Barthelme's Short Stories, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/131289
