When during the 1980s short novels like Jay McInerney's 'Bright Lights, Big City' (1984), Bret Easton Ellis' 'Less Than Zero' (1985), Tama Janowitz' 'Slaves of New York' (1986) or Michael Chabon's 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' (1988) became talked-about bestsellers in short succession, conservative critics were shocked. Their rejection of these novels was mainly grounded in the discrepancy between the expectations of traditional literary criticism and the new forms of expression these young authors used. The referential matrices of their novels are loaded with signs and codes of their decade; images and fictions spread by mass media have become a fixed part in the world of those novels. Traditional critics considered such references trite and superficial. It cannot be ignored, however, that popular culture found its way into contemporary literature and critics will have to get accustomed to the fact that in contemporary literature the referential horizon, which once was formed by the Bible, classical antiquity and the great works of world literature, is increasingly provided by popular culture as disseminated by the mass media.
The fact that these authors were all very young and that they were presented and celebrated like pop stars was, for many critics, proof that pop industry had finally taken over the literary market and that authors would no longer be measured by their achievements as writers but by their celebrity status determined by media-coverage. They felt the end of serious literature was near. On the other hand, there were reviewers, whose praise of those novels and their authors was just as undifferentiated as their denunciations by others. Fashionable terms, from "MTV novels" to "yuppie literature", were attached to the novels, and they were glorified as highly accomplished expressions of a changed Zeitgeist'. Despite the great amount of media attention, most of the novels have rarely been closely examined. The two novels 'Bright Lights, Big City' and 'Less Than Zero' will be the focus of this thesis and subject of closer investigation, because they were treated as the representative novels for the whole group. A broad approach to their subject matter will be chosen in order to do justice to the numerous culture-bound implications they contain.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Sociocultural Background & the 1980s
- 3. Literary Background of the Novels
- 3.1 Postmodernism & Fiction in a Media Age
- 4. Jay McInerney
- 4.1 Biography
- 4.2 Novels and Publications
- 4.3 Bright Lights, Big City
- 4.3.1 A Publishing Strategy with Surprising Results
- 4.3.2 The Novel
- 4.3.3 Critical Reactions and Comparisons
- 4.4 Literary Influences on Bright Lights, Big City
- 4.5 Narrative Strategies
- 4.5.1 The Use of the Present Tense
- 4.5.2 The Second-Person Narrative Voice and Its Effects
- 4.6 The World of the Novel
- 4.7 The German Translation
- 5. Bret Easton Ellis
- 5.1 Biography
- 5.2 Novels
- 5.3 Less Than Zero
- 5.3.1 Character Representation: Characters as Cultural Backdrop
- 5.4 Critical Reactions and Comparisons
- 5.6 Narrative Strategies
- 5.7 The World of the Novel
- 5.7.1 Los Angeles, the Heat Death of the Universe and Beyond
- 5.7.2 Fact versus Fiction: the Ubiquitous Mass Media in Less Than Zero
- 5.8 The German Translation
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis examines the narrative strategies and presentation of the world in select young adult novels of the 1980s, focusing on the works of Jay McInerney and Bret Easton Ellis. The analysis explores how these novels utilize the cultural landscape of the 1980s, particularly the influence of mass media, to shape their narratives and characters.
- The impact of postmodernism on 1980s fiction.
- The role of mass media in shaping the fictional worlds of the novels.
- Narrative techniques employed by McInerney and Ellis (e.g., use of present tense, second-person narration).
- Critical reception of the novels and their place within the literary landscape of the time.
- The representation of 1980s culture and society within the chosen novels.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the thesis by highlighting the initial shock and subsequent critical debate surrounding the success of young adult novels in the 1980s, such as Jay McInerney's *Bright Lights, Big City* and Bret Easton Ellis' *Less Than Zero*. It establishes the central tension between traditional literary criticism's expectations and the innovative, media-saturated style of these novels, arguing that the shift in referential horizons from canonical literature to popular culture is a key development in contemporary literature.
2. Sociocultural Background & the 1980s: [This section would contain a summary of the sociocultural context of the 1980s, relevant to the novels discussed. Since the text provided does not include this section, a summary cannot be provided.]
3. Literary Background of the Novels: [This section would contain a summary of the literary background, focusing on Postmodernism and its relation to the novels. Since the text provided does not elaborate on this section, a summary cannot be provided.]
4. Jay McInerney: This chapter provides biographical information on Jay McInerney and a detailed analysis of his novel *Bright Lights, Big City*. It examines the novel's publication strategy, narrative techniques (present tense, second-person narration), its portrayal of the 1980s, and the critical responses to the work. The analysis would delve into how McInerney's stylistic choices contribute to the novel's impact and thematic concerns.
5. Bret Easton Ellis: This chapter mirrors the structure of the previous chapter, offering biographical details on Bret Easton Ellis and focusing primarily on his novel *Less Than Zero*. It delves into the novel's character representation, its depiction of Los Angeles and its depiction of the pervasive influence of mass media. The critical reception of *Less Than Zero* and its relationship to other works by Ellis would be examined. The chapter would analyze how Ellis uses his narrative strategies to create a sense of disillusionment and cultural commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is this document about?
This document is a comprehensive language preview providing an overview of a thesis examining the narrative strategies and world presentation in select young adult novels of the 1980s. The focus is on the works of Jay McInerney (Bright Lights, Big City) and Bret Easton Ellis (Less Than Zero), analyzing how they utilize the cultural landscape of the 1980s, particularly the influence of mass media.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
The thesis explores several key themes, including the impact of postmodernism on 1980s fiction, the role of mass media in shaping the fictional worlds, narrative techniques employed by McInerney and Ellis (present tense, second-person narration), critical reception of the novels, and the representation of 1980s culture and society within the novels.
What novels are analyzed in detail?
The thesis focuses on two novels: Jay McInerney's Bright Lights, Big City and Bret Easton Ellis' Less Than Zero. Both novels are examined for their narrative strategies, cultural representations, and critical reception.
What aspects of the novels are analyzed?
The analysis includes biographical information on the authors, an examination of the novels' publication strategies, a detailed look at narrative techniques (including the use of present tense and second-person narration), and a comprehensive exploration of how the novels portray the culture and society of the 1980s. Furthermore, the critical responses to both novels are considered.
What is the sociocultural context discussed in the thesis?
While the provided preview doesn't detail the sociocultural context of the 1980s, it indicates that this aspect is addressed in the full thesis, providing a backdrop for understanding the novels' themes and settings.
What is the literary background discussed in the thesis?
The preview mentions that the thesis explores the literary background, focusing on postmodernism and its influence on the novels. Specific details regarding this aspect are not included in the preview.
What is the structure of the thesis?
The thesis is structured into chapters covering an introduction, sociocultural background of the 1980s, literary background (including postmodernism), in-depth analyses of Jay McInerney and his Bright Lights, Big City, and Bret Easton Ellis and his Less Than Zero. Each author section includes biographical information, analyses of the novels' narrative strategies and cultural portrayals, and discussions of critical responses.
What is the purpose of this language preview?
This language preview serves as a comprehensive summary of the thesis, providing readers with a clear understanding of its objectives, themes, methodology, and findings. It allows potential readers to assess the relevance and scope of the research before engaging with the full thesis.
Where can I find more information?
The provided preview only contains a summary; the full thesis will contain a detailed analysis of each novel and their respective contexts.
- Quote paper
- Mag.Phil. Michaela Tomberger (Author), 2001, New novels for young readers in/of the 1980s - Narrative strategies and presentation of the novel's world, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1421
