The gamefulness of American postmodernism
Subtitle: John Barth & Louise Erdrich
By: Steven D. Scott.
Series: Studies in literary criticism and theory ;; vol. 10; Studies in literary criticism and theory ;; v. 10.
Publisher: P. Lang; Peter Lang International Academic Publishers
Published: 2000
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 176
Subjects: Barth, John, 1930- -- Criticism and interpretation.; Erdrich, Louise -- Criticism and interpretation.; American fiction -- 20th century -- History and criticism.; Postmodernism (Literature) -- United States.; Game theory.
Description: "This book examines the twin problems of play and game in American literary postmodernism. There have been many studies of the function of play in postmodernism, but very few have discussed the role of game without conflating play and game. This study claims that play is an important consideration in any discussion of the postmodern (as it is in any discussion of literature), but game is also useful because of its structuring influence.

Game provides limits, boundaries, and borders to play, thereby both limiting and, paradoxically, enabling meaningful play. This study does not claim that literature is a game in the strong sense, it chooses instead to concentrate on the gamelike shape - the "gamefulness" - that literary postmodernism assumes.

After theoretical chapters that discuss postmodernism, play, and game, this study moves to critical discussions of the work of two prominent contemporary American authors, John Barth and Louise Erdrich."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [155]-171) and index.