A

Aura: Definition coming soon.

B
Body without Organs: Definition coming soon.

C
Camp: A sensibility that revels in artifice, stylization, theatricalization, irony, playfulness, and exaggeration rather than content, as Susan Sontag famously defined the term in her short essay, "Notes on 'Camp.'" According to Sontag, "Camp sensibility is disengaged, depoliticizedor at least apolitical"; however, some postmodernists, feminists, and queer theorists have explored the ways that camp (for example, the drag show) can trouble the belief that gender is "natural" or inherent, and can therefore work against heteronormativity. As Sontag argues, "Not all homosexuals have Camp taste. But homosexuals, by and large, constitute the vanguardand the most articulate audienceof Camp." By exaggerating sexual characteristics and personality mannerisms, such queer-inflected camp could be said to contend that all behavior is really performative. Camp is also tied to postmodernism. As Sontag puts it, "Camp sees everything in quotation marks. It's not a lamp, but a 'lamp'; not a woman, but a 'woman.'" In this way, the term resembles Linda Hutcheon's very similar understanding of parody, which Hutcheon offers as one of the major characteristics of postmodern art. (See the Hutcheon module on parody.) Camp's relationship to kitsch is a close one; camp could be said to be a selfconscious kitsch. As Sontag writes, "Many examples of Camp are things which, from a 'serious' point of view, are either bad art or kitsch," though she also acknowledges that "some art which can be approached as Camp... merits the most serious admiration and study." Sontag also distinguishes between "pure camp," which amounts to a kitsch that takes itself so seriously that we can now see it as hilarious (in other words, the camp sensibility is on the side of the audience not the author of the work), and "Camp which knows itself to be camp" and is, therefore, already making fun of itself. (Click here for Sontag's article.) Cyberspace: Definition coming soon. Cyborg: Definition coming soon.

D
Differend: Definition coming soon. Dystopia (dystopic): An imagined universe (usually the future of our own world) in which a worst-case

scenario is explored; the opposite of utopia. Dystopic stories have been especially influential on postmodernism, as writers and film-makers imagine the effects of various aspects of our current postmodern condition, for example, the world's takeover by machines (The Matrix); the social effects of the hyperreal (Neuromancer); a society completely run by media commercialism (The Running Man); the triumph of late capitalism (Blade Runner); bureaucratic control run amok (Brazil, 1984); and so on. For a Lesson Plan that ties such stories to postmodern theory, see the Postmodernism: Lesson Plans: Matrix/Neuromancer pathway.

E
Ethnicity: Definition coming soon.

F
Fashion: Definition coming soon. future antrieur: Definition coming soon.

G
Games: Definition coming soon.

H
Historiographic Metafiction: Definition coming soon. Hypertext: Definition coming soon.

I
Incommensurability: Definition coming soon. Indeterminacy: Definition coming soon. Irony: Definition coming soon.

J K
Kitsch: The reduction of aesthetic objects or ideas into easily marketable forms. Some theorists of postmodernism see the "kitschification" of culture as one symptom of

the postmodern condition. The term can be as difficult to define as its companion term, "camp," since there are so many disparate examples that can be cited as kitsch. Jean Baudrillard provides us with a useful definition: "The kitsch object is commonly understood as one of that great army of 'trashy' objects, made of plaster of Paris [stuc] or some such imitation material: that gallery of cheap junk accessories, folksy knickknacks, 'souvernirs', lampshades or fake African masks which proliferate everywhere, with a preference for holiday resorts and places of leisure" (Consumer Society 109-10). As Baudrillard goes on, "To the aesthetics of beauty and originality, kitsch opposes its aesthetics of simulation: it everywhere reproduces objects smaller or larger than life; it imitates materials (in plaster, plastic, etc.); it apes forms or combines them discordantly; it repeats fashion without having been part of the experience of fashion" (Consumer Society 111). My class on the Holocaust (HONR 199K) defined kitsch onJanuary 23,2001 by way of Spielberg's film, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 1) kitsch tends to simplify and trivialize complex ideas by reducing them to black-and-white stereotypes, as Dale Fresch explained (for example, Sean Connery's speech about the "armies of darkness"); 2) it is oriented to the masses and thus tends towards a lowest-common denominator so that anyone can relate; 3) it tends to be tied to mass consumption and thus to profit-making entertainment. As Baudrillard puts it, "This proliferation of kitsch, which is produced by industrial reproduction and the vulgarization at the level of objects of distinctive signs taken from all registers (the bygone, the 'neo', the exotic, the folksy, the futuristic) and from a disordered excess of 'ready-made' signs, has its basis, like 'mass culture', in the sociological reality of the consumer society" (Consumer Society 110); 4) kitsch remains, on the whole, completely unselfconscious and without any political or critical edge. When kitsch becomes especially self-conscious it begins to tip over intocamp. The one point in the Last Crusade where kitsch could be said to tip over into camp is when Hitler himself signs Indiana Jones' book in the film.

L
Language Games: Definition coming soon. Late Capitalism: Definition coming soon.

M
Metafiction: Definition coming soon.

N
Nostalgia: Definition coming soon.

P
Parody: Definition coming soon. Pastiche: Definition coming soon. petits rcits: Definition coming soon. phrase regimens: Definition coming soon. Postmodern Condition: Definition coming soon.

Q R
Reality Principle: Definition coming soon. Rhizome: Definition coming soon.

S
Schizophrenia: Definition coming soon. Secondary Orality: Definition coming soon. Self-Reflexivity: Definition coming soon. Simulacrum (simulacra): Something that replaces reality with its representation. Jean Baudrillard in "The Precession of Simulacra" defines this term as follows: "Simulation is no longer that of a territory, a referential being, or a substance. It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperreal.... It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real" (1-2). His primary examples are psychosomatic illness, Disneyland, and Watergate. Fredric Jameson provides a similar definition: the simulacrum's "peculiar function lies in what Sartre would have called the derealization of the whole surrounding world of everyday reality" (34). Spatiality: Definition coming soon. Sublime: Definition coming soon.

T
Television: Definition coming soon.

U
Uncertainty: Definition coming soon.

V
Virtual Reality: Definition coming soon.

W
World Wide Web: Definition coming soon.
Alterity
Alterity is a philosophical principle of exchanging one's own perspective for that of the "other". A lack of personal identity. See Wikipedia, Alterity, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alterity (Jan 2007)

Aporia
An aporia is a philosophical puzzle, paradox, or impasse often used in conjunction with 'deconstruction'. A state of wonder and awe due to contemplating the mysteries of life and the universe. See Wikipedia, Aporia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aporia (Jan 2007)

Bricolage
Bricolage is a processes by which traditional objects or language are given a new, often subversive, meaning and context. Art technique where works are constructed from various available materials ("found items" or mass-produced "junk"). See Wikipedia, Bricolage, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricolage (Jan 2007)

Catharsis
A form of emotional cleansing, first described by Aristotle, which occurs simply from the passive act of viewing a tragedy. A postmodern analogy is that the media's focus on violence is the method by which society cleanses its collective psyche. See Wikipedia, Catharsis, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis (Jan 2007)

Commodification
Term used in Marxist economics when economic value is assigned to something not traditionally considered a commodity. Examples of commodification include: ideas, culture, identity, and even the human body. See Wikipedia, Commodification, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodification (Jan 2007)

Constructivism
Term attributed to Jean Piaget, who described how knowledge is assimilated and internalized during the process of learning. Postmods contend that the process of matching internal models to the real world is inherently colored by the bias of the observer. See Wikipedia, Constructivism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism (Jan 2007)

Cybernetics
Cybernetics is a process by which a biological organism enhances its abilities by the integration of technology. So called "cyborgs" are a common feature of science fiction (Popular examples include: Robocop and the Borg). In postmodernism, much philosophical weight is given to this merging (and interdependence) of man and technology. Many consider there to be similar impact due to reliance on everyday items like glasses or hearing aids. See Wikipedia, Cyborg, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyborg (Jan 2007)

Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a science fiction genre based in the near-future and often set in postindustrial dystopias. The focus of Cyberpunk has been described as "high tech and low life": technology run amok with gritty film noir motifs. Its name is a synthesis of Cybernetics and Punk and often features body modification. Plots often involve hackers, artificial intelligences, and mega corporations. Popular examples include: Snow Crash and Neuromancer See Wikipedia, Cyberpunk, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberpunk (Jan 2007)

Cyberspace
A term coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer and Burning Chrome to describe an all-encompassing, virtual reality internet. "A consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation... A graphic representation of data abstracted from banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding..." A similar term, Metaverse, was used by Neal Stephenson in Snow Crash

See Wikipedia, Cyberspace, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberspace (Jan 2007)

Dadaism
Dadaism was a cultural movement which attempted to reject and destroy the prevailing standards in art through anti-art. It was a reaction to the horrors of World War I, which its followers believed was due to the reason and logic of the modernists. Dada strove to have no meaning and its works are often described as random or without organization. Ironically, Dada became an influential movement in modern art (examples include Duchamp's "readymades" found objects) See Wikipedia, Dada, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada (Jan 2007)

Deconstruction
Deconstruction is a term coined by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida for a process of critiquing literature and language. It analyzes the built in bias of language and questions its ability to represent reality. Critics see deconstruction as oversimplified and "sloppy" intellectual approach to attacking modernism. See Wikipedia, Deconstruction, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction (Jan 2007)

Dystopia
Dystopias are societies usually characterized by decay and/or oppressive governments. Relevant authors include Kurt Vonnegut and William Gibson See Wikipedia, Dystopia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia (Jan 2007)

Flattening of Affect
Flattening of affect is a scientific term describing a person's detachment and lack of emotional reactivity. Used in the postmodern literature to describe technology's dehumanizing impact. A key example is the move 2001 , where the main characters lose their humanity whereas the computer HAL gains "his". See Wikipedia, Blunted affect, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blunted_affect (Jan 2007)

Hyperreality
Hyperreality is a symptom of postmodern culture where a person loses their ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. The hyperreal world is often thought of as an idealized enhancement of reality, much preferable to the real life equivalent. Present day examples could include reality television, pornagraphy, or multi-player online games. See Wikipedia, Hyperreality, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreality (Jan 2007)

Kitsch
Kitsch was originally a German term used to categorize art that is considered an inferior copy of an existing style. Art (often commercially mass-produced) that is done in bad taste or tries to be overly campy or sentimental. From Baudrillard: "one of that great army of 'trashy' objects, made of plaster of Paris or some such imitation material". See Wikipedia, Kitsch, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch (Jan 2007)

Modernism
Mordenism is associated with the period of the mid 20th century. It is associated with constant change in the pursuit of progress, achievable through rationality and logic. In contrast, Postmodernism takes a less optimistic view where constant change becomes the status quo and progress obsolete. See Wikipedia, Postmodernism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodernism (Jan 2007)

Panopticon
Panopticon is derived from the Greek opticon (see) and pan (all). A type of prison designed to allow the guards to observe all prisoners without their knowledge. The goal is to convey a feeling of "invisible omniscience" over the minds of the prisoners. The panopticon is a symbol in many dystopian novels, most notably George Orwell's 1984 See Wikipedia, Panopticon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon (Jan 2007)

Pastiche
etc. Performed with respect to, or in homage to, other works (as opposed to parody which is done in ridicule or sarcasm). A popular example is the cartoon The Simpsons, known for its pop culture references and recycled plots. See Wikipedia, Pastiche, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastiche (Jan 2007) Pastiche is a tongue-in-cheek imitation or tribute used in literature, art, music, movies,

Punctuated Equilibrium
A theory in evolutionary biology by which otherwise slow evolutionary change happens during sporadic periods of great change. Postmodernism analogy of technological or cultural change, often used in conjunction with "tipping point" or "singularity". See Wikipedia, Punctuated equilibrium, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium (Jan 2007)

Simulacra
A simulacra is a copy of a copy, so far removed from its original, that it can stand on its own and even replace the original. Term defined by Jean Baudrillard in "The Precession of Simulacra" from Simulacra and Simulation "It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperreal.... substituting the signs of the real for the real". Examples included Disneyland, psychosomatic illness, and the Watergate scandal. Another example is the cartoon Betty Boop, who has now become an icon for the long forgotten actresses she was based on. See Wikipedia, Simulacrum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacrum (Jan 2007)

Semiotics
Semiotics is the study of signs, symbols, and how meaning is constructed and understood. Linguist Ferdinand de Saussure proposed the deferentiation between the spoken word (signifier) and mental concept (signified). See Wikipedia, Semiotics, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics (Jan 2007)

Steampunk
Steampunk is an off-shoot of cyberpunk set in the steam-powered Victorian era. A type of speculative fiction where fictional and real technologies occur at an earlier date. See Wikipedia, Steampunk, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk (Jan 2007)

Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality is a simulation technology providing an immersive computer-generated environment. The environment may be real (medical applications) or imagined (the Matrix). See Wikipedia, Virtual Reality, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality (Jan 2007)