The Historiographic Metafictionality of Toni Morrison's Trilogy

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Chapter I. Subjectivity / Posmodern Blackness
• Intersectionality
• Quest for a self
• Deconstructing Subjectivity
• Chapter II. Palimpsests
• Paratext
• Signifyin(g) on Jazzthetics
• Parody
• Jazz an inverted Gatsby
• Pastiche
• Beloved vs. Hucklberry Finn
• Paradise vs. On the Road
• Chapter III: Magic realism
• Incredulity towards realism
• Hauntology
• Magical realism as a postcolonial counter-discourse
• Conclusion
• Work cited

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The primary objective of this dissertation is to demonstrate the postmodern nature of Toni Morrison’s work. It aims to highlight the postmodern implications of Morrison’s trilogy, including Beloved (1987), Jazz (1992), and Paradise (1998). Drawing on Linda Hutcheon’s seminal work, A Poetics of Postmodernism (1988), the dissertation explores the intersection of postmodernism and Morrison’s literary style.

• Postmodernism in Morrison’s work
• Historiographic metafiction
• Black feminism and critical race theory
• Magic realism and postcolonial discourse
• Language and the construction of meaning

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter I, “Subjectivity / Postmodern Blackness,” delves into the complexities of subjectivity, particularly in relation to African American experiences. It examines how Morrison’s work explores themes of intersectionality, the quest for self-identity, and the deconstruction of traditional notions of subjectivity. Chapter II, “Palimpsests,” focuses on the concept of palimpsests as a key feature of Morrison’s literary style. It analyzes Morrison’s use of paratext, signifiers, parody, and pastiche to create a rich and layered narrative.

Chapter III, “Magic Realism,” investigates the role of magic realism in Morrison’s trilogy. It explores how Morrison employs elements of incredulity towards realism, hauntology, and magic realism as a postcolonial counter-discourse to challenge traditional narratives and provide a unique perspective on African American history and culture.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This dissertation explores the intersection of postmodernism and African American literature, focusing on Toni Morrison’s trilogy. The central themes revolve around historiographic metafiction, subjectivity, intertextuality, parody, pastiche, postmodernism, post-colonialism, magic realism, intersectionality, and hauntology. These key concepts are used to analyze Morrison’s literary style and explore the complexities of African American experiences.