Transrealism (literature)

Transrealism (literature)

Transrealism "(science fiction)" [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/transrealism] is a literary mode that mixes the techniques of incorporating fantastic elements used in science fiction with the techniques of describing immediate perceptions from naturalistic realism. While combining the strengths of the two approaches, it is largely a reaction to their perceived weaknesses. Transrealism addresses the escapism and disconnect with reality of science fiction by providing for superior characterization through autobiographical features and simulation of the author's acquaintances. It addresses the tiredness and boundaries of realism by using fantastic elements to create new metaphors for psychological change and to incorporate the author's perception of a higher reality in which life is embedded. One possible source for this higher reality is the increasingly strange models of the universe put forward in theoretical astrophysics.

Transrealism has its historic antecedents in cyberpunkFact|date=June 2008 and Philip K. Dick, who can be considered a proto-transrealist author.Fact|date=June 2008 Its main proponent and prominent figure is science fiction author Rudy Rucker. Rucker coined the term "transrealism" after seeing Dick's "A Scanner Darkly" described as "transcendental autobiography," and expounded the principles of transrealism in a short essay titled "A Transrealist Manifesto" in 1983. Rucker applied many of these principles in his short stories and novels, notably "White Light" and "Saucer Wisdom". Damien Broderick has identified some other authors that have at some time utilized transrealist tropes to include Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Iain Banks, John Barth, J.G. Ballard, John Calvin Batchelor, Jonathon Carroll, Karen Joy Fowler, Lisa Goldstein, James Morrow, Thomas Pynchon, Joanna Russ and James Tiptree Jr.Fact|date=June 2008

Damien Broderick argues that a state of perception (termed "transreality") that is playfully contrary to consensus reality is a prerequisite for writing effective transrealist fiction. The necessary viewpoint is playful in the sense that the author does not need to literally believe the fantastic interpretation of the perception and may support and undermine it through reference to speculative science. An [http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2005/01/28/transrealism-in-action-mirror-aliens/ example] of this can be seen in Rucker's blog, where he discusses an experience in an airport terminal.

Transrealism's stance against consensus reality identifies it as a postmodern literature akin to surrealism and covering much the same ground as slipstream literature. Transrealism may be considered a subset of slipstream, depending on how the latter term is defined, or as Broderick posits, slipstream may be very nearly the same thing as transrealism. Broderick also argues that the approach to literature offered by science fiction as a whole, including both transrealism and slipstream becomes more crucial as society possibly approaches a technological singularity.

ource

*Broderick, Damien (2000). "Transrealist Fiction: Writing in the Slipstream of Science". : Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31121-8

External links

* [http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/faculty/rucker/transrealistmanifesto.pdf The Transrealist Manifesto]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Transrealism — may refer to: *Transrealism (literature) *Transrealism (art) * Poetic transrealism …   Wikipedia

  • Rudy Rucker — Infobox Person name = Rudy Rucker image size = 222px caption = Rudy Rucker, Fall 2004, photo by Georgia Rucker birth name = Rudolf von Bitter Rucker birth date = birth date and age|1946|03|22 birth place = Louisville, Kentucky death date = death… …   Wikipedia

  • List of literary terms — The following is a list of literary terms; that is, those words used in discussion, classification, criticism, and analysis of literature.: See also: Glossary of poetry terms, Literary criticism, Literary theory CompactTOC8 name=Contents… …   Wikipedia

  • Attila József — (April 11, 1905 December 3, 1937) was one of the most outstanding Hungarian poets in the 20th century. BiographyThe son of Áron József, a soap factory worker and Hungarian peasant girl Borbála Pőcze, he was born in Ferencváros, a poor district of …   Wikipedia

  • 1964 — This article is about the year 1964. For other uses, see 1964 (disambiguation). Millennium: 2nd millennium Centuries: 19th century – 20th century – 21st century Decades: 1930s  1940s  1950s  – 1 …   Wikipedia

  • Damien Broderick — Born 22 April 1944 Occupation Writer Nationality Australian Genres Science Fiction Popular Science …   Wikipedia

  • Valparaíso — Infobox Settlement official name =Valparaíso other name = native name = nickname = Valpo, Pancho settlement type = motto = imagesize = 300px image caption = Housing on the cliffs facing the port. |30px flag size = image seal size = image shield …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”