The Cambridge Companion to Literature and the Posthuman

Description

The Cambridge Companion to Literature and the Posthuman is the first work of its kind to gather diverse critical treatments of the posthuman and posthumanism together in a single volume. Fifteen scholars from six different countries address the historical and aesthetic dimensions of posthuman figures alongside posthumanism as a new paradigm in the critical humanities. The three parts and their chapters trace the history of the posthuman in literature and other media, including film and video games, and identify major political, philosophical, and techno-scientific issues raised in the literary and cinematic narratives of the posthuman and posthumanist discourses. The volume surveys the key works, primary modes, and critical theories engaged by depictions of the posthuman and discussions about posthumanism. Contents......Page 5 Figures......Page 7 Contributors......Page 9 Preface: Literature, Posthumanism, and the Posthuman by Bruce Clarke and Manuela Rossini......Page 11 Chronology 1: The Posthuman......Page 25 Chronology 2: Posthumanism......Page 31 PART I: LITERARY PERIODS......Page 35 1. Medieval by Karl Steel......Page 37 2. Early Modern by Kevin Lagrandeur......Page 50 3. Romantic by Ron Broglio......Page 63 4. Modern by Jeff Wallace......Page 75 5. Postmodern by Stefan Herbrechter......Page 88 PART II: POSTHUMAN LITERARY MODES......Page 103 6. Science Fiction by Lisa Yaszek and Jason W. Ellis......Page 105 7. Autobiography by Kari Weil......Page 118 8. Comics and Graphic Narratives by Lisa Diedrich......Page 130 9. Film by Anneke Smelik......Page 143 10. E-Literature by Ivan Callus and Mario Aquilina......Page 155 PART III: POSTHUMAN THEMES......Page 173 11. The Nonhuman by Bruce Clarke......Page 175 12. Bodies by Manuela Rossini......Page 187 13. Objects by Ridvan Askin......Page 204 14. Technologies by R. L. Rutsky......Page 216 15. Futures by Claire Colebrook......Page 230 Further Reading......Page 243 Index......Page 253