Examines personal identity in the postmodern world of literature and film. The title of this book is a phrase borrowed from the writings of William S.Burroughs.
"The entire planet is being developed into terminal identity and complete surrender". --William S.Burroughs (in Nova Express , 1964).
"Terminal Identity puts to rest any lingering doubts of the significance of science fiction in contemporary cultural studies. Demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of both the history of science fiction narrative from its earliest origins and cultural theory and philosophy, Bukatman redefines the nature of human identity in the Information Age.
"Drawing on a wide range of contemporary theories of the postmodern -- including Fredric Jameson, Donna Haraway, and Jean Baudrillard -- Bukatman begins with the proposition that Western culture is suffering a crisis brought on by advanced electronic technologies. Then, in a series of chapters richly supported by analyses of literary texts, visual arts, film, video, television, comics, computer games, and graphics, Bukatman takes the reader on an odyssey that traces the postmodern subject from its current crisis, through its close encounters with technology, and finally to new self-recognition. This new 'virtual subject', as Bukatman defines it, situates the human and the technological as coexistent, codependent, and mutually defining. Bukatman not only offers the most detailed map to date of the intellectual terrain of postmodern technology studies -- he arrives at new frontiers, providing a propitious launching point for further inquiries into the relationship of electronic technology and culture." [jacket blurb, US pbk, 1993]
"Bukatman's scholarly narrative is the string which ties together a whole heap of ideas. Although definitely not light reading, Terminal Identity is an important analysis of postmodern culture and is worth the effort it takes to read it. Plenty of food for thought". --Henry W.Targowski (in Mark/Space , 1995).
Recommended.
