Abstract
This study seeks to examine the film version of Out of Africa as characteristic of many contemporary cultural impulses that together make up what is called "postmodernism". The term "postmodernism" is often used to describe a certain phase of Western culture and defines itself through its predecessor, modernism. Postmodernism is also a form of social theory that is directly related to this proposed cultural shift. The first three chapters give descriptive features of Ppostmodernism as well as discuss the different components of postmodernism as well as discuss the different components of postmodernism and include the following: the postmodern critique of scientific discourse, the role of the image in present culture, and the subsequent problem with otherness is the current Western symbolic order. Following this will be a discussion of methodology as postmodernism as a theoretical orientation rejects much traditional methods of sociology. The methedology draws heavily on current film theory and seeks overall to be post-positivist, critical and interpretive. A summary of the narrative of the film and the reaction of popular film critics, furthermore, is given. The analysis of the film follows and generally deals with the over-arching theme of loss and nostalgia. This nostalgia, the question of neocolonialism, aesthetic tastes, self-reflexivity are all critiqued in terms of this nostalgia and the main object of nostalgia, the cultural other.
Advisor
Gedalecia, David
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Recommended Citation
Sweeney, Rachel B., "Nostalgia, Otherness and Reinvention: A Critical Reading of Sydney Pollack's Out of Africa As a Postmodern Text" (1993). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 5576.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/5576
Publication Date
1993
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 1993 Rachel B. Sweeney