Postmodernism for Historians

by Callum G. Brown

Overview

Postmodernism is an essential approach to History. This is the first dedicated primer on postmodernism for the historian. It offers a step-by-step guide to postmodern theory, includes a guide to how historians have applied the theory, and provides a review of why its critics are wrong. In simple and clear language, it takes the reader through the chain of theory that developed in the 20th century to become now, in the early 21st century, the leading stimulant of new forms of research in History.

With separate chapters on The Sign, The Discourse, Post/Structuralism, The Text, The Self, and Morality, this book will encourage a new critical awareness of Theory when reading books of History, and when writing essays and dissertations. Armed with the principal ideas of Saussure, Barthes, Foucault, and Derrida, the historians can formulate how to combine empirical History with the excitement of fresh perspectives and new skills, merged in the new moral impetus of the postmodern condition. Designed for the beginner this is the essential postmodern starting point.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780582506046
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/22/2004
Series:	INF
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Callum G. Brown is Professor of Religious and Cultural History at the University of Dundee. He teaches and researches in the history of community ritual, personal memory and secularisation. He is author of The Death of Christian Britain (2000) and Up-helly-aa (1998).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Empiricism

2. Signs

3. Discourse

4. Poststructuralism

5. Text

6. Self

7. Morality

8. Criticism of postmodernism in history

Conclusion

Glossary

Further reading

Web links

Index