A controversial figure in the realms of theory and cultural studies, Jean Baudrillard is never without interest. But how do we make sense of his wilder statements about the postmodern world he claims we all inhabit? How do we situate his writing in relation to French thought? This book guides the reader through Baudrillard’s work, from his first publication to his later postmodern statements.
Richard J. Lane offers an impressively clear introduction to key aspects of Baudrillard’s thought, from his reworking of Marxism through to his theories on technology, primitivism, simulation and the hyperreal,America and the postmodern.Throughout the volume, ideas are considered in relation to the social and intellectual contexts in which Baudrillard worked, and special attention is paid to the ongoing narratives of French and postmodern thought. An extensively annotated bibliography of primary and secondary texts prepares the student reader for further encounters with Baudrillard’s work.
Tracing a sure path through often complex writings, Jean Baudrillard is the perfect companion for those newly approaching this key contemporary thinker.
The author
Richard J. Lane is senior lecturer in postcolonial theory, drama and literature at South Bank University, London. He has published widely in these areas, with special emphasis upon Canadian literature. He is also co-director of The London Network for Modern Fiction Studies. |