A POSTMODERN
LOOK AT FIVE OF HUZIR SULAIMAN'S
PLAYS
MOHD AZRIL BIN ADNAN
This project is submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirement
for a Bachelor of
Education TESL with Honors (Teaching English as a Second Language)
Faculty of Cognitive
UNIVERSITI
Sciences and Human Development
MALAYSIA
2009
SARAWAK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to express my gratitude to my supervisor Mr. Ahmed Shamsul Bahri Bin
Mohamed Tuah who has provided both emotional and intellectual support during the
completion of this final year project.
My appreciation to all my lecturers and course mates who have given ine strong
support and have encouraged me in one way or another throughout this study.
Last but not least, I thank my beloved parents, Adrian bin Baharuddin and Juhanna
Binti Buyong and all my family members for their support and understanding in
completing this study.
iii
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE
OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
CHAPTER
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
vi
vii
ONE: INTRODUCTION
Chapter overview
Background of the study
Statement of the problem
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
Operational definitions and terms
1.5.1 Simulacra
1.5.2 Simulations
1.5.3 Scenes of plays
1.5.4 Hyperreality
1.5.5 Pastiche
1.5.6 Streams of consciousness
1.5.7 Fragmentations
1.5.8 Rejection of meta-narratives
1.5.9 Experimentation
Scope of the study
Chapter review
CHAPTER
2.0
2.10
III
iv
TWO:
REVIEW
4
7
9
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
12
12
12
13
OF LITERATURE
Preview
Postmodern theory
2.1.1 Elements of postmodern texts.
2.2.0
2.1.2
Postmodern philosophical
thought
inspiration and ideas
Representations in postmodern plays
2.2.1 Baudrillard's simulacra and simulations
2.2.2 Perfonnativity of representations
2.3.0
2.4
Huzir Sulaiman and his works
Summary
14
14
17
as a source
of
20
24
27
30
34
36
iv
CHAPTER
THREE:
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Preview
Research Design
Text selected for analysis
Instrument for Data Collection:
Procedure for data collection
3.5
3.6
3.7
Data analysis
Limitations of the study
Chapter review
CHAPTER
DESIGN
AND
Theoretical
Framework
50
50
50
66
72
4.1.2 The Smell of Language
4.1.3 Hip-Hopera
4.1.4 Notes on Life and Love and Painting
4.1.5 Whatever that is
4.2 Discussion
4.3 Summary
CHAPTER
5: SUMMARY,
RECOMMENDATIONS
IMPLICATIONS
80
87
92
97
AND
100
100
104
104
105
Overview
Summary
Implications of the findings
Recommendations for further research
Conclusion
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
A. Atomic Jaya
B.
C.
D.
E.
38
38
40
41
43
44
48
49
FOUR: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.0 Preview
4.1 Text Analysis
4.1.1 Atomic Jaya
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
38
The Smell of Language
Hip Hopera
Notes on Love Life and Painting
Whatever That is
V
ABSTRACT
A POSTMODERN
LOOK
AT FIVE OF IIUZIR
SULAIMAN'S
PLAYS
Mohd Azril Bin Adnan
The study was designed to examine five of Huzir Sulaiman's plays from the
perspective of the postmodern theory by looking at the issues of reality and
The
is
first,
found
in
his
to examine
objectives
works.
of
reality
representations
framework
based
into
Sulaiman's
fit
lluzir
the
postmodern
on selected
plays
whether
fragmentation,
Postmodernism
experimentation,
rejection of
namely
elements of
is
The
to
consciousness.
second
objective
meta-narratives, pastiche and streams of
five
in
Baudrillard's
from
to
the
plays
comparison
analyze specific characteristics
four stages of simulacra and simulations. Data was collected by selecting 1-luzir
Sulairnan's plays by using two criteria, first was that the plays chosen have
elements of postmodernism.
characteristics of a postmodern literature, specifically
Second, the plays deal with postmodern issues, such as loss of reality, hyperreality
in
be
Baudrillard's
four stages of
categorized
and representations
which can
based
The
then
on the
were
read
analyzed
and
plays
simulacra and simulations.
mentioned categories by using data analysis with the use of the postmodern theory as
The findings showed that his plays can be termed as postmodern
the framework.
products as all five plays contains at least two of the postmodern elements and one of
Baudrillard's
stages of simulacra and simulations. The results also showed that
Sulaiman's plays reflected the issues of the postmodern society such as issues of
determining authenticity of reality and representations of'reality in the society.
vi
ABSTRAK
PANDANGAN
POSTMODEN
DALAM
LIMA
TEA TER HUZIR
SULAIMAN
Mohd Azril Bin Adnan
ini telah di reka untuk mengkaji lima pementasan Huzir Sulaiman daripada
pandangan teori postmoden dengan ntelihat isu-i. cu realiti dan representasi realiti di
kajian ini adulah pcrtanra, untuk
juntpai dalam hasil karyunya. Ohjektirohjektif
karyunya
bersesllaian dengan rungka postmoden herdacurkan
mengkaji sama ada
fragnlentasi,
terutanlanya
elenten-elemen postmoden,
e_xperintentusi, penolakcrn
Ohjektif kcdua udaluh unttlk
meta-narrative,
pastiche (Ian alunan pentikiran.
teater dalum perhandingan
nlenganalisasi ciri-ciri tertentu di dalam kelinta-lima
Data telah dikumpul dengan
empat peringkat simulakra dun sinnllasi Baudrillard.
karya
teater Huzir Suliantan mengikut ciri-ciri
memilih
yang tcluh ditetapkun.
dipilih
Pertama,
karya
teater yang
telah
menlpirnyai
ciri-cir-i
postmoc/en,
tertttamanya elemen-elenten postmoden. Kedua, teater yang dipilih hertenur dengan
isu-isu realiti, hyperreulity dan representasi realiti yang holeh dikategorikun
dalant
dan
Baudrillard.
Teuter-teater
peringkat
simulakra
simulasi
tersehut
empat
kenutdian dibaca dan dianalisa herdasarkan kategori-kategori
yang telah disehut
menggunakan kaedah data analisis dengan teori postmoden sehugai rangka ker_ju
utama. Penemuan kajian lekrh menunjukkan buhawa teater-teaten celiacc holeh di
hasil postmoden atas dasar karya-karya beliall nterangktuni
iktirafsebagai
sekurangkurangnya dua elenten postmoden dan sattl peringkat sinlulukru dan sinrulasi. Ha.cil
kajian juga
teater Sulaiman
isu-isu
ntenunjukkan
mencernrinkan
na. cyarakat
di
niana realitl dan represertta. cl reulltl sukar llntnk dltentukan akan
postmoden,
kesahihannya.
Kajian
vii
CHAPTF,
IZ I
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Chapter
Overview
This chapter aims to provide an overview
discussing the relationship
between society and postmodernism.
to the problem statement which will
literature. This will
on the background
further
It will then move on
discuss how this relationship
lead to the aim of' the study and the objectives
purpose of the study,
significance,
of the study
definition
operational
is tied to
of the study. The
of' terms and finally
the
scope ofthe study will provide further details concerned with this study.
1.1 Background
of the Study
A society in any part of the world
is a complex structure,
prone to changes
and evolution through the progression of time. One way a society would be prone to
change and evolution
of technologies,
modernity
page
evident
formulated
Enlightenment
morality
is by change of thought,
consisted
by a suggestion
in
values and even by the advancements
from
the eighteenth
in their efforts
Habermas (I031), "[T]he
to develop
and law, and autonomous art according
llabermas
further
elaborated.
by
century
"the
twentieth
The differentiation
automony
of the segments treated by the specialist
of science, morality
1
philosophers
objective
century
of
the
science, universal
to their inner logic".
optimism.
hermeneutics of everyday communication".
the
project of
In the same
has shattered
this
and art has come to mean the
and their
separation
from the
'F lie l, nliihtenment'
thoughts during
that time which
which were brought
in France, was the result of new and radical
movement
emphasized
on certain
thoughts and principals,
forth by the improvement
of printing
technology
possible. And as argued by Ilabermas,
showed how the society thoughts,
so does the society,
as time progresses
it
and values has changed over time and
culture
sometimes these changes were influenced
that made it
by the introduction
These changes in society can be explained
of new technologies.
by using theories,
and one of those
theories would be the postmodern theory.
There are several prominent
Deridda
and Lyotard,
theorists who worked on postmodernism
but this study
theorist, Jean Baudrillard.
Ills
work
developed an essential postmodern
emphasizes
especially
from the mid
postmodernism
the concept is that the distinction
what is simulated collapses: everything
depths, this is the hyperreal".
1970s and onward,
According
to Barry (87),
between what is real and
is a model or an image, all is surface without
Thus postmodernism,
suggests that in the postmodern
postmodern
Simulacra and simulations is a concept
critical discourse of postmodernism.
written as a part ofthe
major
form of social theory and in which in the year
1983 he worked on a paper titled Simulations.
"within
on another
such as
society
simulations
based on Baudrillard's
structure
and control
work,
social
affairs where models and codes precede reality and are reproduced unceasingly
in a
society where the contrast between the real and the unreal.
This illustrates a general description
known as the 'post-industrial'
on what a postmodern society is, it is also
society (Jameson, extracted from Docherty, p. 63). It is
where the society is a result of technological
fast communications.
media, electronic
development,
and along with it, inflicting
issues that can best describe the characterization
such as hyperreality,
simulations,
confronted
of postmodern
in a world
of
the society with
society. These issues
the loss of reality and representations are dominant
in a postmodern society.
2
Representation
simulations.
is the most
The word 'representation'
to demonstrate
of something
upon how meaning
reflection
critical
in t3audriIlard's
word
simulacra
and
is the reference to signs that depicts or attempt
Signs as defined
another.
is constituted
by Macey
by the relationship
"is
(350),
between
a
what is
signified and what signifies it are probably as old as human thinking about language,
and the notion of sign can be traced hack to Classical Antiquity".
that the representation
of the signs is not a direct model and of course it is not the
but it is a system, method
original,
What this means is
or ways in an attempt to depict or copy the
condition of that original or the imaginary.
Representation can take many forms, such as paintings, pictures, sculptures or
scenes in a play. Historically,
image-making;
original
Plato, a Greek philosopher
the first is a faithful
reproduction,
and second is an intentional
distortion
spoke of two
attempted
kinds of'
to copy precisely
to make the copy appear
the
more
correctly (A. Bennet & N. Royle, p. 235). The concept of representation can also he
traced to Saussure, who was a structuralism
of the sign. the signifier
linguistic
and the signified.
where he wrote on the systems
theorist,
In essence, Saussure's implication
to
and the media is that the language structures the world since language is a
system of signs that mediates
Saussure's theory. the signifier
between the human
and external
is the sound and the signified
extracted from Newton, p. 16). It would be illogical
have a signifier
mind
without the signified
reality.
In
is the thought (Saussure,
to have one without the other; to
or to have a signified
without the signifier.
The
concept is that an object is related to its own specific sign. When there is an absence
to the sign, the object would not exist. Meaning that. ultimately
a person's knowledge
of the existence of an object is governed by the vocabulary
knowledge possessed on
object. An object must have a name, without
a name the object would
that specific
not exist and vice versa. And in postmodernism,
have altered the signified
(the thought
remain unchanged, but as the signified
the representation of the sign may
or concept of the sign). The signifier
has been compromised
3
may
by the representations,
it may lead to society in having a different
perception,
or views on what the sign is
supposed to be.
These concepts
are similar
to Jean Baudrillard's
work
in Simulacra
but it has been expanded into the postmodern society.
simulations
and
The postmodern
society is where the media, advertizing and a lot more are eroding the lines between
the truth and imaginary
and to an extent the imaginary
becomes the reality. The
expansion covers that area, where the truth and the imaginary are mixed or contused.
to Wain (367), "The postmodernist
According
representation,
syntagmatically
critics process an image, which is the
along a chain of meaning which continually
Thus, signs in which its origin
never concluding on an ultimate truth".
recede,
was not part
of reality and never existed before, but since it has been given a name (signifier)
in turn becomes a reality
(signified).
This emphasized the system of' signs as not
being exclusive only to reality but expands to the limits ofthe
And the same phenomenon
sign to the un-existing.
postmodern
has fed to
industrialization,
society is facing
development
the
to happen in
a dilemma,
and
growth
because the world's
in terms
of
rapid
globalization,
It affects
the world as a
kind of challenges to the society compared
to the past. In
mass communication
posing a different
those challenges, it involves
especially
can be identified
providing a
of the Problem
The contemporary
whole,
imaginary,
literatures, for instance novels. short stories and plays.
1.2 Statement
progress
will
and mechanization.
a new territory
of issues concerned
with
the society,
the products of the society.
As mentioned by Wain, "postmodern pastiche destablishes the genres lion
which it borrows its composite parts. It disseminates texts so that no central or
original point of reference can be located and scatters the fragments randomly to form
4
an eclectic work",
(p. 361). An eclectic
from many forms, specifically
work refers to a work that shares concepts
a work that does not belong to a single concept. The
work may include references from others. for instance a writer may use the references
of other writers to be included in his or her work. This in turns reflects a condition
the postmodern society,
the eclectic society.
It is where the people's
longer singular, but has evolved to incorporate
identity
of'
is no
the values and cultures of others,
in
identity.
be
fragmented
their
to
themselves
allowing
According
world is shilling
to Inglehart (220), 'The
into a new era where the
beliefs and values of people, those of advanced industrial societies, has changed, in
relation to the diminishing
starvation or disease".
likelihood
of people in that society to die prematurely
What this means is that with the advancement
of
of technological
progress, societies are becoming less concerned with the basic needs, such as t'Ood or
shelter, but exploring
more comfortable
ways in enriching
new and alternative
with the use of technologies.
their lives, making Iile
For instance, technologies are used to
fill their time with activities
such as video games, the television
technological
These wants for technological
the growth
entertainments.
of the technological
uncontrollable.
development,
argument, (78), "lt
entertainments
to a point
To further explain this uncontrollable
and other terms of
growth,
the growth
progress. It seems to
proceed of its own accord, with a force, an autonomous motoricity
developments,
that is progressing like a wildfire;
progression
is viewed
and unstoppable
as no longer something
that is positive
be
found
These
happening
the
towards
society.
cases
can
effects
countless cases of anorexic
models in magazines,
that is independent
is viewed by postmodernism
uncontrollable
women afflicted
by the disorder,
a teenager in the United
becomes
lets look at Lyotard's
is no longer possible to call development
of us''. These technological
is feeding
States quitting
as something
by men, and this
but negative in its
throughout society,
trying
to look
like
school just to play
video games (Ehlers, p. 1) and news broadcasts are debated over its authenticity.
All
developments
that
these cases are examples of the negative effects of technological
5
are reflecting the problems inflicting
the postmodern society, where the truths and the
issue
in
becoming
the society's
truths
an
of
are
representations
down to issues concerned with reality, where
Thus the problem is narrowed
that separates the real and the imagined
the distinction
way o1' life.
is no longer absolute and
is
is
because
This
between
line
two
the society
the
that
the
confused.
separates
where
is a product
of a postmodern
people are bombarded
era, where
with
signs and
but
has
been
that
that
created
were made
something
are
either
real
or
representations
Postmodernism
components.
society accepts them as part of reality.
where the postmodern
so real, to a point
and attempts to explain them through
accepts these phenomenon
As
the society
and newer
progresses
postmodern society, the issue of identifying
in
making
pertinent
technology
develops,
its
for
a
the real and the imaginary has become
is
happening
When
is
there
the
all
around
world.
of
sense
what
have
been
is
left
longer
truths
truth
are
only
which
and
what
small
absolute
any
no
fragmented, then the need to find the distinction
greater and finding
the distinction
between truth and fiction has become
between the two can he termed as a difficult
least
truths
the representation
notions
of
or
at
any
since
process,
of truth has been
perverted since the early civilizations.
In literature,
medium
to reflect
signs are seldom what they seem to he. Plays have been used as a
the issues in society
exaggerated or undermined
to make
and many
issues have been
of those
the play to be more effective
towards
the
been
have
forth
happens,
issues
brought
by
When
the
this
the
may
plays
recipients.
its
in
truthfulness
altered
and mixed up with the imaginary ofthe
issues
longer
the
are
no
a point where
figment of imagination.
Iluzir
Sulaiman's
real but merely
This is the problem
plays. It is when
writer(s) and may to
conjured
up the writer(s)
in
this case,
and
associated with plays,
truths are no longer
easily
identified
in the
is
in
it.
This
taking
out of the reason that the plays are mirror
place
representations
This
is
it
itself
that
may cause
the
of
society.
a
product
since
society
reflections of
6
further
confusion
or perhaps create an illusion
that created realities that originated
from the imaginary among the readers and to the society.
The issues portrayed or presented in the plays are issues that can be identified
happening
to the society,
narratives,
be
has
There
is
truth.
truth
there
always
will
which
no
absolute
meaning
as the postmodern
theory
suggest, there are no meta-
been scattered or fragmented,
lost
in
in
the
or
many
cases
altered,
changed
even
and
process. Baudrillard
these issues in his work.
discerning
tackled
One author, known
Born in the Malaysian capital,
in
in plays.
for his plays characterized
Huzir Sulaiman and considered
a guideline
between what is real and what is not, and for
and tagging the difference
this study, in the scenes depicted
It provides
as a postmodern
to be one of the prominent
Kuala Lumpur.
playwrights
product, is
in Malaysia.
educated at Princeton University
and
later started what now considered as an established company called The StraitsTimes
Theater
Company
acclaimed
based in Kuala
Lumpur
(Klappert,
his
with
plays such as Lu_v Ilcri'
success
In the plays written by Ituzir
attempt to represent the reality
p. 1). Ile enjoyed
C ray,
A/oºuie Jaya and others.
Sulaiman, some of the scenes portrayed
or the imagined
culture:
ideas are fragmented
hyperreality
consciousness,
of
streams
reality
His
elements of
and scenes that exploits
the
and others. In his plays, the representations of
in certain scenes can be argued on whether
simulations
may he an
of the societal environments.
plays has been considered as a postmodern product, and thus containing
the post modernistic
critical
it is a part of the basic truth,
or even a pure simulacrum.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The postmodern society has been bombarded with representations that have
influenced the perception towards reality. The representations of images can be
7
all around, from the news, politics,
identified
study focuses in looking
arts, and even in literary
at plays written by I luzir Sulaiman through the postmodern
0l-this study are to:
theory. Thus, the objectives
I. Examine whether I luzir Sulaiman's plays fit into the postmodern
on
selected elements
works. This
Postmodernism
of
namely
framework based
fragmentation,
hyperreality,
pastiche and streams of consciousness.
Analyze specific
2.
characteristics
four stages of Simulacra and simulations.
comparison to Baudrillard's
These objectivcs
from the five plays by I luzir Sulaiman in
of the study are the main guidelines when conducting
this
he
in
The
the
taking
that
may
proven through the
society
place
are
affects
study.
in
findings
the plays as a postmodern product
the
the
resulted
where
plays.
analysis of
and reflecting the postmodern culture and society.
This study attempts to analyze the societal aspects of postmodernism
the society is influenced
analyze
the possible
components
identify
influenced
and affected by the postmodern era. The researcher needs to
relationship
the plays
connecting
between the postmodern
to the plays written
of postmodernism
whether
and how
written
by the postmodern
have
may
by I-lour
Sulaiman.
any indications
theory, the
It aims to
that it has been
culture or it is a product as a result of such culture. As
this issue has become a big part of our daily
lives, it induced questions in how the
be
to
the
the
postmodern:
product
of
society
reflect
plays may
1. Can the elements of postmodernism
Fragmentations and rejection
which are pastiche, streams of consciousness.
of grand-narratives
be identified
in I Iuzir Sulaiman's
days'?
2. Can the characteristics of lluzir Sulaiman's plays be classified in l3audrillard's
lour stagesof Simulacra and Simulations'?
8
1.4
Significance of the Stud
By using
the postmodern
the elements of postmodernism
plays, it established
this study obtained
that took place in a Malaysian author's
findings on the influences of postmodernism
work. Through
in the analysis,
framework
that were identified
throughout
the
a relationship to the works, as a product of a postmodern society.
Subsequently. this study also provided findings that shed some light on the Malaysian
as in how postmodernism
literature as a whole,
literatures.
Malaysian
Where
contemporary
literature
has evolved and adapted in Malaysian
are now
or dealing
presenting
with
issues. The issues presented in the plays may be dealing with what the
issues.
facing and those issues may reflect postmodern
is
currently
society
Thus, the result of this study may be used by other researchers as a further
in
studying
reference
concept ofand
of the postmodern
the components
simulacra and simulations
framework,
in Malaysian literature.
and also, the
By using the results
he
to
this
used
also
this
may,
use
a
reference
researchers
study
as
other
analysis,
of
with other firms
of narratives such as novels or short stories, providing
on what are happening
more insights
in Malaysian literatures.
This study may also be used by other professions such as teachers, students
deepen
lecturers
to
their understanding
mean
a
as
or
be
by
It
achieved
analyzing
may
written play.
and appreciation
the plays and the representations of the
it
itself,
in
that
the
may provide an explanation
society
scenes with
between truth and fiction,
source of confusion
in which
the current society views
to the distinction
them as issues or a
that may impact the cultures and norms of the society.
9
of' a locally
1.5
Operational
Definitions
and Terms
1.5.1 Simulacra:
As defined by Baurillard (382) "1 S]ubstituting
to deter every real process by its operational
is, an operation
programmatic.
signs of the real for the real itself; that
perfect descriptive
all the signs of' the real
machine which provides
its
circuits
all
vicissitudes.
and short
double, a metastable,
Never again will the real have to he reproduced".
1.5.2 Simulations:
to ßaudrilard (382-38 ý), "to dissimulate
According
is to feign not to have what one
has. To simulate is to feign to have what one hasn't. One implies a presence, the other
is
But
the
more complicated,
matter
an absence.
feign: "Someone
Someone who
(Littre).
Thus,
difference
difference
since to simulate is not simply
who feigns an illness can simply
simulates an illness
feigning
produces in himself
or dissimulating
is always clear.
it
go to bed and pretend
leaves the
between "true" and "lälse",
he is ill.
some of the symptoms"
reality
is only masked: whereas
to
principle
simulation
intact:
the
threatens
the
between "real" and "imaginary"".
1.5.3 Scenes of plays:
As defined
by J.Peck and M. Coyle
(88), ''Ja] play is divided
into acts and scenes.
One of the most productive ways of discussing a play is to focus on individual
for any scene will tell us a lot about the plays as a whole.
Individual
scenes,
scenes will
lie
is
how
dramatist
dealing
the
the
or
and
reveal
problems
with
also
reveal
specific
she makes his or her themes come to life".
10
1.5.4 Hyperreality:
to BaLidrillard
According
synthesis of combinatory
inability
to distinguish
(381-382)
is the product
''a hyperreal
models in a hyperspace
of an irradiating
without atmosphere.
"I-hus it is the
betvv een ghat is real and what is not, an enhancement
of
reality".
1.5.5 Pastiche:
to Callincos (22), "[p]astiche
According
is the neutral practice of mimicry,
any of parody's ulterior motives, amputated of the satiric impulse, devoid
and of any conviction
that alongside the abnormal
some healthy linguistic
borrowed,
without
of'lauIIhter
tongue you have momentarily
normally still exist".
1.5.6 Streams of consciousness:
to Lombardi
According
carrying
"The
plot line may weave
in and out of time
and place,
the reader through the life span of a character or further along a timeline to
incorporate
the lives (and thoughts) of characters from other time periods. "(p. I ).
1.5.7 Fragmentations:
According
to A. Bennet and N. Royle (233 -- 233), "fragmentation
does no depend on the possibility
way
of
thinking
Dissemination
about
of an original
postmodern
`unity'
fragmentation
in postmodernism
which has been lost. Another
is in term
of
dissemination.
involves a sense of scattering (as in a scattering of seeds or `semes'), a
scattering of origins and ends, of identity, centre and presence".
11
1.5.8 Rejection of meta-narratives
According
to A. Bennet and N. Royle (234), "Grand
Marxism,
the E nlighhnent
narratives
present local explanations
claim to explain everything.
narratives such as Christianity.
a framework
attempt to provide
of individual
liar everything.
Little
but do not
events or phenomena
Little narratives are fragmentary, non-totalizing
and non-
teological.
1.5.9 Experimentation
According
to Huyssen postmodernist
experiments
is
in visual perspective,
dogma
logic,
the
temporal
which
all
o1' mimetic
and
attacked
structure
narrative
reterentiality. ''
(p. 170).
1.6
Scope of the Study
This study focused
using the components
study used Baudrillard's
in analyzing
live
plays written
that makes up the postmodern
Simulacra and simulations,
plays of the order of reality
by I luzir
Sulaiman by
framework.
theoretical
as the guidelines
This
in analyzing the
and how it reflects the culture of a postmodern
society.
The five plays are:
a)
Atomic Jaya
b)
The smell of language
c)
I-lip-Hopera
d)
Notes on Life and Love and Painting
e)
Whatever that is
This stud) is focused on the elements of the postmodern
are pastiche, fragmentations,
rejection of met-narratives,
12
framework,
which
streams of' consciousness
and hyperreality.
This study also emphasized
which is Baudrillard's
four stages of'Simulacra
on a component
and Simulations.
of postmodernism
The four stages are:
I.
The sign represents the basic reality
2.
The sign distorts or perverts a basic reality
3.
It masks the absence of reality
4.
It hears no relation to any reality whatever: it is its own pure simulacrum.
1.7
Chapter Review
This
chapter
discussed the theory
as a medium
to explain
happening to a society from a broad perspective to a more specific
contemporary
society
is facing. It explained
study on the influence
following
chapter,
on the society
of postmodernism
the researcher
will
the significance
review
postmodernism and literary works.
13
the studies
the changes
issue of which the
and relevance of this
and literature.
done
In the
in relation
to
CHAPTER
TWO
OF LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.0
Preview
This chapter reviews some of. the studies done in relation with the use ofthe
postmodern
works. The aspects reviewed in this study will
theory and l3audrillard's
show the workings
made findings
of' the postmodern
theory and how scholars of this theory
in which can he used to explain the representations
plays and especially in regards to I luzir tiulaiman's
2.10
Postmodern
According
modern
invokes
consolation
to Lyotard
(379),
wvorks.
the unpresentable
"The postmodern
in presentation
would he that which
itself,
this
adaptability
means
Postmodernism
is that
and formlessness.
describe or explain the condition
views
postmodernism
Unlike
refuses
the
a common
as repressive,
that there is something
stresses on
to
as a whole.
stating
that every
individual
Postmodern
issues
have
fragmented
the
society.
with
concerned
unique and
14
fluidity,
other theories that attempt
of 'a given population
this
in the
and inquires into a new presentations - not
to take pleasure in them. but to better produce the Iceling
What
that which
refuses the consensus of taste permitting
impossible,
for
the
nostalgia
of
experience
individuality,
found in modern
Theory
of correct terms.
unpresentable".
has
is
refuses
the 'consolation
of correct
correct
ethics and so on. Postmodernism
morality,
forms'.
where there is a notion of a correct
its rejection of such grand-narratives.
through
as postmodernism
a stand where there are no
by providing
he a contradiction
a definition
to the
to state or provide
so definite to a theory that rejects the idea in the first place.
something
Another scholar. Alex Callincos did not attempt to give a definition
of three distinct
the convergence
represented
describe the identification
of postmodernism
and sculptures
of paintings
architecture,
from
the movement
Modernism
Romanticism.
incorporates
a particular
to a wider
I lerc Calincos
are replaced
focused
range, encompassing
of arts is
this movement
For instance,
style to another.
elements,
involved
first
through the movement of arts, not only
In postmodernism,
and Surrealism
the postmodern
couple of decades".
but covers
to drama.
music, literature
trends. The
cultural
changes in the arts over the previous
in terms
to theory,
in how the theory may be explained (2), "postmodernism
but lie gave a description
certain
Thus,
truths - only mini-narratives.
refuses the concept of ahsolution.
in itself. would he a paradox. It would
theory
rejects this strict notion of unity
Maintaining
absolute truths and what remains are fragmented
structure,
such as
styles
by a newer
style which
on the past and on mass culture
(pastiche) (2).
Callincos
in philosophy
current
was thought to he giving
by contemporary
explored
(2),
the second trend
explained
artists".
Callincos
"secondly,
conceptual expression
workings
it
relates
to the third
poststructuralist
odds
with
Callincos
issues. specifically
cultural
concept (2-3).
poststructuralism's
explained
that during
trend,
to the themes
contributed
is on the understanding
"art and philosophy
seemed to reflect
changes
in the social
of the
(somewhat at
world. ''
the 1970's. a few theorists produced
15
to the
With this he
on the issues of reality.
which
anti-realism)
a certain
argued that a group of French theorists
who came in 1970's who shared the label of poststructuralism
in postmodern
however,
Here.
works that
contributed
theory.
to the development
The implication
continuation,
of postmodernism,
is that, even though
rejection
thus giving a better insight on the
has been argued as a
postmodernism
of modernism, but it shares some of its roots
or an evolution
concept. This means that postmodernism
with the poststructuralist
can be argued for
its development, as it was not seen to have developed on its own. It was an evolution
of a theory and at the same time,
sharing
similarities
with
other philosophical
concepts which have existed before it.
This opens the gate to understanding
a better understanding on what a postmodern
postmodern
text, building,
drawing upon different
performance,
postmodernism
text is. As mentioned
and so on, is usually
by Lane (85), "A
a mixture of styles,
and features to produce a hybrid liwm".
historical movements
The postmodern text, argued by lane is a 'hybrid',
of different leatures
a combination
styles or difTerent concepts of previous works that constitutes the text
from different
This 'hybrid'
as postmodern.
"postmodern
and subsequently giving
also means an eclectic work, as mentioned by Wain,
pastiche destablishes the genres from which
parts. It disseminates
texts so that no central
located and scatters the fragments randomly
or original
it borrows
its composite
be
reference
can
point of
to lorm an eclectic
work", (p. 361). An
eclectic work refers to a work that shares concepts from many forºns, specifically
a
work that does not belong to a single concept. The work may include references from
others, for instance a writer may use the references of other writers to be included
in
his or her work.
As suggested by Khalidi
elsewhere were also incorporated
as a normal phenomenon
with
other theories
structuralism.
that
(9), " elements from other theories first elaborated
into the postmodern realm".
Thus it is considered
when certain features in a postmodern
have existed
before
text can be related
it, such as modernism
These features can best he termed as elements
and post-
that incorporate
the
theory, and in which these elements can also be traced to these other theories. What is
16
important in this study is not so much as in what the theories have in similarities
with
one another, rather. the emphasis is on how the theories views the elements that they
have similarities
with. Postmodernism
are incorporated
by it. One instance would be, unlike modernism,
that postmodernism
have a distinct perception
in the elements that
the difference
is
no longer laments over these elements that they have in common,
but rejoiced it, specifically.
viewing
these elements as a positive
phenomenon
and
that, even though
the
accepts them to be a part of the society.
2.1.1
Elements
of Postmodern
Texts.
As for the elements, it is important
postmodern term is hard to be conclusively
the elements
The
themselves.
theory functions.
defined, but it can still he described
elements
is and the mechanism
postmodernism
to be reminded
give
a better
that contributes
understanding
to the explanation
of
by
what
in how the
I Jere, the researcher has listed the major elements ofthe postmodern
theory:
"
Hyperreality:
According
to ßaudrillard
synthesis of combinatory
the inability
to distinguish
"a hyperreal is the product of an irradiating
(38I-382)
models in a hyperspace without
atmosphere. 'T'hus it is
between what is real and what is not, an enhancement
of reality".
"
Simulacra:
As defined by Baurillard
that is, an operation
metastable,
(i82)
"ISJubstituting
to deter every
programmatic,
perfect
signs of the real and short circuits
signs of the real for the real itself;
real process by its operational
descriptive
machine
all its vicissitudes.
have to he reproduced".
17
which
double,
provides
Never again will
a
all the
the real
"
Simulations:
to Baudrilard
According
one has. To simulate
is to feign
to feign:
he is ill.
"Someone
Someone
who
symptoms"
(Zittre).
intact:
difference
the
threatens
who
is more complicated,
feigns an illness
an illness
not to have what
is always
clear,
between
"true"
and
is not
go to bed and pretend
in himself
produces
it is only
a presence,
since to simulate
can simply
or dissimulating
feigning
difference
the
is to feign
to have what one hasn't. One implies
simulates
Thus.
dissimulate
"to
an absence. But the matter
the other
simply
(382-383),
some
leaves the reality
masked,
whereas
between
"false",
of' the
principle
simulation
"real"
and
"imaginary""
"
Rejection
of meta(grand)-narratives:
According
to
A. I3ennet
Marxism,
Christianity,
N. Royle
the l".nlightment
Little narratives
everything.
phenomena
but do not
fragmentary,
non-totalizing
writing
and
(234).
attempt
"Grand
to provide
present local explanations
claim
to explain
to reject the notion
of' absolute
Little
as
fir
events or
narratives
are
In literary texts it is the style of
of the authors to rejects the concept of absolution.
the author
such
a framework
of individual
everything.
and non-teological".
narratives
truths
It is as an attempt by
and replaces
it with
the
acceptance of mini-narratives.
"
Pastiche:
According
to a quote from Jameson (extracted from Felluga, p. I), "Pastiche
like parody, the imitation
ofa linguistic
mimicry,
of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic
is,
style, the wearing
mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice ofsuch
without
any of parody's
ulterior
impulse, devoid of laughter".
18
motives,
amputated
of the satiric