Jameson

Jameson in this article argues that postmodernism became integrated into our society as the society itself changed to a more capitalist, consumer driven environment. The disappearance of the depth and emotion in the postmodern works symbolized the simultaneous loss of individuality through the spread of commodification and superficiality. Jameson's comparison of Warhol's shoes to those of Van Gogh's shoes helped me to clearly identity the evident differences that emerged with postmodern art from previous works. Warhol's choice of shoe (high heels) and the quantity depicted reflects the changing times where consumerism was taking off and people began to buy not only out of necessity, but they began to take a step into a simplified version of the consumer world that has engulfed our nation over the years.

Jameson's motivating question is to define and expand on his discussion of postmodernism. He admits, "it would of course be inaccurate to suggest that all affect, all feeling or emotion , all subjectivity has vanished from the newer image" (10).

Questions:
1) Jameson discusses on page 14, how the anxiety and alienation depicted in The Scream as no longer appropriate in postermodern works and also how there is no longer a "self present to do the feeling) (15). I feel as though Warhol's painting can be looked at superficially, yet I see much deeper into the potential meaning of the painting. Why do women shop? Why do people buy things? To improve their self-esteem, to wash away their sorrows, to preoccupy themselves from a life they do not wish to live, etc. Therefore I am confused on why Warhol's painting lacks a sense of self and feeling.
2) On page 20, I do not understand Jameson's explanation of the "death of the subject" for actors.