Some Evaluation On Donald Barthelme's Snow White

Postmodernism, which is a complicated term or set of ideas, has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s, and it's the fresh air of the critics. Therefore, as the father of the postmodernism, Donald Barthelme (1931-1989) is given the priority to others. Delight in formal experimentation is one characteristic of much of the contemporary American fictions. Therefore, as a preeminent writer of experimental fiction, Barthelme creates stories that are both humorous and unsettling by juxtaposing incongruous elements of the contemporary language and culture. He represents his brilliance as an inventor of forms. Believing that traditional forms and structures of art and literature are inadequate for addressing the peculiar needs and concerns of the modern world, Barthelme has endeavored to promote new and inventive approaches. His unconventionally structured fiction reflects his belief that"the principle of collage is the central principle of all art in the twentieth century in all media"(qtd. in Bellamy 1992: 47).Snow White is a good example. It is a parody of the world-renowned Grimm's fable. Barthelme adopts new techniques to retell the story. Although characters are a bit different from those in the fable, the story adopts the form of metafiction, and keeps the main idea of the former story. These writing techniques offer us a new perspective to understand postmodernism and Barthelme's works. Barthelme's writing is characterized by the absence of plot and character development, disjointed syntax and dialogue, parodies of techniques, mass media, intellectual jargon and clichés, and a humor from a contrast between outrageous premises and deadpan presentation. With the help of both the narration of character and the invention of language and structure, Bathelme expresses his own opinions to the issues of postmodern lives, such as plural culture and world concern.