Analysis of the postmodern story of "The Cheetah Running With Me" by Bijan Najdi According to Lyotard's theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran

2 PhD student of Persian language and literature of Semnan University

Abstract

Jean-Francois Lyotard, an important French theoretician, is considered the author and commentator of postmodernism. He views the breakdown of grand narratives as the key feature of postmodernism. Another crucial element in Lyotard's theory is the incoherence of meaning, the existence of multiple truths, the refusal of presuppositions, skepticism, and language games. Since some characteristics of the stories about the cheetahs running with me are related to the elements that Lyotard mentioned for postmodern works; In the current study, we attempted to analyze the narrative structure of this story collection using Lyotard's theory to identify its coherence. In terms of the collapse of macro narratives, we are facing the breakdown of two types of grand narratives, one historical and the other scientific. In the first type, everything recognized in society is questioned. For example, the conventional view of love as a human emotion is reevaluated and linked to animals. In the second type, science is rejected along with all its requirements. This is illustrated in the story of "Giahi da quarantine". Another notable aspect of Lyotard's work is the absence of clear meaning, which is evident in many of the stories in this collection that lack a definitive ending, such as "Roze Asprizi." The uncertainty at the end of the story creates multiple truths, which is another characteristic of postmodern stories. This is exemplified in stories such as "Estakhri por az kabus" and "Seporde be zamin." The rejection of presuppositions can also lead to the collapse of narratives,

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Main Subjects

Research in Narrative Literature

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 February 2025

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