Postmodern discourse and comparison of İhsan Oktay Anar's and John Fowles' novels in terms of postmodernism

Tha aim of this thesis is to re-define the term postmodernism, which has changed in recent years, as related to the changing concepts, cultural structure and ways of life in our world, in terms of art, culture, economy, ideology and language; and to determine the reflection of such a change in postmodern novels. How postmodern elements are dealt with in İhsan Oktay Anar's and John Fowles' novels will be examined both in form and content. The thesis, first of all, focuses on the theoretical issues due to the conflicting nature of postmodern discourse. The multi-dimensional term is discussed in the first 10 chapters in detail from different angles. In the first chapter, the connection of postmodernism to the new world order / globalisation is analysed; in the second chapter, the concepts of postmodernism, modernism and postmodernity are compared / contrasted; in the third chapter, how postmodern novel (re)presents reality is discussed; in the fourth chapter, the politics and language relationship is examined; in the fifth chapter, the aesthetic concerns of postmodern art are studied; in the sixth chapter, the relationship between postmodern novels and culture is determined; in the seventh chapter, the properties of postmodern literature are analysed; in the eight chapter, parody, pastiche, irony, intertextuality, space and time, all of which are the main constituents of postmodern novels are defined; in the ninth chapter, discourse as a general term is dealt with; and in the tenth chapter, the interaction among metaphor, discourse and meaning is discussed on a theoretical base. Following theoretical discussions and definitions, the chosen novels by both writers are analysed under the comprehensive terms "polyphony", "metafiction", "loss of reality", "defamiliarisation", and "human typology". The novels examined are Suskunlar, Efrasiyab'ın Hikayeleri, Kitab-ül Hiyel, Puslu Kıtalar Atlası, Amat and Yedinci Gün written by the Turkish novelist İhsan Oktay Anar; and The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Collector, The Magus, Mantissa, The Ebony Tower and Daniel Martin written by the English novelist John Fowles. In the thesis, comparing and contrasting the cultural, ideologic and literary approaches of both novelists, who respresent two different cultures and artistic styles; stylistic and thematic differences and similarities are determined and the new human typology is discussed as regards the cultural, economic and political trends in the world. The conclusion part is devoted to the evaluation and comparison of novels with regard to postmodern discourse. Key Words: Postmodern Discourse; İhsan Oktay Anar; John Fowles; Postmodernist Novel