The Return of Modernism: An Analysis of The Relation between the Metamodernist Debate and Two Novels by Ali Smith

Abstract

This master thesis aims to analyse how two twenty-first century novels by Ali Smith, Hotel World (2001), and How to Be Both (2014) relate to the modernism of the twentieth century. For this research, author research, a close analysis of both of the novels, and reception research will be carried out to analyse whether the author profiles herself as modernist, and if this can be seen in the novels themselves and their reception. To outline the metamodernist debate, Tim Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker’s, as well as David James and Urmila Seshagiri’s articles and book on metamodernism will be discussed. Bourdieu’s theories are used to explain the importance of reception research. This thesis argues that Smith does not actively relate herself to twentieth century modernism, but does use modernist techniques in both of the novels.