Irony and Black Humor in Bukowski‟s Hollywood and Pulp: A Study of Linda Hutcheon‟s Two Postmodern Concepts [PP: 132-140] Zahra Notash Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages Islamic Azad University, Tehran Central Branch Tehran, Iran Zahra Bordbari (Corresponding Author) Department of English Language, Faculty of Foreign Languages Islamic Azad University, Tehran Central Branch Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT The present article tries to study irony and humor (black humor) in Charles Bukowski‟s Hollywood and Pulp in the light of Hutcheon‟s theoretical framework on the idea of playfulness to see how they could be interpreted in terms of postmodern fiction. The previous researchers have considered Bukowski‟s fictions; however, they did not regard them in respect of the concept of play. As a result, the aim of this study is to understand whether there is any relationship between Bukowski‟s ironical humorous language and Hutcheon‟s critical theories on irony and black humor as identifiable features of postmodern fiction or not? To achieve the end, the researcher is going to interpret these two novels‟ verbal ironies regarding Hutcheon‟s proposed ironic markers as well as the structural ironies and black humors with regard to the doctrines of the mentioned postmodern critic. Therefore, the analysis seems convincing enough not only to indicate the significant importance Hutcheon‟s critical theories on postmodernism, but also to claim that these two novels consist of the outstanding aspects of postmodern fiction including irony and black humor. Keywords: Linda Hutcheon, Postmodern Fiction, Irony, Black humor, Hollywood, Pulp ARTICLE The paper received on Reviewed on Accepted after revisions on INFO 18/10/2018 20/11/2018 30/12/2018 Suggested citation: Notash, Z. & Bordbari, Z. (2018). Irony and Black Humor in Bukowski‟s Hollywood and Pulp: A Study of Linda Hutcheon‟s Two Postmodern Concepts. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies. 6(4). 132-140. 1. Introduction playful by being ironical or using black What has attracted the attention of the humor (1988). current critics is the role of irony and humor Furthermore, Henry Charles Bukowski in representing serious and significant as the author of Hollywood and Pulp is a issues. Linda Hutcheon is one of the literary German-American prolific writer who critics who has emphasized on such a became an important literary figure in the specific role of humor. As a contemporary 1960s (Debritto, 2011:71). His literary Canadian postmodern critic and university works are surrounded through the themes of professor of English and Comparative corruption of capitalism, working-class Literature, she has extended her misery, boredom and absurdity, contributions to literary criticism by meaninglessness and unproductivity, theorizing and politicizing irony in her poverty, gambling, drinking, and on the famous book entitled Irony‟s Edge: The whole the failure of human relationships and Theory and Politics of Irony (1994). Indeed, the subsequent loneliness of individuals. this book might be considered as the basic Bukowski claimed that his novels are mostly theoretical framework of this article in autobiographical except the last one, Pulp. which the main focus is on verbal and His style of writing also resembles that of structural irony. However, Hutcheon‟s main Hemingway; it is simple, direct, reputation relies upon her critical theories on straightforward, and short. Apparently, postmodernism. In A Poetics of humor is the most remarkable element in his Postmodernism, she regards postmodern writings. In other words, he represented real fiction as being playful; and a work could be life events and the facts of city life in a Irony and Black Humor in Bukowski‟s Hollywood and Pulp: A Study of Linda … Zahra Notash & Zahra Bordbari comical and ironical manner which lead to Bukowski‟s autobiographical fictions in create hilarious moments for his readers. which the main character is himself; an Accordingly, Hollywood and Pulp as his last aging, alcoholic, ugly persona. Don adds two novels might not be exceptions of that Bukowski most of the time got trapped employing irony, black humor, and on the by excess of writing; the concept which whole the idea of playfulness. Therefore, the made him a prolific and sometimes even a present article aims to study Bukowski‟s last hyper-prolific author. two novels in the light of Hutcheon‟s critical Abel Debritto, on November 2017, theories of playfulness to see how they could also wrote an article entitled “Charles be interpreted in respect of postmodern Bukowski Wrote So Fast His Publisher fiction‟s characteristics. To achieve this end, Couldn‟t Keep Up,” discussing such a various verbal ironies that are recognized prolific American writer. In this article, the through Hutcheon‟s proposed ironic markers author describes Bukowski as a womanizer, together with structural ironies and black drinker and dirty old man who was humors existed in these two novels are going considered as a prolific author with just five to be analyzed with regard to Hutcheon‟s thousands poems. He adds that Bukowski discussed theories on irony and humor. But started to publish his works with the little before that, the novelty of the following magazine. article will also be investigated. Furthermore, Mark Conway wrote 2. Literature Review another article entitled “Charles Bukowski” Considering the previous studies on on July 2017. In this article, the author refers Charles Bukowski, previous research to Bukowski as a prolific poet, novelist, and conductors have mostly focused on the issue short story writer who depicted both beauty of genre and gender, alcoholism, female and brutality of the world. Then he adds that characters and characterization, his poetry, Bukowski became wealthy from his writings his autobiographical fictions, and the at the end of his life. He describes importance of risk in his literary works. In Bukowski‟s life with a great focus on how this case, the researcher provides the most he became a well-known author. According recent books, articles, and theses on Charles to him, Bukowski was highly influenced by Bukowski in the following: Ernest Hemingway because he read most of David Stephen Calonne wrote a book his literary works. entitled Charles Bukowski: Critical Lives in Another work on Bukowski is “The 2012. He provides both personal and Portrayal of Women in the Novels of professional information regarding his life Charles Bukowski,” an extended essay and describes the context in which each written by Jani Korhonen on 2006, in which books were written. He also adds that the author describes how Bukowski‟s Bukowski provided an original style as a attitude toward women has changed his mixture of lyric, violence, desperation, and a novels as a result of the feminist movements sense of humor throughout his career. to improve their position in the society. Charles Bukowski written by Gay Bukowski saw positive points about women Brewer in 1997 also could be considered as in Hollywood; however, he looked at them another critical overview on Bukowski‟s just as an object in his earlier novels. life. Although he set himself aside from The next article written on the author‟s Ernest Hemingway through using his sense work is William Anthony Nericcio‟s of humor, Brewer represents him more “Review of Pulp by Charles Bukowski” similar to Hemingway in the aspect of heavy (Autumn 1995) in which the author reliance on death, the male psyche, as well describes Bukowski‟s last novel as a pulp as dialogue. fiction and sometimes as a detective story The next one is Contemporary together with providing a brief summary on Novelists as a book edited by D. L. it. Moreover, Lauri Leinonen from Kirkpatrick. Jay Dougherty as the author University of Tamper submitted a thesis claims that Bukowski‟s style of writing like titled “„Magic and Terrible‟: Female Hemingway includes simplicity, directness, Characters and Characterization in Charles straightforward without using any literary Bukowski‟s Post Office, Factotum and devices. He also states that humor which Women” on April 2014. As the title shows, creates attraction is the most important the researcher analyzes female characters as element in his writing. flat; discussing how Bukowski characterized Don Strachan wrote an article entitled them. “Bukowski in Jet Stream of Words,” in In addition, Mike Ryan from 2018. In this article, Don refers to University of Louisiana in 2014 submitted a International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies (www.eltsjournal.org) ISSN:2308-5460 Volume: 06 Issue: 04 October-December, 2018 Page | 133 International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies (www.eltsjournal.org) ISSN:2308-5460 Volume: 06 Issue: 04 October-December, 2018 thesis titled “„no hope, just/booze and which is resulted in undermining or madness‟: Connecting Social Alienation and authorizing set of beliefs or principles. Alcoholism in Charles Bukowski‟s According to her, such capability is also Autobiographical Fiction.” In this study, derived from the need to treat irony as a Ryan explores social alienation as a result of discursive strategy (1994). alcoholism in five autobiographical novels In addition, she introduces two of Bukowski. participants involved in irony: „the ironist‟ Another instance is “„If you don‟t and „the intended audiences‟ (1994:10). gamble, you‟ll never win‟: The Importance However, sometimes the intended audiences of Risk in Charles Bukowski‟s Ham on Rye, fail to perceive the intended ironic meaning Factotum, Post Office, Women, and or even misinterpret it. In this case, she Hollywood,” a thesis submitted by Nathan proposes „the interpreter‟ along with „the Franklin from Middle Tennessee State ironist‟ as two active parts in production and University on 2013. Franklin focuses on the reception of irony (1994:11). Therefore, her risk of gambling as a motif in his already- main focus is on the interpreter rather than stated novels. the ironist unlike previous studies on irony.