Navigating the Virtual Realm: Cybercultural Portrayals in Post-postmodern Fiction

Abstract

<p>In this article, I explore the portrayals of cyberculturalism in post-postmodern literature, exploring how a number of contemporary literary works have been influenced by virtuality, digital technology, electronic textuality, and multimediality. I also examine how cyberculturalism in literature represents a challenge to traditional notions of authorship and ownership, fostering collaboration and collective creation. Furthermore, I display how cyberculturalism dismantles the publishing monopoly and provides authors with a variety of outlets to release their works. Additionally, I draw upon the dominance of the internet, AI, ChatGPT, and social media in shaping new forms of social communication in post-postmodern literature, and how cybercultural environments impact users’ identities, lifestyles, and relationships. To illustrate the paradigms of cyberculturalism in post-postmodern literature, I analyze several contemporary literary works through the lens of cyberculturalism and discuss key characteristics of cyberculturalism as portrayed in those works. I also touch upon themes such as increased level of (dis)connectivity, the consequences of online anonymity, cyberharassment, dichotomy of online/offline identities, and man-machine symbiosis as represented in the selected works.<br></p>