Ekphrastic Conceptualism in Postmodern British and American Novels

Discussing the ancient notion of ekphrasis, this study examines the interpenetration of literary and non-literary art. The author demonstrates how ekphrasis is useful for reading contemporary novels that feature non-representative, conceptual works of art by taking a close look at the works of Don DeLillo, Paul Auster and Tom McCarthy.

---

The relationship between the arts has fascinated people for centuries. Discussing the ancient notion of ekphrasis, this study examines the interpenetration of literary and non-literary art. Traditionally, ekphrasis is defined as a rhetorical device for the poetic description of a painting or a sculpture that has been steadily gaining attention in literary studies since the mid-twentieth century. Taking a close look at the works of Don DeLillo, Paul Auster and Tom McCarthy, the author demonstrates how ekphrasis is useful for reading contemporary novels that feature non-representative, conceptual works of art.