7.2 The influence of Western literature on Murakami and contemporary Japanese writers

Murakami's writing is heavily influenced by Western literature, blending postmodern techniques with Japanese storytelling. He draws inspiration from American authors like Kurt Vonnegut and Raymond Carver, incorporating their styles into his unique narrative voice.

European writers like Franz Kafka also shape Murakami's work, infusing it with surreal and existential themes. This fusion of Eastern and Western literary traditions creates a distinctive style that resonates with global audiences.

Postmodern and Contemporary Western Influences

Postmodern Literary Techniques and Themes

Top images from around the web for Postmodern Literary Techniques and Themes

• 

  LilVia: Homes sense dones, de Haruki Murakami View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami [8/10] - Read Listen Watch View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  LilVia: Homes sense dones, de Haruki Murakami View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Postmodern Literary Techniques and Themes

• 

  LilVia: Homes sense dones, de Haruki Murakami View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami [8/10] - Read Listen Watch View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  LilVia: Homes sense dones, de Haruki Murakami View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Postmodernism a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by skepticism, irony, fragmentation, and self-reflexivity
• Postmodern writers often challenge traditional narrative structures, blur the boundaries between reality and fiction, and question the nature of truth and identity
• Murakami's works incorporate postmodern elements such as surreal and fantastical elements, non-linear narratives, and a blurring of the line between dreams and reality (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle)
• Postmodern literature often explores themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in a fragmented and chaotic world, which are prevalent in Murakami's novels (Kafka on the Shore)

Influence of Kurt Vonnegut

• Kurt Vonnegut an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels that often blend science fiction with social commentary
• Vonnegut's works, such as Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat's Cradle, have influenced Murakami's writing style and themes
• Both authors employ a mix of humor, irony, and absurdity to address serious topics and critique modern society
• Murakami has acknowledged Vonnegut's influence on his writing, particularly in terms of using surreal and fantastical elements to explore deeper truths about the human condition

Globalization and Transnational Narratives

• Globalization has led to an increased exchange of ideas, cultures, and literary traditions across national borders
• Contemporary Japanese writers, including Murakami, have been influenced by a wide range of international authors and literary movements
• Murakami's works often feature characters who travel between Japan and other countries, reflecting the transnational nature of modern life (Norwegian Wood)
• The globalization of literature has allowed for a greater cross-pollination of ideas and styles, resulting in the emergence of hybrid and cosmopolitan forms of writing that transcend national boundaries

20th Century American Authors

Influence of Raymond Carver and Minimalism

• Raymond Carver an American short story writer and poet associated with the literary movement known as "dirty realism" or minimalism
• Carver's writing is characterized by spare, unadorned prose, a focus on working-class characters, and an exploration of the dark undercurrents of everyday life
• Murakami has cited Carver as an influence on his own writing, particularly in terms of his use of simple, direct language and his attention to the small details of his characters' lives
• Like Carver, Murakami often explores themes of loneliness, alienation, and the search for connection in a modern, urban setting (After Dark)

F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Jazz Age

• F. Scott Fitzgerald an American novelist and short story writer, best known for his novel The Great Gatsby, which captures the decadence and disillusionment of the Jazz Age
• Fitzgerald's writing is characterized by a lyrical prose style, a fascination with wealth and status, and an exploration of the dark side of the American Dream
• Murakami has expressed admiration for Fitzgerald's writing and has incorporated elements of his style and themes into his own work
• Both authors explore the ways in which the pursuit of wealth, status, and pleasure can lead to emptiness and despair, and the difficulty of finding authentic human connection in a materialistic society (Dance Dance Dance)

The Beat Generation and Counterculture

• The Beat Generation a group of American writers who emerged in the 1950s, known for their unconventional lifestyles, their rejection of traditional values, and their experimentation with language and form
• Beat writers such as Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs explored themes of spiritual quest, sexual liberation, and the search for alternative modes of living
• Murakami's writing shares some similarities with the Beat Generation in terms of its embrace of countercultural values, its exploration of alternative states of consciousness, and its rejection of conformity and materialism
• Like the Beat writers, Murakami often features characters who are outsiders or misfits, struggling to find their place in a society that they feel alienated from (A Wild Sheep Chase)

European Influences

Franz Kafka and Existentialism

• Franz Kafka a Jewish-Czech writer, one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, known for his surreal and enigmatic stories that explore themes of alienation, guilt, and the absurdity of modern life
• Kafka's works, such as The Metamorphosis and The Trial, have had a profound impact on Murakami's writing, particularly in terms of their use of surreal and fantastical elements to explore deeper psychological and existential truths
• Both authors create dreamlike, often nightmarish worlds that serve as metaphors for the human condition, and both explore the ways in which individuals struggle to find meaning and purpose in an absurd and often hostile universe
• Murakami's novel Kafka on the Shore is a direct homage to Kafka, incorporating many of his themes and motifs, including the blurring of the line between reality and fantasy, the sense of being trapped in a labyrinthine bureaucracy, and the search for identity and belonging in a world that seems indifferent to human suffering
• Like Kafka, Murakami often presents his protagonists as lonely, alienated figures who are grappling with deep existential questions and struggling to find their place in the world (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle)