"In earlier books on deconstruction, cultural criticism, and other recent movements, Vincent B. Leitch established himself as an intrepid reporter from the darkest and most impenetrable regions of 'theory.' Now Leitch beards the biggest dragon of all in its den—Postmodernism. Useful to Pomo insiders, Leitch's lucid account will bring welcome illumination to readers who have longed for a readable and reliable guide to the labyrinth of postmodernisms." — Gerald Graff, George M. Pullman Professor of English and Education, The University of Chicago, Illinois"Vincent B. Leitch's sharp new book, Postmodernism—Local Effects, Global Flows, works today's intersection of deconstruction and cultural studies, trafficking in the main currents of contemporary criticism from Derrida's Specters of Marx through the latest futures in aesthetics, political economy, feminism, ethics, pedagogy, virtual reality, and institutional theory. With street-smart wit and scholarly expertise, Leitch grounds high theory in the material conditions of daily life, ranging all the way from the shattered dishes of Julian Schnabel to the smooth, hyper-real orbit of space-age communication." — Walter Kalaidjian, Emory University