Minimalism in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Minimalism

The term “minimalism” derives from the word “minimal” and its Latin root “minimus,” which means “least” or “smallest.”

In an artistic and aesthetic context, minimalism emerged as a prominent movement in the mid-20th century, particularly in visual arts and design. It is characterized by simplicity, sparseness, and a deliberate reduction of elements to their essential or fundamental forms. Minimalist art and design aim to strip away excess, focusing on purity and the elimination of unnecessary ornamentation.

The term “minimalism” was first applied to art in the 1960s and soon extended its influence to other creative fields, including architecture, literature, music, and lifestyle, where the emphasis on simplicity and the essentials continues to hold sway as a significant cultural and artistic movement.

Meanings of Minimalism

Aspect	Meaning
Narrative Economy	Minimalism in literature emphasizes brevity and conciseness in storytelling. It seeks to convey narratives with a minimum of words, often focusing on essential details while omitting superfluous descriptions and elaborations. This approach values brevity as a means of highlighting the core elements of a story.
Sparse Descriptions	Minimalist literature often employs sparse descriptions, relying on readers to actively engage their imagination and fill in the gaps. This style encourages readers to participate in the creation of the story’s visual and emotional landscape.
Character Depth Through Subtext	Minimalist writers may depict complex characters through subtext and subtle cues rather than extensive exposition. Readers are expected to infer character traits, motivations, and emotions from characters’ actions, dialogues, and interactions.
Everyday Realism	Minimalist literature often portrays everyday life and ordinary situations. It seeks to capture the mundane and the commonplace, emphasizing the beauty and significance that can be found in the ordinary.
Emotional Restraint	Minimalist writers frequently employ emotional restraint, allowing readers to discern characters’ emotions through understated and subtle means. This approach contrasts with explicit emotional expression, inviting readers to engage with the text on a deeper level.
Dialogue-Centric	Dialogue plays a pivotal role in minimalist literature. Conversations between characters are used not only to convey information but also to reveal personalities, conflicts, and the dynamics of relationships.
Symbolism and Metaphor	While minimalist literature often appears straightforward, it can incorporate symbolism and metaphor, challenging readers to uncover deeper layers of meaning beneath the surface simplicity.
Anti-Excess and Anti-Ornamentation	Minimalist literature rejects ornate language and excessive embellishments. It favors straightforward prose and eschews unnecessary adornments, emphasizing the power of simplicity.
Reader Participation	Minimalist literature invites readers to actively engage with the text by leaving spaces for interpretation and personal reflection. Readers are encouraged to fill in the narrative gaps and explore the nuances of the story.
Postmodern Minimalism	In a postmodern literary context, minimalism may challenge traditional narrative structures, disrupt linear timelines, and experiment with narrative fragments. It reflects the postmodern ethos of questioning and deconstructing established norms.

Definition of Minimalism as a Theoretical Term

Minimalism, as a theoretical term in various disciplines, refers to a deliberate and purposeful reduction of elements, complexity, or embellishments to achieve simplicity and essentiality. It emphasizes a streamlined and focused approach, often removing non-essential or extraneous components to distill concepts or designs to their core essence. Minimalism aims to convey meaning, function, or aesthetics through clarity, economy, and an emphasis on the fundamental elements, promoting a sense of purity and restraint in creative and scholarly endeavors.

Minimalism: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorist, Field, and Key Works	Argument
Donald Judd (Art)	Donald Judd played a pivotal role in defining minimalist art in the 1960s. He argued for the creation of art that stripped away unnecessary elements, focusing on the physicality of objects and the interaction between the viewer and the artwork. Judd’s minimalism rejected traditional aesthetics and emphasized the direct experience of the artwork.
Samuel Beckett (Literature and Theater)	Beckett’s theatrical and literary works are often associated with minimalist aesthetics. He believed in the power of silence, repetition, and the reduction of characters and settings to their essential elements to convey the human condition’s absurdity and existentialism.
Mies van der Rohe (Architecture)	Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is a prominent figure in minimalist architecture. He famously coined the phrase “less is more.” His architecture advocated for simplicity, clean lines, and a focus on the essential functions of a building, rejecting unnecessary ornamentation.
John Cage (Music)	John Cage’s contributions to minimalist music challenged traditional notions of composition. He introduced the concept of silence as music, inviting listeners to focus on ambient sounds and the passage of time. Cage’s works embraced randomness and simplicity, redefining the boundaries of music.
Dieter Rams (Product Design)	Dieter Rams, a renowned industrial designer, advocated for minimalist product design. His “10 Principles of Good Design” emphasized clarity, simplicity, and the elimination of non-essential features in product design. His work has had a lasting influence on modern product design.
Anne Truitt (Visual Arts)	Anne Truitt’s minimalist artworks focused on the interplay of color, form, and surface. Her sculptures, often monolithic and rectangular, aimed to evoke emotional and sensory experiences through simplicity and abstraction.
Robert Irwin (Visual Arts)	Robert Irwin’s minimalist art blurs the boundaries between art and environment. He explores perception and the viewer’s interaction with space and light, advocating for an immersive and experiential approach to art.

Exponents of Minimalism in Literature

Ernest Hemingway:

• Key Works: “The Old Man and the Sea,” “Hills Like White Elephants.”
• Argument: Hemingway’s minimalism is characterized by his “Iceberg Theory,” where he presents only the tip of the narrative iceberg, leaving much unsaid. His writing focuses on sparse prose and minimal description, allowing readers to infer deeper meaning and emotions.

Raymond Carver:

• Key Works: “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” “Cathedral.”
• Argument: Carver is known for his short stories that capture the lives of ordinary people in simple, everyday situations. He believed in the power of omission, leaving readers to grapple with the unspoken and the unsaid, allowing them to connect with the human condition.

Amy Hempel:

• Key Works: “Reasons to Live,” “The Collected Stories.”
• Argument: Hempel’s stories are extremely concise and focus on brief, fragmented moments. She explores themes of loss, longing, and the human experience through minimalistic, precise prose, often using the power of implication to convey deep emotions.

Lydia Davis:

• Key Works: “Varieties of Disturbance,” “The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis.”
• Argument: Davis is known for her extremely short stories and micro-fiction. She experiments with language, syntax, and structure to create concise yet thought-provoking narratives. Her minimalism challenges conventional storytelling and invites readers to contemplate language’s possibilities.

Cormac McCarthy:

• Key Works: “The Road,” and “No Country for Old Men.”
• Argument: McCarthy’s minimalism is marked by stark, spare prose and a focus on essential details. His works often explore themes of violence, morality, and the human condition in post-apocalyptic landscapes. The simplicity of his writing amplifies the intensity of his narratives.

Don DeLillo:

• Key Works: “White Noise,” and “Underworld.”
• Argument: DeLillo’s minimalism combines everyday language with intellectual depth. He explores the impact of technology, consumerism, and media on contemporary society while using minimalistic prose to create a sense of detachment and alienation.

Joan Didion:

• Key Works: “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” “The Year of Magical Thinking.”
• Argument: Didion’s minimalism is characterized by her introspective and reflective essays. She uses concise, precise language to explore personal experiences, cultural observations, and the fragility of human existence.

These authors employ minimalism in their literature to varying degrees, using concise language, sparse description, and the power of omission to create works that challenge readers to engage actively in interpreting and finding meaning in the text.

Minimalism and Literary Theories

Theory	Relevance
New Criticism	Emphasizes close analysis of form and language, aligning with minimalist literature’s focus on stripped-down style.
Reader-Response Theory	Examines how readers construct meaning, relevant as minimalist texts often leave gaps for readers to interpret.
Postmodernism	Challenges traditional narrative conventions, making it relevant as minimalist literature often subverts expectations and experiments with form.
Deconstruction	Involves examining textual contradictions, which aligns with minimalist literature’s use of omission and hidden complexities.
Minimalist Aesthetics	Shares principles of simplicity and clarity, applicable to the analysis of minimalist texts and their deliberate word and structure choices.
Post-structuralism	Questions the author’s centrality, relevant as minimalist authors often step back, allowing readers to co-create meaning.
Narratology	Focuses on narrative elements, relevant because minimalist literature often plays with traditional narrative structures in unconventional ways.

Suggested Readings

1. Danchev, Alex. On Art and War and Terror. Edinburgh University Press, 2009.
2. De Botton, Alain. The Architecture of Happiness. Penguin Books, 2007.
3. Fried, Michael. Art and Objecthood: Essays and Reviews. University of Chicago Press, 1998.
4. Judd, Donald. Donald Judd: Complete Writings 1959-1975. The Press of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 2005.
5. Lippard, Lucy R. Six Years: The Dematerialization of the Art Object from 1966 to 1972. University of California Press, 1997.
6. McLeod, Mary. Diet and the Disease of Civilization. Paradigm Publishers, 2012.
7. Morris, Robert. Continuous Project Altered Daily: The Writings of Robert Morris. MIT Press, 1994.
8. Schapiro, Meyer. The Language of Forms: Lectures on Insular Manuscript Art. Pierpont Morgan Library, 2005.