The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The book The Unbearable Lightness of Being also incorporates a number of similar postmodernism themes to Warhol’s art.  The story takes place in Prague and involves four primary characters Named Tomas, Tereza, Sabina, and Franz. Tomas is a very successful surgeon who marries Tereza, but continues to have affairs with other women including Sabina who is a very free spirited artist representing “lightness” or an openness to experience new things and not be tied down by any pre-conceived ideas or truths (Corbett). During the story, the Communist regime is in power in Prague, and is trying to establish a totalitarian state. The idea of Kitsch is prevalent in the story as the Communists and the dissident group use simple propaganda and political doctrines to appeal to the masses. The author Kundera notes that Kitsch is an aesthetic ideal “in which shit is denied and everyone acts as though it did not exist” referring to the negative aspects of Communism (Kundera). He provided an example of politicians kissing babies as the ultimate Kitschy move as it is a propaganda move designed to appeal to the masses, but has not real truth behind it. The author is also concerned that a singe political movement could form a totalitarian Kitsch where personal expression and individuality would be in jeopardy. This was the concern that a communist government would control the actions, thoughts, and lives of people eliminating freedom of thought, expression, or interpretation. In the story the characters of Sabina and Tomas represent the postmodernist philosophy of relativism and nihilism where there are no objective truths or boundaries. Even their attitude towards sex and relationships shows a true feeling that there are no moral truths or intrinsic values (Corbett). Much like Warhol with his art, these characters reject the concept of objective truth in any form, and leave everything for subjective interpretation.