This paper explores the evolving relationship between utopia and realism in the works of György Lukács and Fredric Jameson, centering on four subsequent reconfigurations of these concepts in their writing. With respect to Lukács, the focus is on his transition from negative utopianism in his early theory of the novel to writing later about “immanent utopianism” in his theory of realism and the historical novel. Regarding Jameson, the article follows the development of his writing on utopia. Jameson's thinking about utopian form reflects his development from the Lukácsian model of representation to an alternative model in which the utopia takes center stage. I argue that Jameson's late theory of utopian representation, applied to utopia as well as contemporary historical novels, can be seen both as a gradual emancipation from Lukács’ framework and an attempt at a more radical methodological continuity in a changing historical situation.
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