Mixtape

Explain how certain kinds of media can be defined as postmodern

Post-modernism, as a movement, focuses on holding up a mirror to the world and pointing out what it is really like, wether it be fake or real. It does this by using intertextual references, hyper-reality, simulacrum and bricolage for example. Whereas Modernism focuses on moving forward and trying new things, post-modernism rejects this and asks 'Why cant it be done this way?'

Christopher Nolan directed a very highly anticipated film called Inception in 2011 and this can be defined as post-modern through Baudrillard's theory of Hyper-Reality. This means that a text blurs the boundaries between reailty and a simulation of reality. This is actually the main theme behind the film so it becomes the perfect example, as the characters in the film struggle to distinguish certain 'dream' worlds, from the real world. Another type of media that similarly simulates the real world would be in most video games today, particularly RPG games, for example Assasins Creed. This game allows you to travel to certain places, Rome, Florence, Venice for example and see them as they were when the game is set. This means you can travel the world and see through your characters eyes without actually moving from your seat. This makes the world a much smaller place. Inception also becomes an interesting example of post-modern film by using Intertextual References, Julia Kristeva theorised this and Inception has a unique example that really makes it one of the greatest post-modern films of all time. The film is based around entering a persons dreams to plant an idea that will develop and grow, the characters in the film go down layers of dreams to get the idea deep and realistic. They use what they call a 'kick' (that makes whoever is dreaming), this is signalled by the song '         ' by            . This song is used in each layer of the dream, but slowed down each time, as a day in the real world is a year in the dream and so on. This happens without the audience knowing, as it just sounds like atmospheric climax-building music.

Notes

Post-Modernism Exam Question Decoding

Q1 - "What is meant by postmodern media?"

Topic - Post Modernism

Aspect - Post Modern media (e.g. film, music, TV)

Instruction - Explain and Define


Q2 - "Explain how certain kinds of media can be defined as postmodern."
Topic - Post Modernism

Aspect - Post Modern media (e.g. film, music, TV)

Instruction - Explain and Define


Q3 - Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial.


Topic - Post Modernism

Aspect - Post Modern media (e.g. film, music, TV)

Instruction - Explain and Define

Viewpoint - Controversy surrounding PoMo. (Jameson, Kirby Ferguson)

Q4 - “Postmodern media blur the boundary between reality and representation.” Discuss this idea with reference to media texts that you have studied.

Topic - Post Modernism

Aspect - Post Modern media (e.g. film, music, TV)

Instruction - Explain and Define

Viewpoint - PoMo is bad as it blurs our view on reality

Q5 - Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media.

Topic - Post Modernism

Aspect - Post Modern media (e.g. film, music, TV)

Instruction - Explain and Define

Viewpoint - Negative, dont believe in PoMo



 

TED

How and Why is Ted Post-Modern?

- It uses Flash Gordon references (including clips from the show/film and actually staring Sam Jones in the film.
-It refers to Tom Scarett throughout the film, who played Goose in Top Gun.

These two references come from 'camp' film and TV and together reference the idea that men tend to like these camp characters/films even though they will deny it. This is juxtapositioned against the vulgar and dirtyness of the Ted character.

Kramers Theory Applied

2. is, on some level and in some way, ironic

This music video has a scene in a shower where someone is stabbed and killed, it is pretty a much shot for shot copy of the famous scene in Alfred Hitchcocks 'Pyscho'. This means that the band have taken a famous scene and have taken it out of context as it is now in a music video, rather than a black and white film. It is ironic as DPU expect the audience to understand that this is a copy and will perhaps be humourous to watch. It is also interesting as the quite upbeat and happy song playing behind the scene is very different and changes the feel of the scene compared to th near silence and intensity of the orignal in the film.