The post in postmodern means after and modernism is a
movement in art and architecture, originating in the 1930s. Postmodern media
differs from other in that it opposes the traditional movement of modernism. It
believes in relativism, and subjective ideas, irony, and toys. Almost anything
can be described as postmodern, with examples including “Bladrunner” (1982, Ridley
Scott), “The Matrix” (1999, Andy Wachowski), Inception (2010, Chris Nolan),
Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2007), The Inbetweeners (Damon Beasley, 2007),
Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft), and Californication (The Red Hot Chilli Peppers,
2002). Features which exemplify their Postmodernity are hyper reality, genre
hybridity, pastiche, temporal distortion, and intertextuality.
Film is an excellent example of how postmodernism has been
reflected in its truist form, almost to the point in which it is made as a
personification of the postmodern idea. Bladerunner, 1982, directed by Ridley
Scott, is argued by many as being the
exemplary postmodern text. Postmodernism is most evidently present in the
setting of the film in the city, which is an overarching example of pastiche.
When the film was made, this was Ridley Scott’s view of the future, and as a
result is referred to as pastiche. Differently, a modernist would likely have
focused on on what the city looked like when the film was made. Furthermore, the presence of genre hybridity is
clear. The film extends through a number of genres, and as a result almost
creates a genre that is exclusive to the film itself, as Scott links together
sci fi, action and film noir, among others. Despite the ever-present examples
of post modernity, Nick Lacey argues
that Ridley Scott purposely shied away from creating a postmodern text,
stating that the film falls short as a representation of a postmodern text, and
has only become postmodern as a result of recent events; city growth and pan am
going bust.
Postmodernity, as mentioned, is not limited to only film.
Television is a medium that recently has begun adopting a postmodern trait.
One example of
postmodern show is the Inbetweeners, which premiered in 2006. The lack
of a certified genre for the series has lead to its view as an exemplary text
for genre hybidity. Whilst appearing highly comedic, evidence of both slapstick
and teen drama are both particularly noticeable throughout the series. In
addition, the intertexual references seen and made in the show distinctively
portray the show as postmodern, for example Run DMC posters in the common room.
One example of a particularly postmodern scene in the series is series 3, as
Simon takes his driving test. His instructor passes him solely based on the
fact that she fancies him. Not only is this an example of Irony, but his also
displaces the common stereotype of the male driving instructor, and as a result
is postmodern.
Another example of a postmodern TV show is breaking bad,
written by Vince Gillighan. One aspect in this show that differs to most others
is that the entire show is in many cases a metaphor for post modernity, in the
sense that everything the main characters do is linked to intertextuality. ‘Walter
White’, the main character is constantly linked back to the poet walt Whitman,
who is often referenced in the show. In particular, towards the end of season 4
and 5, his poetry book, ‘Leaves of Grass’ becomes a key issue in the storyline.
In addition, constant time changes are made at the beginning of each episode,
which allow the show to act as an omniscient narrative, through the presence of
temporal distortion.
Whilst TV and film are perhaps considered as the most
landmark postmodern texts, forms of media such as music video and video games
have begun to feature postmodern aspects that differ from the modernist world.
The assasins creed series, devised by Ubisoft, is an
excellent example of a postmodern video game. The game uses bricolage, in the
sense that it mixes two time frames together, with some of the story happening
in the modern day, and the majority in ancient rome. In addition, references
are made to non fictional people throughout the game, both modern day and from
years ago, further proving the presence of bricolage. Furthermore, the game
features hyperreality in the sense that there is no distinction between the
presence of a video game and that of high art or culture.
Finally, even music video differs when it comes to
discussing postmodernity. ‘Californication’ by the red hot chilli peppers is a
music video that can be distinctively seen as postmodern. First of all, it is explicitly
hyper real, in the sense that there is no distinction between the real life
section of the video and the animated side of the video. Even in the real life
section, the singer floats in the sky with no reference ever made to this. The hyper
real aspect also highlights the presence of pastiche, as the game “Crazy Taxi”
is being played in the video throughout.
Postmodern media differs in many ways from other texts. It
uses parody, pastiche, bricolage and intertextuality to refer to other texts.
In the future I believe that post modernity is likely to continue, as
postmodernism develops as an ideas, and as texts begin to become more and more
postmodern,; as original ideas begin to dwindle.
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Postmodern Music Video - 'Californication' - The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Postmodernist Theories - Jean Bauldrillard
Postmodernism:
A general and wide-ranging term which is applied to literature, art, philosophy, architecture, fiction, and cultural and literary criticism, among others. Postmodernism is largely a reaction to the assumed certainty of scientific, or objective, efforts to explain reality. In essence, it stems from a recognition that reality is not simply mirrored in human understanding of it, but rather, is constructed as the mind tries to understand its own particular and personal reality. For this reason, postmodernism is highly skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the relative truths of each person. In the postmodern understanding, interpretation is everything; reality only comes into being through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually. Postmodernism relies on concrete experience over abstract principles, knowing always that the outcome of one's own experience will necessarily be fallible and relative, rather than certain and universal.
Postmodernism is "post" because it is denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which will explain everything for everybody - a characterisitic of the so-called "modern" mind. The paradox of the postmodern position is that, in placing all principles under the scrutiny of its skepticism, it must realize that even its own principles are not beyond questioning. As the philospher Richard Tarnas states, postmodernism "cannot on its own principles ultimately justify itself any more than can the various metaphysical overviews against which the postmodern mind has defined itself.
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