How are postmodern media texts different from normal texts
Modernism is a movement in art and architecture (and others).
The modernist era is associated with the early part of the last century,
describing structures and intuitions where form is clearly linked to function.
The post in postmodernism means after and how it differs from normal texts is
that postmodern texts frequently break, challenge or subvert the conventions or
rules of modernism. The texts in discussion are Blade Runner, Kick Ass, Family
Guy, The Inbetweeners, Eminem “We Made You”, Lady Gaga “Telephone” and Saints
Row the Third.
The first postmodern text that differs from other normal
texts is Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982) one of the most evident postmodern
elements is the use of Jean Baudrillard’s theory “simulacra and hyperreality”
as the film is about how humans have created human like robots which they call
replicants. The replicants are imitations of humans obtaining similar
characteristics and therefore leaving the audience questioning who is human and
who is a replicant? This is because as an audience member our perception of
reality is regularly overpowered with the possible imitations/illusions of
reality. This is evident in the film when the character Rachael questions the
character Deckard on whether he has passed the voight kampff test to identify if
he is a replicant, he never answers this and the audience are left confused
again on who is human and who is replicant.
In addition, a lot of postmodern texts are wary of the future
which is obvious in Blade Runner as it continuously refers back to the past
which is through its noir theme and 40s style music even though it is set in a
futuristic America. Therefore, it is difficult for the audience to distinguish
the time in which the film is set even though it stated 2019 which illustrates
the postmodern element of confusion over time and space. This is also because
it continuously pushes the boundaries of the present day through the use of
futuristic transportation, human like robots, and its suggestion that in the
future we will become a consumerist world. As a result, it is evident that
Blade Runner is a postmodern text as it abandons numerous notions of modernism.
Another postmodern text that differs from other texts is
Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass (2010) as it incorporates numerous postmodern
features throughout the film. It firstly includes intertextual references
throughout which are usually to other super hero texts. The character Big Daddy
clearly resembles Batman and it’s obvious that Vaughn has taken inspiration and
paying homage to other superhero characters. Additionally, the music in the opening
scenes is the same as the Superman theme song and finally the street the
character ‘Kick-Ass’ lives down is similar in location to Spiderman. The use of
these intertextual references is because post modern texts often assume a great
knowledge on the part of their audience of conventions or representations and
stereotypes, and therefore use this knowledge as a source of humour and
pleasure.
Additionally, Kick-Ass incorporates Jean Baudrillard’s theory
of hyperreality which is evident in the character ‘Hit Girl’. Hit Girl helps
her Dad to fight crime around New York City which itself is a controversial due
to the idea of a young girl fighting and killing adults and using weapons such
as guns and knives. This is evident in the scene where her father asks what she
wants for her birthday and she asks for two knives, illustrating the binary
opposites.
This also blurs the boundaries as the audience find it
difficult to differ between what is right and what is wrong. This is because
the texts blends reality and fiction making the audience question can I become
a superhero? As a result, it challenges the conventions as it conveys a
fictional idea realistically and it therefore obvious how it differs from other
media texts.
Another text which challenges modernistic conventions is the
music video to Lady Gaga “Telephone” (2010). Firstly, it has a lot of pastiche
as it continuously references other media texts such as Tarantino films and
Thelma and Louise, at the same time parodying none of them. There is also a lot
of consumerism in the video as the product placement becomes obvious
throughout. This blatant placement is what makes the video self referential as
it shows self awareness and it’s this ironic detachment which leads you to
struggle to find any overall message, this struggle to find any narrative is
what makes it incredulity towards meta narratives (Francis Lyotard). Finally,
it is evident that there is identity based struggle within the music video. The
Pop singer Lady Gaga turns the male gaze back on men which portrays women as a
subject instead of an object which is a direct link to the Laura Mulver’s “male
gaze theory” which is obviously subverted in this video. The above postmodern elements
discussed are ultimately what make this text different from other media texts
out there.
Additionally, Eminem “We Made You” (2009) includes postmodern
elements which lead me to believe it contrasts other media texts. Once again
the artist uses a large amount of intertextual references as he continuously
portrays a variety of different celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Jessica
Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Elvis Presley etc, he also makes references to films
like Transformers and Star Wars. This use of intertextual references again
links to Jean Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality this is because of the
amount of celebrities he portrays the audience could struggle to identify who
is Eminem? In addition, hyperreality is evident in the celebrities he portrays
as the audience are being given a simulation of reality/an idea of possible
characteristics these celebrities holds therefore it becomes difficult for the
audiences to comprehend what the celebrity is actually like. As a result, this
directly links to the quote “a condition in which ‘reality’ has been replaced
by simulacra”, the interpretation of the celebrity has effectively lost its
relation to reality and begins to simulate a simulation and therefore its new representation
replaces the reality.
Overall, it is evident the above texts that I have discussed
are different to other media texts through its postmodern elements such as
intertextual references, pastiche, confusion over time and space, blurring the
boundaries relation to postmodern theorists such as Jean Baudrillard and
Francis Lyotard.
Video Game Postmodernity: Saints Row The Third
Tuesday, 04th March, 2013
In lesson we have been working on creating our own case study booklet in Indesign. Below is my completed case study booklet.
Tuesday, 27th November 2012
The postmodern film that I have chosen for my case study is Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass which was released in 2010. This is because it incorporates many postmodern elements into the film; some of which include:In lesson we have been working on creating our own case study booklet in Indesign. Below is my completed case study booklet.
Open publication - Free publishing
Tuesday, 27th November 2012
- Intertextual references
- Hyperreal characters
- Fragmented Narration
- Self referential
- Meta-textual
- Borrows genres
- Plays around with the mixture of reality and myth
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