Postmodernism Research

Amber Jackson

Postmodernism Concept

The word postmodernism stems back to the postmodern movement in 1870s.

Postmodernism allows creators to interpret what they see from any art medium; including culture around them, films, art, music, history and architecture, in innovative ways and to challenge conventions, forms and ideas by breaking traditional rules to achieve a new interesting piece 's of media with the use of new techniques, pushing creativity to new limits and challenging stereotypical characters. For example, the antagonist or villain, being a larger stature man is stereotypical, but postmodernism will challenge this and make a woman the antagonist.

MetanarrativesMeta narrative provokes answers to questions that ask whether the change in society is ‘good’ through the use of critiquing it within postmodern media mediums.

This image relates to meta narrative as it represents a female being in a manly position and wanting to be the dominant protagonist by suggesting she doesn't need any help from anyone just because she is a woman. Her facial expression looks more manly compared to the woman next to her with defined cheek bones which implies she is a manly type of woman as well.

‘Conventional’ themes narratives are challenged within this subcategory. A conventional film narrative could be represented by a fight between the antagonist and protagonist, where the bulk of the film focuses on building up an emotion toward the protagonist, that he will defeat the antagonist. However, the challenged convention would include focusing on the other ‘team’, the antagonist (police/baddie/society). Extending and challenging that further could be that the antagonist is portrayed as a woman (kill bill, for example)

Non linear narrative (3 act treatment, a beginning, middle and end) convention whereby the order of the sequences are disordered. This is a classic example of a meta narrative, one of the final scenes will come at the beginning. This type of edit, engaged the audience, enhancing the characters, by making them feel more involved and apart of what they are watching.

IntertextualityIntertextuality or Pastiche, is where a film creator takes inspiration and recreates a version of an older film or literature (The Hunger Games; Book 2008, Film 2012) to modernise a classic film. They choose to do this for a number of reasons, some of the reasons could include; turn a black and white film into colour (Titanic; Original Film 1953, Recent Film 1997), change the language of a film from Swedish (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo; Book 2005, Film 2011) into English or try to reach a wider audience simply to make more money.An example where pastice is used is “The Nightmare On Elm Street” originally made in 1984 by Wes Craven, was remade by Samuel Bayer, 2010. This modernised version received bad publicity for its lack of atmosphere and originality, which is the prime reason people fell in love with the original copy. This is the one and only film Bayer has created, as his talents mainly lie within the music video genre and worked with people such as Ozzy Osbourne, Nirvana, Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake.

BricolageThe use of images or objects that are traditionally associated with different genre styles. This stolen material generally is from the high art movement to create new meanings. the yellow jump suit used in Kill Bill, was a bricolage and homage to the Bruce Lee movies

HomageReferencing from other films, to make the audience connect what they are watching to a certain film or meaning. It is seen as a parody abd done to promote positive, humorous viewing with a serious meaning behind it. For example; South Park or The Simpsons use cultural issues to criticize society in a funny way.

HyperrealityHyperreality is to create a make believe world. “Hyper”; A Greek origin meaning “over”, implying excess or overstimulated and “Reality”; A real thing or fact. Hyperreality challenges genres themes and allows representations of objects ot character to be explored.

High Art styles challenge conventional ideas. For example; “Repo! The genetic Opera” (Darren Lynn Bousman, 2008) used this high art style in conjunction with a hyperreal, futuristic world. The use of bricolage from the comical magazine style gives the film its ‘high art’ setting. Other examples from this postmodern technique is “Moulin Rouge” (Baz Lurhmann, 2001) where the two lovers are dancing on clouds, next to the Eiffel Tower.

Meta Reference is when the audience are forced to realize they are watching something that is NOT real. For example; “Alfie” (Lewis Gilbert, 1966) the actor, Michael Caine, turn and addresses the audience, like a narrator, by talking down the lens of the camera.

Postmodernism TheoriesJean Francois Lyotard

- Metanarratives Lyotard views where unclear about what he thought of this movement.“Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity (sceptical) toward metanarratives. The narrative function is losing its its great hero, its great dangers, its great voyages, its great goal.”. This quote implies that he was unsure but other quotes suggests that he feels that we must address subjects within society to challenge views and values, with the use of metanarratives.

Fredric Jameson - Pastiche/Intertextuality

Jameson’s view is quite different and he encourages pastiche to convert the old to new and updated ideas. He believes that nothing is left to the imagination with today's journalists critiquing films before anyone else has had the chance to develope their OWN opinions. By making references to old and new films, you are creating a ‘remix’

Jean Baudrillard

- Hyperreality

The idea that the line between reality and media is blurred, and people can not distinguish between the two. Baudrillard challenged this traditional convention, by making it clear that their was a difference.