Postmodernism

The social, political and cultural attitudes and images of the late

20th /early 21st century

What is Postmoderism

• The term has been around since the 1980s• It is difficult to define and there is no one

straightforward meaning.• It is used in a very wide range of different

subject areas such as Art, technology, sociology, literature, religion as well as Media and Film Studies

Postmodernism in Art

Postmodernism in Architecture

Postmodernism in Literature

• The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood• Metamorphosis – Franz Kafka• Hamlet – Shakespeare• Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut• Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh• The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey

Niffenegger• Works by TS Elliot

What is Postmodernism?

• In general it is a reaction against the ‘Modernist’ movement which focused on order, rational thinking and science.

• Postmodernism rejects rational thinking and likes chaos!

How to spot a Pomo text

• The theorist Strinati has identified five ways to define post modernity in a range of texts.

• "Postmodernism tries to come to terms with and understand a media-saturated society. The mass media, for example, were once thought of as holding up a mirror to, and thereby reflecting, a wider social reality. Now that reality is only definable in terms of surface reflection of the mirror" (1992)

1. The breakdown of the distinction between culture and society. (mediatisation)

• Art once attempted to reflect reality• Postmodern reality now incorporates art in

the form of media texts – Film/TV = Art = reality for the audience

• The media reality of an event is more real than the event itself, we only understand it/ see it through the media

Examples

• Bruno, Borat and Allie G are more well know and ‘real’ than the actor who plays them (Sacha Baron Cohen).

• Bruno, Borat, Allie G can get away with saying things that Cohens can not!

Examples

• In programmes like the X Factor contestants perform cover versions of cover version of songs i.e they copy copies

• John and Edward sang the Queen Song ‘We Will Rock You’ buy they performed the ‘Five Version’

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=215upEBZ3Ts • Can you think of any other examples of things like

this? Write them down.

2. An emphasis on style at the expense of substance and content.

• Appearance is better than function• External factors such as good looks in a person

rather than internal qualities such as intelligence and talent.

• Entertainment and diversion is better than serious discussion and issues.

• Make a list of current Hollywood Film stars.• Are they all actually talented?

Examples

• In society people are very influenced to buy ‘brands’ and label regardless of the actual quality. Often they are of a much higher cost but not really of higher quality. Can you think of examples? Write them down

• Advertising has become all important• Cadbury Adverts• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHjieD6CT

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Examples

• Modern Celebrities launched through reality programmes like Big Brother

• Many celebrities are now famous for being famous, not for an identifiable talent or ability

• Paris Hilton• Write a list of celebrities who fit in here

3. The Breakdown of the distinction between high culture (art) and popular culture

• High art = opera, ballet, theatre, Visual arts like Painting.

• High art was only for a elite, wealthy, educated group

• Low art or popular culture (e.g. film, TV, pop music) was for the masses

• Hitchcock and Auteur Theory.

Examples

• Pop music now often samples classical music eg Kelis (Like You), Coolio (C U when U get there), Ludacris (Coming 2 America), Nas (I Can, Hate me now)

• Andy Warhol

Examples

4. Confusion over time and space

• Strinati believes that: “because of the speed and scope of modern mass communication, because of the relative ease with which people and information can travel, time and space become less stable and comprehensible, more confusing, more incoherent, more disunified.”

• “Mass Media” allows us to access the world from home

• Every thing in a PoMo society is ‘here and now’

Examples

5. Decline of Meta-Narratives

• Big stories or ‘grand narratives’ (Lyotard)• Big ideas and concepts used to explain the

way the world is,• Religion, Political theories, Economic Theory• Try and name some of these ‘theories’ in

your books

5. Decline of Meta-narratives

• In a pomo society it is argued that people no longer believe there are absolute ways to explain reality

• High profile failure of some grand narratives• More secular society? • Other reasons?

Decline of Meta-narratives

• “Postmodernism denies there can be any single truths/reality as most of our cultural understanding is based on the personal interpretations we make from the media representation that dominate our culture, therefore grand narratives are too simplistic and too narrow in their approach” Step Hendry

• We live in a mediated world!

Examples

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUnH9NECSUU&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r9RE5J1QeA

Exampleshttp://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPgYbdQ1kQ

What examples can you think of?

• In groups brainstorm about films, TV programmes and other media products (including music stars) that might be considered to be post modern