FIRST PIECE:
Read through the chapter on Post Modernism from the OCR Handbook attached
Read through the chapter on Post Modernism from the OCR Handbook attached
1. What does Post Modernism suggest about the value of high art (eg opera) and popular culture (eg TV)
Postmodern media rejects the idea that any media product or text is of any greater value than another. All judgements of value are merely taste. Anything can be art. Anything can deserve to reach an audience. Culture ‘eats itself’.
Postmodern media rejects the idea that any media product or text is of any greater value than another. All judgements of value are merely taste. Anything can be art. Anything can deserve to reach an audience. Culture ‘eats itself’.
2. What does Post Modernism suggest about the ideas of truth or reality - how is this linked the Media?
Postmodernism highlights the fact that media is seen as representing reality – media being in between us and reality (mediation). Postmodernists claim that in a media saturated world, the distinction between reality and the media representation becomes blurred or entirely invisible to us.
Postmodernism highlights the fact that media is seen as representing reality – media being in between us and reality (mediation). Postmodernists claim that in a media saturated world, the distinction between reality and the media representation becomes blurred or entirely invisible to us.
3. Who were the 2 big thinkers and what concept do their theories share?
Jean-Francois Lyotard: ‘Grand narratives’ – the idea of truth being deconstructed so we can challenge dominant ideas that people claim as truth.
Jean Baudrillard: “Truth is what we should rid ourselves as fast as possible and pass it onto somebody else. As with illnesses, it’s the only way to be cured of it. He who hands onto the truth has lost.”
Both offer different versions of postmodernism/postmodernity. Both share the belief that the idea of truth needs to be deconstructed…
Jean-Francois Lyotard: ‘Grand narratives’ – the idea of truth being deconstructed so we can challenge dominant ideas that people claim as truth.
Jean Baudrillard: “Truth is what we should rid ourselves as fast as possible and pass it onto somebody else. As with illnesses, it’s the only way to be cured of it. He who hands onto the truth has lost.”
Both offer different versions of postmodernism/postmodernity. Both share the belief that the idea of truth needs to be deconstructed…
4. Give an example of 3 'Grand-narratives' or 'Meta-narratives' (2 will need you be your own - not listed in the chapter.)
Grand-narratives/Meta-narrative:
Grand-narratives/Meta-narrative:
5. What is significant about Disneyland and simulacrum?
Simulacra describes the simulations of reality which replace any ‘pure’ reality.
Disney land is a place which is at the same time a real/physical place but is also clearly a fictional representation of the real world. Disney land replaces that sense of the ‘pure’ reality with a simulation of that reality. For example, Disneyland is a simulation (simulacra) / representation, a fanatical/magical world – but is only a fictional, representation of the world.
Baudrillard: We inhibit a society made up wholly of simulacra – simulations of reality which replace any pure reality > Disneyland!
Simulacra describes the simulations of reality which replace any ‘pure’ reality.
Disney land is a place which is at the same time a real/physical place but is also clearly a fictional representation of the real world. Disney land replaces that sense of the ‘pure’ reality with a simulation of that reality. For example, Disneyland is a simulation (simulacra) / representation, a fanatical/magical world – but is only a fictional, representation of the world.
Baudrillard: We inhibit a society made up wholly of simulacra – simulations of reality which replace any pure reality > Disneyland!
6. How is our understanding of the events of 9/11 hyper-real?
The event of 9/11 was shown to millions of people all over the road through limited amounts of information and images/videos collected. Baudrillard described the 9/11 attacks as the ‘absolute event’. The 9/11 attacks was a global media event, accelerating us into a state of hyper reality and of feedback, interference and uncertainty. The real-time montage of close-ups, long shots, multiple angles and ground images, edited and replayed and mixed with commentary, speculation and political reacting and the apprehension and adrenalin of the live moment – no event was happening for them. The electronically displayed experience simultaneously actualised and hyperrealised the real, and deactualised/deterred it in its semiotic transformation and presentation as televisual spectacle for consumption.
The event of 9/11 was shown to millions of people all over the road through limited amounts of information and images/videos collected. Baudrillard described the 9/11 attacks as the ‘absolute event’. The 9/11 attacks was a global media event, accelerating us into a state of hyper reality and of feedback, interference and uncertainty. The real-time montage of close-ups, long shots, multiple angles and ground images, edited and replayed and mixed with commentary, speculation and political reacting and the apprehension and adrenalin of the live moment – no event was happening for them. The electronically displayed experience simultaneously actualised and hyperrealised the real, and deactualised/deterred it in its semiotic transformation and presentation as televisual spectacle for consumption.
7. What is significant about the Matrix as an example of Baudrillards ideas of simulation & hyper-reality?
The matrix is based along the lines of Baudrillard’s ideas of simulation/simularcra and hyper-reality, as it’s storyline is based on the human race being plugged into a network of machines (the matrix) and their existence is ‘virtual’ - machines have taken over and plugged us into their virtual world. This in turn highlights the hyper-reality aspect of Baudrillards ideas and the simulation of what is ‘real’ and what is classed as ‘not real’.
The matrix is based along the lines of Baudrillard’s ideas of simulation/simularcra and hyper-reality, as it’s storyline is based on the human race being plugged into a network of machines (the matrix) and their existence is ‘virtual’ - machines have taken over and plugged us into their virtual world. This in turn highlights the hyper-reality aspect of Baudrillards ideas and the simulation of what is ‘real’ and what is classed as ‘not real’.
8. What are Post-modern elements of The Mighty Boosh ?
The Mighty Boosh Postmodern elements:
- Includes an electic mix of conentions, influences and genre traits (makes it impossible to situate the product in any ONE style.)
- Intertextual references
- Parody
- Bricolage (remixing existing formulas)
- Hyperreal
- Deliberatly messes about with its own status as a television programme.
- Bursting with characteristics (music, costume, characters, design, mise-en-scene and dialogue)
- Contemporary variety show
The Mighty Boosh Postmodern elements:
- Includes an electic mix of conentions, influences and genre traits (makes it impossible to situate the product in any ONE style.)
- Intertextual references
- Parody
- Bricolage (remixing existing formulas)
- Hyperreal
- Deliberatly messes about with its own status as a television programme.
- Bursting with characteristics (music, costume, characters, design, mise-en-scene and dialogue)
- Contemporary variety show
9. What are Post-modern elements of Extras ?
Extras Postmodern elements:
- Self-reflective approach
- Crucially, the way they parody the conventions of genre
- Cultural awareness of the genre / humour
- Deconstructs itself
- Pastiche
Extras Postmodern elements:
- Self-reflective approach
- Crucially, the way they parody the conventions of genre
- Cultural awareness of the genre / humour
- Deconstructs itself
- Pastiche
10. Why is Grand Theft Auto Post-modern?
- Online experience – Second life! Avatar of yourself
- Hyperreality
- Virtual reality
- Flow and Immersion
- Blurring of reality
- Online experience – Second life! Avatar of yourself
- Hyperreality
- Virtual reality
- Flow and Immersion
- Blurring of reality
11. Why is the Cadburys Gorilla ad Post-modern?
Adverts like this, no longer try to seriously convince us of its products real quality, but just goes about the product in a more interesting/different (PO-MO) way.
- Hyperreal
- Humour
Adverts like this, no longer try to seriously convince us of its products real quality, but just goes about the product in a more interesting/different (PO-MO) way.
- Hyperreal
- Humour
12. What does FLOW and IMMERSION mean?
Flow: a state whereby an activity demands incrementally harder, but increasingly pleasurable and achievable challenges, while providing regular feedback (a loop) on degrees of success!
Immersion: describes how the gamer invests imagination in the game and is then absorbed into the game world.
Flow: a state whereby an activity demands incrementally harder, but increasingly pleasurable and achievable challenges, while providing regular feedback (a loop) on degrees of success!
Immersion: describes how the gamer invests imagination in the game and is then absorbed into the game world.
SECOND PIECE:Objective:
To demonstrate your understanding so far of why some texts are described as 'Post-Modern'.
Task:
Choose a 'comtemporary' example (2007-2012) you are familiar with that would be described as Post-Modern. Write a 300 word response and post to this blog as a comment
"Explain why your case study is post-modern, analysing how it constructs meaning through its post-modern features"
AVATAR
Why do I think the film ‘Avatar’ is postmodern?
Key aspects within Postmodernism:
*Hyppereality
*Intertextual References
*Simulacra
Avatar (2009) is a perfect example for postmodern concerns. The film highlights some important points of what has gone wrong the past few hundred years. It highlights some major events throughout the plot, and having many *Intertextual* references such as conquest and control: humans invading ‘Pandora’ similar to when Europeans colonized the world. The peace-loving natives — compiled from a variety of cultural fragments such as the Native American and African tribes —like the peace-loving natives seen in other movies.
The ‘programme’ within avatar is a secular science program. The Na’vi, in contrast, are a highly spiritual people. Though Postmodernists do not want to throw science overboard, they often strive to combine it with a spiritual sense.
One key thing which stands out to me which reflects postmodernism is the plot involving corporate greed and money. Is this a simulation of reality? *Simulacra*
The storyline contains aspects found in day to day life in modern society, money and corporation and even environment concerns – a simulation of our reality.
*Hyperrealism*; Avatar contains a great deal of hyperrealism and fanatical/creative content, from the world-like eden, to the ‘Na’vi’ people, to the creatures and the science/gadgets. Modern technology used to generate most of the film, known as CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) contributes majorly to the film and the creation of this Hyperreal media, enabling the audience to see it as more convincing and believable as a film. (Linking to simulacra)
The concept of ‘Avatars’ adds to the Hyperreal aspect of this film, as the idea of the generation of human beings into simulations of these human like figures links to postmodernism hugely, and can represent life today (such as avatars of ourselves on the internet / social networking sites > Facebook and the ‘Game-world’.)
Use the class resources to revise apply these terms.
The powerpoint we used in class
Intertextuality how it makes texts richer
Post Modern Aesthetic - some other examples and definition of the terms (bit long though)
Inglorious Basterds - example of how this can be applied
Mark Scheme
Analysis of how the text uses post-modern features - 20
Examples of post-modern features from the Text - 20
Correct Terminology applied – 10
THIRD PIECE:
Objective:
To discover definitions of Theoretical Terms to improve grade in exam (10 marks)
Task:
The mark-scheme rewards you for accurate and precise use of theoretical terms. However, that means you need to understand them very thoroughly. Try matching the theoretical terms with their appropriate definitions. Research the answers online and using the resources to help you
Objective:
To discover definitions of Theoretical Terms to improve grade in exam (10 marks)
Task:
The mark-scheme rewards you for accurate and precise use of theoretical terms. However, that means you need to understand them very thoroughly. Try matching the theoretical terms with their appropriate definitions. Research the answers online and using the resources to help you
Theoretical Terms
1. Post-modern
C The semiotic landscape of a society dominated
by consumer culture and information technology
2. Post-modernity
E A historical period in Western culture after the
E A historical period in Western culture after the
Second World in which society became dominated
by information technology
3. Parody
A To copy something in a humorous and tongue in
A To copy something in a humorous and tongue in
cheek way.
4. Pastiche
H To copy something without humour, irony or
H To copy something without humour, irony or
anything else that communicates difference
5. Hyper-reality
K The collapse of the distinction between the real
K The collapse of the distinction between the real
and simulated.
6. Consumer culture
B A culture and society in which individual and
collective identity is constructed in material acts of
economic exchange e.g. shopping
7. Simulacrum
D A copy without an original
8. Cultural capital
F The knowledge and information that informs
people’s cultural consumption in a post-modern society
9. Signifier and the signified
G The basic units of semiotic analysis.
10. Multi-accentuality
L The way in which meaning changes according to
L The way in which meaning changes according to
context and over-time.
11. Ideology
J A system of belief or ideas.
12. Hegemony
I The dominant way of thinking about society and
culture enforced by the ruling class.
Mark Scheme - 12
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