"Why is some media described as post modern?" Marked answer.

(Time allowed: 1 hour)

Basic Planning:
Introduction - answer the question, to what extent are media texts postmodern (reality tv and CGI films)
Main body - *theories (baudrillard, jameson) *Two examples - theory approach (15 mill) and stylistic approach (Scott Pilgrim) *Arguements, traditional media - how is it "post"
Conclusion - summarise your points and pomo futures.

Postmodernism, is? a response after the time of modernism. It is a very broad theory and time which apposes the dominant ideas in meta-narratives in our world today but contradicting itself as it is already a dominant idea in our society. Unlike modernism, postmodernism rejects the idea of 'truth' because who defines truth? What is the deciding factor what is true and what is false? Good Postmodernism has a very pessimistic view on society today and many of the features in our day to day life. Many of the media texts we see today is considered as postmodern. We are Media Saturated continuously bombarded with endless media texts, from advertisements, to television programmes, products, music videos, films and the internet; which many of us are exposed to day after day. Our daily lives are filled with endless consumer goods and advertisements for us to buy into and engage with. Careful, you'll need to start tieing this back into the question – its about why we define some texts as post-modern media
(I could include that modernism celebrated in science and technology, whereas postmodernism celebrates the opposite - technology for technologies sake)

Television today, for example, isn't the same as what it was many years ago where storylines and soaps were more dominant, but nowadays you are more likely to see more 'reality' tv shows such as the X-factor and Big Brother to try and gain interest from the audience and have an insight on 'real and ordinary' peoples lives. Reality TV shows like these can be described as postmodern as it supports Baudrillard's main ideas about what is real and the hyperreal and simulation. Woah... can't just leave that hanging – why is this a way of defining media texts as postmodern – its not just because a dead French philosopher said so. You'll now need to explain to me why hyper-real and simulacrum are defining characteristic of postmodern thought – how does Xfactor embody the notion of blurring between the real and the simulated? Jameson argued that nothing new or original can be created anymore because it is hard to come up with anything newly thought of, that media texts are being regurgetated and recycled. And how is this applicable to Xfactor or are you moving onto another postmodern text? What does the future hold for us and the tv screens.. is it – what Xfactor? going to be recycled over and over again so much that it becomes so predictable that we loose interest over time?

The introduction of CGI has enabled the media world to progress and create more intricate and mind-blowing imagery than anyone could imagine or create themselves. CGI can be seen as a beneficial piece of technology, however, has this just lead to less meaningful storys and meanings for films? Is it all just action-packed explosions and pretty graphics? Why is this important in defining postmodern media – you need to anchor this with some relevance to the question. postmodernism - hyperreal, simulacra, media saturated....

Jean Baudrillard expressed his ideas of simulacra and hyperreality and how it is becoming harder to distinguish from reality and the hyperreal. This can be said for CGI, as images are being simulated and not captured naturally/in reality - making it harder to identify from the real and the fake. This is hanging without an examples or relevance to how this is a defining characteristic of postmodern media – how is this style over substance manifested in an example (SCott Pilgrim?) Why is this “post” Modern?

Fight Club brings to light some eye opening aspects of capitalism and a distopian future, but most importantly it does represent some aspect of postmodern themes. For example, within fight club is self relfexivity it uses in the scene where the actor talks directly into the camera about him knowing that it is a film and how film clips are edited. But why is self reflexivity POST modern – why is it playing with the structure that Modernism enforces on genre and narrative? (goes against the rules/structure of the narrative - looking into the camera and breaking those 'rules'.) The aspect of blurs between fiction and reality is included when the realisation occurs that the actor is 'Tyler Durdan' and has imagined he is real the whole time. Could you please explain why this is considered to be postmodern though look at the 10 things handout. Post-Modernism.

It can be argued that the film Scott Pilgrim is postmodern as it includes many aspects of postmodernism. First of all, it can be considered to be a stylistic postmodern film as it hasn't really got alot of meaning to it compared to other films explain why this is apparent – examples? Then explain why this is a postmodern feature lack of depth & meaning, how is this rejecting Modernism? (style over substance? no real meaning?) and programmes such as Fight Club??? and 15 million merits, but does involved plenty of style over substance points about it.??? Scott pilgrim is a bricolage of different sub-genres??? styles and cultures are bricolaged, genres have hydridity such as action, sci-fi romance and comedy, which supports the idea that media text nowadays aren't traditional in the sense films must be one genre, but nowadays postmodernity! Watch throwing away marks for terminology you will find more of a mixture and recycling of existing media texts - Jameson. Scott Pilgrim involves plenty of hyperreal aspects such as the use of CGI to generate the simulated and graphic images in the game content and fight scenes. Good The fight scenes itself is hyperreal as the punches and kick thrown are not real but are made / edited to look as if it is really happening??? Reality if a video game – special moves, combos etc This itself supports Baudrillards point about how perceptions of reality are distorted in our postmodern world. Good What I found particularly interesting is that the film involves a lot of violence, however hardly any injuries are made which is extremely hyperreal because in real life the fights which occur would definitely cause a lot of damage physically. Now explain why hyper-reality is a postmodern feature not just because a dead French Philosopher said so Another aspect of posmodernism in this particular film is the ongoing referencing to existing games and media texts- known as intertextuality. It is jam packed full of game references as this particular film style relies on this stylistic aspect. Such games which are highlighted within this film include Zelda, Tekken, Guitar hero, Mario and Dance Revoloution. Why is this considered to be a postmodern feature, how does tis demonstrate the ideas behind postmodernism and a lack of authenticity or originality? (Intertextuality - a feature of postmodernism. exisiting media texts) This in itself involves an aspect of parody to it because those who are familiar with the games will understand where the visual content or sound effect come from, which can heighten interest. Within Scott Pilgrim, it can be difficult to distinguish where he is in time or space, another postmodern aspect known as dislocated time and space. Again you must explain how this answers the question – it is not enough to say because it has dislocation you must explain why this is considered to reject Modernist form and structure Within the film it shows when scott has flashbacks in his dreams which in itself is hyperreal and it blurs the time and space which he is in within a split second which can be a bit confusing and very fast in the change of scene!

A more theoretical postmodern text Themes can be expressed through Charlie Brookers 'Black Mirror - 15 million merits' which highlights aspects of postemodernism in a more direct way. Other deliberately postmodern themed films can include 'Fight Club' and Matrix' which highlights some of the major aspects in our lives and metanarratives to date. Black mirror can be argued to be extremely postmodern and a great representation of the future of our society. It highlights numerous aspects of postmodernism, including a distopian future. Postmodernism is regarded as very pessimistic, negative and slightly sinister - which is why its no surprise to why postmoderism can highlight a distopian/negative outlook on our future. Very good – this is what we need, you have explained how this fits into PoModernisms ideals 15 million merits displays this very well, as it references intertexually to current trends such as social networking (facebook) and gaming with the avatars in the programme and even references to the show X-factor, with the show known as 'Hot Shots'. As Baudrillard once said, "we live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning". Good This related to the idea highligted in 15 million merits where people live as a virtual avatar, like what you would find on facebook, myspace, bebo...and so on). This highlights the hyperreal/simulated human and whether the avatar even holds a meaning for us anymore. Is it really representing us? does it hold truth about us? Why is this idea of truth important to understanding post-modernism? (postmodernism - nothing is 'truth' whos decided the truth?)

15 million merits also represents how capitalism functions over us all, how social order is considered important, how much you earn, what you have. Mick Googan mentiones about aspects of how capitalism has control over the masses, how culture is a commodity and the masking of 'real life' - relating to Debord's 'world of the commodity'. Debord's arguement can be seen in 15 million merits; the shows such as 'Hot Shots' and 'Wraith Babes' represent shows like Big Brother and X factor which have become a 'commodity'. 15 million merits displays the future as fairly bleak because it is shown that everyone has a pretty continuous and repetitive lifestyle, spending their alot of their lives cycling, generating points (which acts as money in a way) and being forced to watch advertisements even when they don't want to. Good – well done great example Focault argued about how power and the 'panopticon' is having more and more involvement with our everyday lives; how we are being watched to ensure we 'behave' and follow the socially accepted 'rules'. This is a pretty effective way of representing our own world, we are all being advertised to most moments of the day with Television, radio, films, music videos, magazines and most effectively; the internet. Be careful here the Panopticon is a refernce to Xfactor and social networking that we are more voyeuristic and audience representation in media texts 15 million merits intends to deliever the message to us all. Highlighting aspects which many of us can relate to and raising / challenging metanarratives (argued by Lyotard) about where we are all heading towards, a distopian future - a consumer culture, working day after day in a vicious cycle we now call 'life'. There is a golden opportunity you have set up here to discuss to what extent this is postmodern with reference to metanarratives make sure you explore it (postmodernism...metanarratives within 15 million merits: government control, work, economy, internet, media world..)

Both of these media texts are a perfect example of some of the media which can be described as post modern, both with different intentions. Scott Pilgrim holds the more stylistic aspects of postmodern aspects whereas Charlie Brookers - 15 million merits has a deeper meaning and root with postmodern aspects. Scott pilgrim does involve a conventional metanarrative about heterosexual relationships and love and that women must be fought for - Lyotard argued that we no longer have faith in metanarratives but then this point can be questioned? So to what extent is this postmodern? In relation to Reality TV and social networking, 15 million merits and Scott Pilgrim doesn't challenge the traditional audiences and texts like Big Brother or the X-factor does so to what extent are these post-modern – this is the question you must answer not postulate to the examiner

From these texts, it can give a initial outlook on our future. 15 million merits holds a special meaning to me as it suggests that the future doesn't look like it is improving, but seeping further into hyperreality, technology, consumer culture and capitalism. Scott Pilgrim doesn't show as much of an obvious message but it does suggest to me that maybe the future generation can be considered to be centred around media products such as games, will this be more important that traditional things such as love? Use SP to discuss whether all films will become so dislocated and style over substance as this, CGI driven and incomplete characters (will films go on to be stylistic like SP and not hold meaning like traditional modern texts)

Will we be immersed in a world which is full of the messages which are represented in films and programmes such as Scott Pilgrim and 15 million merits? Will we be able to distinguis the line between reality and fiction and hyperrealism? Only time will tell, don't end like this – consider what will come after postmodernism, is there any future to be had out of this? (hard to predict the future, but what do the postmodern media lead to...)

Some good points and generally relevant to the question but still some significant loose threads hanging that must be explained, given examples and linked into answering WHY these features and theories are said to be postmodern, as you did with your opening paragraph.

Analysis Hi L3 - 14

Example Hi L3 - 15

Terminology Low L3 - 6

35/50 B