POMO STUFF: Information and terms/definitions

http://www.onpostmodernism.com/terms/default.aspx#Simulacra

You need to make sure that you are ready to tackle the following questions
1. What is postmodernism?

2. What makes a text postmodern?

3. What is controversial about postmodernism? Is postmodernism useful in any way?

4. What is the relationship between postmodernism and modernism?What’s new about postmodernism?

5. What does postmodernism say about representation and reality?

6. In what ways is the audience-text relationship different in postmodern texts?

Remember, the exam board want to see:
a) some recent postmodern texts
b) a sense of the past, present and future of postmodernism

POSTMODERN TERMS:

Intertextuality: involves references to other texts within a media text.

Generic hybridity: A hybrid/mixture of genres to make a collective genre/style of music, film or other media text.

Self-reflexivity: This is where a text knows its a text and draws attention to its structure and production to the audience. In doing so inverts its self reflecting on its own reality rather than an outside one.

Pastiche: tongue in cheek: imitating

Parody: this particular term is used described media texts which imitate work to mock, comment on for comic effect, mocking or ridicule.

Recycling: Jameson proposed that nothings original as everything is constantly being regurgitated and recycled to try and create something ‘new’.

Hyper reality: Proposed by the philosopher Jean Baudrillard, hyperreality is shift from texts that reflect an external reality to reflecting one in which reality is false or exaggerated.

Simulacra / simulation:

Dystopian futures: Narratives become dystopian or negative, downbeat. Often the ‘bad’ guys win or everyone dies. Often these texts suggest a lack of hope for the future.

Metanarratives:

Prosumers: The collaboration of producers and consumers. Producing AND consuming media texts.

Active Audiences: Audiences today are alot more active in media texts and are able to manipulate/choose the outcome of the media texts. For example, voting for the ending of a programme or voting on the x-factor to be ‘in control of who wins and who looses’

Blurring Boundaries:

Dislocation between time and space:

Disjointed narrative structures: often manage only a play with multiple, or heavily ironic, perhaps ‘unfinished’ or even parodic endings.

Hybridity/Bricolage: Attempting to create something new by merging two existing objects together. Bricolage is about what use you put something to. Hybridity is about where something comes from.

Nostalgia: There is no future so why not recycle the past? Using remakes and a glossy positive memory of the past to create distracting entertainment from contemporary times. (yearning from the past) Jameson – recycling as historicism

Irony: This involves a playfulness and scepticism about serious values.

Q1B (Hands) notes and exam question structures

Week 2: Preparation for Studying Q1A (Hands)

This is the question students do poorest on because:

• They don't tell the examiner what the productions were
• Students aren't able to identify their specific SKILLS - eg: how they have been creative, used conventions of real media, how they have improved in the skills with technology etc 
• They do not focus on the development/improvement of these skills from AS to A2 - the whole course

4. Look over the resources on the blog page to get an understanding on what the topic means, there is a post for each topic area (see list below). Make notes to help you with...

5. Prepare a list of 4 x SPECIFIC examples for EACH of the following section that demonstrate your skills development across your AS>A2 coursework (some examples can double up on other areas)

http://mediachs.edublogs.org/13-exam-section-a/

• Digital Technology  - 4 examples (handheld canon, Sony HD 1000p, blogger, WIX, SLR canon camera)
• Post-production - 4 examples (Editing (Premiere Pro/Final cut), soundtrack/sound effects, Photoshop, special effects)
• Creativity - 4 examples (creating Bokeh, adding effects/editing to create more creative shots, angles and film camera focus)
• Research & Planning - 4 examples (Ideas,  planning to production phase, research into music videos, audience)
• Real/existing Media - 4 examples (existing film openings e.g. the shining and music videos e.g. Rihanna. photography, conventions)

Post these to your blog

Essay structure for 1A:
*INTRO explaining which projects I did.
*Skill area: what skills already have and how were these illustrated, use an example.
*Use of skill in early projects, what I’ve learnt and developed through these. Examples.
*Skill developed in later projects (use examples) reflect back on how this represents moving forward from early position.
*Conclusion

 6. Deconstruct (break apart) the 3 x Exemplar Essays for (1a) -

• List what they have in common in their approach to the answer?
• What do you have to do?
• Which got the best result & why?
• Summarise in 25 words or 3 bullet points what makes a successful response to the question

7. Prepare a 250 word essay plan responding this question

1(a) In your experience, how has your creativity developed through using digital technology to complete your productions?

Introduction

Explain the tasks you have done across the A Level, and mention anything made outside the course to which you intend to reference.

(Throughout my media a-level course, I have created both a thriller film opening and a music video for an album release, including the digipak and website ancillary products. Both productions have involved alot of planning, research and preparation to ensure they are at the best standard possible)

Main paragraphs

Start by writing about the technology you have used, with some reflections on how you got to grips with if initially, and where you went from there. So you might discuss: using Premiere basic to advanced Final Cut, how you used the camera more creatively, the blogging site you used, YouTube (tutorials etc), Photoshop for A2 print work, and so on.

(In AS, to edit my film footage for the thriller opening I used the programme premiere pro... in A2, i went on to use final cut which is a better piece of software to use as it is used more in industry and has enabled me to have more experience with more programmes. In AS, it was the first time I had used a film camera but I quickly got to grips with the technology. I used some basic handheld Sony DV film cameras and moved onto the more professional equipment such as the SONY HD 1000p which enabled me to use the camera more creatively with the features on the camera, such as the light/contrast adjustment, zoom and focus. I used blogger to document all of the work I have done, including the progress, research and planning, construction and evaluation of both productions - quick and easy to use. Youtube was extremely useful as i was able to access many clips, including tutorials, exisiting media to help inspire me such as thriller film openings and music videos. In AS i didnt use photoshop too much, but for my digipak ancillary products I used photoshop to manipulate the professional photographs I produced from the Canon EOS 450D SLR camera - to create a professional, industry standard digipak)

You might make some observations about how easy it is to get used to technology these days, particularly for young people who have access to it outside of an educational setting. Refer specifically to how you used the technology in particular tasks.

Now open up the question of creativity: what does it mean to you, and where have your ideas about creativity come from? What do other people say about what creativity might mean? How have the tasks themselves encouraged creativity? Refer to examples from what you have done.

(To me, creativity is one of the most important aspects in life as it helps to produce eye-catching work and appeal to audiences. In both productions, I wanted to be as creative as possible by thinking outside the box. For example, in my thriller film opening - I used the film camera to my advantage by using lighting and blurred light effects to make the opening more attractive. I also wanted to be creative with the narrative by mixing the thriller genre with action and sci-fi, to produce a more creative storyline (e.g. using flash-backs, and flash-forwards to add a twist to the storyline. I believe I was more creative in the second year of my media course, as I was able to believe I could do more with the music video and ancillary products. For example, I became more experienced and creative with the camera as whilst being experimental, I was able to achieve the blurred light 'bokeh' effect which I found was used in alot of music videos and believed it would look effective in our own music video. By using the focus dial on the camera, I was able to achieve this effect and it looked extremely effective and eye-catching in the music video! )

(Note - Tripods are not digital! Sounds obvious but there's always someone who puts it in!)

Conclusion

Finally, try to bring together these strands - technology and creativity - to answer the question. Here you might refer to ways in which the technology has also allowed you to develop other skills - teamwork, organisation, planning, research, negotiation. You might finish by opening up to a wider conclusion - that digital technology has given media consumers the opportunity to become media producers too -particularly via web distribution, and that this, in turn, has allowed creative comment in wider communities such as YouTube.

(The technology I have used throughout my media course has enabled me to be more creative and confident with using technology such as the computer, software including premiere pro and final cut as well as the film cameras I have used throughout the course. I have learnt alot about technology and have thoroughly enjoyed it at the same time. Using technology combined with creativity has helped with my planning, research and media products. In the second year, I worked with a partner which has helped to improve and widen my teamwork skills and enable me to have some experience with working in a team which i believe is vital in the workplace. Digital technology has especially helped to meet expectations which are required in industry - such as selling a product and distributing it to target audiences - in my A2 year especially, I was able to distribute and produce my music video on the internet via the internet, using websites such as Youtube, Twitter and facebook. Digital technology has given media consumers the opportunities to produce their own media, such as producing films and publishing them on youtube. Ordinary people now can become prosumers - both a producer and a consumer.

Q1B (Head) exam question structures

(Homework from the easter break)

Week 1: Assessment & Exam Practice Q1B (Head)
1. Write up 4 x essay plans 250 words each (Genre, Narrative, Audience, Representation).

• Include an Introduction (50 words) - what coursework production are you writing about? (the examiner won't know!!!)
•  Each essay should have 4-5 theorists (reference the Name) 
• Main Body (150 words): Structure the essay so you have 1 theorist per paragraph and examples from your Music Video or your Thriller
• Conclusion (50 words) how successfully does your work meet this structural theory or challenge it - remember that's what Post-Modernism suggests & you can use any of those Theorists here)
  
  Important to include:
  - Explanation/Analysis/Argument
  - Use of examples
  - Use of terminology

My essay plan structure for Q1B:
*Introduction: What is (Genre/narrative/audience/representation)? How my coursework production (Film opening/music video) uses/challenges the topic
*Main Body: Talk about production, in relation to the topic. Make sure to include the theories in relation to the work.
*Conclusion: successful? Does it challenge? Relate to question.

Genre (Thriller film opening):
Introduction (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
Genre is a way to distinct one style from another; genre is effective to help the audience to choose what they’d like to consume and experience. In relation to my thriller opening, I have achieved genre by following genre conventions by using research, editing, mis-en-scene, costume…etc (Talk about thriller film opening – its style – how I followed genric conventions) When constructing my film opening, it was important for me to ensure the film opening related to the thriller genre by looking into generic conventions and how I could best reflect the thriller genre.
Chandler (2001) The word genre comes from the French word ‘Type’. When making my film opening, I had to ensure I made sure to follow the type of genre known as a ‘thriller’, by following typical generic conventions of a thriller.
Within industry, genre is useful to sell products to audiences and genre allows audience to make choices. Jason Mittell (2001) – ‘genres are cultural categories that surpass the boundaries of media texts and operate within industry, audience and cultural practices as well. For my coursework production, I was able to use the thriller genre to construct a successful thriller opening to promote the style of film and to successfully operate in industry and sell to audiences who may be interested in watching this particular style of film.
Rick Altman (1999) ‘genre offers audiences a set of pleasures’ – emotional, visceral and intellectual pleasures. Genre is a powerful way to reach to an audience emotionally, physically and intellectually, which is why to my advantage I wanted to ensure within my thriller film opening I was able to take advantage of the genre to elicit these ‘pleasures’. For example, from the beginning to the end of my opening production I tried to include visceral pleasures by including effective sounds and imagery to interest and have the audience feel involved.
Nicolas Abercrombie (1996) ‘the boundaries between genre are shifting and becoming more permeable’ I agree to some extent with Abercrombies theory because many media texts are shifting and tend to meld, as with my thriller opening production I believe to have mixed different aspects of sci-fi and action within my film opening to make it more interesting and applicable to today’s interests.
Conclusion (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
I believe my work has met well to these theories and believe I have used and understood genre well in terms of my own media production for a film opening, as I have used my knowledge from the course to ensure I created a successful thriller. In relation to the theories mentioned above, I believe to have a connection with what has been said about genre.


Narrative (Thriller film opening):
Introduction (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
Narrative can relate to the structure of how a media text can be organised and structured, what the media text may entail and what the storyline is. For my AS coursework production of a thriller film opening, it was important to plan and structure what would be the narrative and how I would set out the beginning, middle and end of the film opening. Branagan ‘Narrative as a way of organising spatial and temporal data into cause/effect chain of events’ When making the thriller film opening, it was extremely important to come up with the narrative of the opening, by coming up with a successful beginning, middle and end to the production. By being able to organise my thriller opening in this way helped me to make the gradual opening of my mysterious character walking, to then the second unknown mysterious character being gradually introduced into the picture, being the cause, and then the effect being the sum up/end of how the film opening creates the summary of what the film entails. I agree with Brannagan’s theory, in relation to my production, of organisation with the spatial and temporal data because it does lead to explaining the cause and effect of the events which the production entails.
Cameron discussed about the types of narratives involved in media texts, including ‘Anachronic’ - ‘flashback/flash-forward’. In relation to my production, Cameron’s narrative type ‘Anachronic’ fits well with my own media production of my thriller opening as my film opening involves the concept of flashbacks and flash-forward’s to add a twist to my narrative.
Kate Domaille (2001) discussed about the ‘eight narrative types’ including ‘Circe: The chase’. My thriller film opening would fit in with the ‘Circe’ narrative type as it involves the aspect of the chase, which in turn supports Domailles theory of the main eight narrative types. Within my thriller, it is all about the chase / assassination of one character trying to find someone but in turn is also the one being chased! My production would probably fall into the action and enigma categories as both codes involves aspects of where the audience can create meaning from the texts which are identified within these categories, such as the gun and violence which could fall in action and the mystery and un-explained happenings of the enigma category.
Vladimir Propp (1928) talked about the seven character types from the historical fairy tales he analysed, Including the villain, the hero, the princess, the dispatcher… etc. However, in my production my characters aren’t as clear as this because it is not as clear or identifiable to make out whom is the hero and who is the villain, or have the same structure as what prop suggested. It can be argued that one character can be a hero and villain but not one or the other.
Conclusion (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
To conclude, I believe my work meets most of these theories however for the some that were mentioned I believe to have challenged them for my own reasons into creating a successful narrative for my thriller film opening.

Audience (Music Video):
Introduction (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
Audience is important to the media world. Without it., there wouldn’t be a reason to product. Having an audience to consume and view the media texts. Audience helps to pick out target audiences to help create media to direct and be preferred by a particular audience. In relation to audience, I will be discussing my music video which I created in my A2 level for my media coursework. Audience was an extremely important factor in the making of this production because the audience is key for consumption and interest of the music video. Finding out the target audience and their preferences/interests was extremely helpful for the construction of a successful video.
Ang (1991) ‘audience hood is becoming an ever more multifaceted, fragmented and diversified repertoire of practices and experiences’. Trying to select or understand an audience is said to have become more and more diverse. When trying to go into detail of the target audience, I went into detail with gender, age, ethnicity and social class but did find it a struggle in some way to have a precise idea on an audience because it is so vast and diverse.
Hartley (1987) institutions must product ‘invisible fictions of the audience which allow the institutions to get a sense of who they must enter into relations with’ In my understanding, I view this as how people in industry have to have an understanding of the audience to create a successful product/media text.I agree with this particular theory because I myself found I was trying to have an understanding with the audience to have a sense/idea on what I needed to create in order to have success with the product I was making. For example, I did some research into the audience in terms of their general likes, preferences, style and dress in order to have some idea on what how I can make the music video a success to the targeted audience.
McQuail – ‘uses of gratifications theory - Surveillance, personal identity, personal relationships, escapism/diversion’ McQuail went into depth about the understanding of how an audience can connect with media texts. I can relate to this theory because when making the music video, I wanted to achieve what other music videos can achieve in relation to McQuail’s theory of the things such as escapism and making the music video visually appealing with the location of London and Hyperreal looking lights, becoming absorbed with the media text and use it as a way of escaping reality.
Hypodermic Theory – passive audiences, consumption of media texts, the media has a direct and powerful effect on its audience. In relation to this, as most media texts aim to do is to engage the audience with the content in which it is trying to display. With my music video, I aimed to try and make a direct and powerful effect on the audience with the visual content so that it ends up being interesting and engaging to watch.
Conclusion (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
I believe that to a great extent that I have a familiarity with the theories mentioned in relation to audience and my own music video coursework. The theories based around audience helps to make sense of media texts such as my music video coursework and how audience makes certain media texts successful.

Representation (Music Video):
Introduction (approx. 50 words/paragraph)
Within my musaic video, it was important for me to make sure I included either meaningful or subtle messages in the media text in order to speak out or relate to the audience; engaging interest. In relation to representation in media texts, I will be talking about my music video and how it relates to representation.
Marxism and dominant ideologies:
Dominant ideologies can create a huge impact on media texts, such as social norms or capitalist ideas. A hegemonic view of this can be the inequalities between social groups, such as the capitalist class and working class. Marxism refers to the reinforcement of dominant ideologies in society – capitalist class. David Gauntlett (2002) ‘ideas are not given but are constructed/negotiated’ To some extent, Gauntlett’s theory can be argued correct because most ideas are based around what is considered as social norms or ideal. In relation to my music video…………………………………………..
Feminism: social constructions
Laura Mulvey (1975) put across the theory of women being in media texts for the ‘male gaze’ – Voyeurism. In relation to my music video, I believe this is applicable because part of the intention for the video is for the female music artist/actress to be portrayed as someone to be attractive and pleasing to the eye to be appreciated by male audience but someone to be looked at as a role model by the female audience, to hopefully make the music video more appealing to watch and be successful.
Postmodernism:
Hyperreality – lights, movements, editing, representation of character…
McDougall (2009) ‘in a media saturated world, the distinction between reality and media representations becomes blurred or invisible to us’  …………………………..
Stereotypes:
O’Sullivan et al (1998) ‘a stereotype is a label that involves a process of categorisation and evaluation. ……………………………………………….
Lippmann (1956) the word stereotype wasn’t meant to be negative and was simply meant as a shortcut or ordering process.
Conclusion (approx. 50 words/paragraph)

2. Look over the students examples of 1b Head that we started looking at in class for examples of how & what to write about - see the photo of the wipeboard.

3. Pick the concept you are most confident with and write a timed essay 30 min essay using your essay structure - i will use this to assess and feedback improvements
(need to insert when marked.)

"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

Notes from watch Scott Pilgrim VS The World

SCOTT PILGRIM - Postmodern?

Argue it is / it's not.

*Dislocated time and space
*Simulacra - Hyperreality
*Intertextuality - parody, pastiche and bricolage
*Flawed characters
*Clinical themes/characters
*Blurred and hybrid genres
*Self reflexive
*Disjointed narratives

Notes:
- Universal entrance - game style (graphics and sound)
- Intro: story telling style ...
- Comic book style text 'boom' 'pow' 'punch'..etc
- Ratings of people 7.5/10 again, game references.
- Text applying to objects in a room
- Out and in of ninja dance game
- Life bars and the peeing level - ANOTHER game reference/intertextuality
- Zelda song used
- Game fight: *Sounds *graphics *text *points *coins
- Comedy laughter show *parody *intertextuality
- Spiral: hypnotism, intertextual reference to...
- Swearing black spot covering words - parody

15 million merits, Micro essay - planning

Use each quote and apply to 15 million merits:
‘From a theoretical approach how is 15 million merits a postmodern text?’

15 million merits can be seen as a postmodern text. It highlights many aspects which can be reflected in postmodern thinking.

Society of the spectacle (Debord -) ‘Capitalism – control over masses – commodity – masking real life’ Mick Googan spoke about how capitalism has control over the masses, everythings becoming a commodity and separating/masking from real life. In 15 million merits, the storyline involves a great deal of capitalism – such as the social order in the world; those more well of, those who must cycle day after day and the obese cleaners (considered as second classed citizens). Those who must ride bicycles daily, are constantly being exposed to advertisements and tv programmes.
(3 MILLION MERITS HAS THE ASPECTS OF CAPITALISM –those in higher places, bikers and cleaners – CONTROL – MASKING THE REAL LIFE / SCREENS / TV. AVATAR)

*Simulacra & Hyper-reality (Baudrillard) – “We live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning.” This can be said for the ways the characters’ lives are as a virtual avatar (Such as ‘Miis’ on the wii, and Xbox 360 avatars). This creates this Hyperreal/simulated human aspect highlighting Baudrillards theory, as the world (in this case) is having ‘more and more information, and less and less meaning”

Joshua Kane came up with a theory known as ‘the panoptic transition’, which links to Foucault’s ‘Panopticon’ highlighting points about being watched and  reality television and how ‘ordinary people’ play themselves on tv. The same can be said for within 15 million merits, where it includes a programme called ‘Hot shots’ which the same as X-factor or Britains Got talent. Once a person saved up enough points by cycling day after day, they are able to buy a ‘golden ticket’ and go on the show, where they can be watched by the judges and cameras, broadcasting it to all the other people/avatars.
(The watcher becomes the watched’. Watcher of ‘hot shots’ become watched…. Being part of the cruel system… reflexivity in which the watcher becomes the watched)

Conclusion:

Theorist's and application of the PANOPTICON to Charlie Brookers Black Mirror: 15 Million Merits

Baudrillard - Hyperreality and simulation/simularcra
(artificial representations e.g. apple tango, airbrushing and our lives which are constructed on social networking sites, Facebook.) what is 'truth'?

Debord - Society of the spectacle
(society has been reduced to image and superficialism - style over substance. Big Brother, X-Facor - branding and selling. the image we buy/engage into. Celebrities provide us with false representations of life.

Foucault - The panopticon, knowledge and power.
(prison society - surveillance. A system designed to see everything! Control. CCTV.

In relation to Charlie Brookers' Black Mirror; 15 Million Merits, Foucaults theory of the panopticon can be seen in this particular episode. Foucaults ideas of the panopticon are based on the ideas of a 'prison' design, where those within the prison are under surveillance/being watched constantly - a sense of control. In 15 million merits, everyone must cycle on excersise bikes to earn 'merits' and generate currency. People are forced to watch advertisements and under a watchful eye, if they try not to watch them by closing their eyes the system (prison-like area) can alert/force them to continue watching. I believe this reflects Focaults 'panopticon' because the 15 million merits highlights the future society as if its in a prison setting and that those within the system are under complete control and surveillance!
* X-factor style show within the storyline 'Hot-Shots' - Panopticon / voyeurism