Wednesday 18 April 2012

Other Postmodern Media Formats

Postmodern Music Videos:
1.Foster the People-"Call what you want"(Released in 2011, Producers-Mark Foster and Paul Epworth, label Columbia Pictures)-This Music video was released in December 2011, which appears in their debut album "Torches" and appears on the soundtrack of the video game, FIFA 12. The female fans and the mansion, is used by the director to represent the bands new found fame. I would say that the fists used in the video is a symbol of solidarity and support. I would also say that the fists are also used to express unity, strength, defiance or the resistance of the group.The gold fists are also used to symbolize the bands power, their strength and the band seeking perfection within the music industry. Whereas the fireworks towards the end of the video are used to represent the bands success. I would say the music video is postmodern as in the music video, depicted on the side of the head is a clock, which has been used to symbolize the how the pace of time can't be controlled and how their are different types of realities.I would also say the objects used in the video are bricolage as they take on different meanings within the video but within the video they are given different contexts and meanings. I would also say that its postmodern in the way that their is no conventional linear narrative structure as their is just a few scenes which are placed to together to create a certain meaning but its also postmodern as it combines working class culture and high culture together such as in the scene where we see the butler which is an associative of high culture and shows the band which are wearing working class clothes, which shows how they are targeting that particular social group. There is also  a simulation of reality throughout the video, which is the frequent permeation between the two world e.g. The copy of one of the band members in the mirror, which is also a simulacra but this could also be considered hyper reality as the guy isn't able distinguish between reality and fiction. In a way those it also indulges people into capitalist culture. You could also say that com modification is used in the video as it assigns economic value to things in the video we wouldn't usually consider to be commodities. You could also say that the quote from the video "Idle minds are the devils workshop", I would say that this quote means how easily the human mind can be distracted or manipulated by the devil.

2.Ah ha-Take on me
 In the Music video-AH HA, "Take On Me", postmodernism metamorphis was used and it has four distinct features(directed by Steve Barron, 1985, producer-Alan Tarney, Label-Warner Bros): 
1. There is the portrayal of two ontologically distinct worlds: Such as their is the portrayal of the two worlds of reality and the comic book styled fantasy reality . This is shown when Morten's comic hand comes out of the comic, which refuses to comprehend how their's two realities are both shouldn't be considered more real then the other one, which draws attention to the boundary between the two world stating how the video is self conscious in this manner.
2.Frequent premeations of the membrane between these two worlds. This is shown at the start of the music video when we see a link between the fictional and real world were we see the women reading a comic book while in a cafe in the real world and when we see Morten's hand inviting the women into the book invoking a connection between the two worlds. She then goes into that world which is an example of a character transgressing the membrane between the two worlds, which is a second characteristic of postmodern metamorphosis.
3. Resistance to crossing the membrane between the worlds. Where we see Morten introducing the women to his black and white world and does this through a term called rotoscoping which features them in a pencil sketch animation/live action combination and then we see the women try it. This is also shown when when we see the mechanics chasing the protagonists. Morton then opens a portal to the real world were the women escapes. The resistance is demonstrated when Morton's character tries to transcend into the real world but has to go through various states to transcend into the real world, which is shown through him him colliding into the walls in an animated state conveying how his trapped between both worlds.

4. An instance of metapelis in which someone undergoes a metamorphis, transcending the boundaries of their own ontological world to become part of the other: This is shown when when we see the band members playing the instruments. These scenes depict a hierarchical break, a commingly of the live action and animated worlds.The other form of metaphilsis involves a character transcending from from one world to the real world permanently. This is occurs in the video, when Morten after bouncing around in the hallway flickering between the worlds, he finally makes it out of the animated world at the end of the video. Morten's ontological transformation from an animated character to a living human being which is an example of the ultimate culmination of a postmodern metamorphisis. (directed by Steve Barron, 1985, producer-Alan Tarney, Label-Warner Bros).
Postmodern media television shows (Main reasons for why a TV show could be considered postmodernism):
  • Pastiche-Tongue in cheek rehashes and tributes to classic pop culture.
  • Spectacle-In the battle for TV viewers, television caters to the basest and shallow impulses to get attention.
  • Faux TV-Self referential mockumentaries, shows about shows and fake news.
  • Mystery-Bizarre, electic searches for the unknown involving spirituality, philosophy and technology.
1. The Simpsons:About an American family attempting to live the American dream.The Simpsons can be considered postmodernist as it has a non linear narrative structure, it also creates the confusion over time and space and the narrative ends with a narrative resolution. Its also postmodern as it actually asserts the audience into becoming an actual fictional character. The Simpsons there is also a conscious decision which has been made to not localize them and more so the children from the family also don't progress in school as they are being represented as not representing one particular family but every family in every postmodern era. There is also the recurring theme of the decline of meta narratives and mocks institutions like religion etc for example when Homer exchanges his soul with the devil for a doughnut. There is also an episode where Homer goes to vote for Obama, which highlights rising obesity rates in contemporary America and takes a look at a variety of political issues. The show also refuse to conform to the norms of the accepted American conventional sitcom and also celebrates cultural differences and the mixing of those cultures and brings them to the surface. The Simpsons is also a testament to postmodernism decentering of contemporary mass consciousness, which embraces diversity of gender, sexuality and ethnicity etc.
(Created by Matt Groening 19989, produced by 20th centruy fox, grossed over $527 million.).
The themes included within the TV show, The Simpsons are:
  • The show is based around a family and their life in a typical American town serving as a satirical parody of working class American lifestyle.
  • The town of Springfield in the program acts as a complete universe in which characters can explore the issues faced by modern society such as by having Homer work at a nuclear power plant, the show can comment on the state of the environment.
  • Lisa and Bart's days at Springfield Elementary School, the show is able to illustrate pressing or controversial issues in the field of education.
  • The town features a vast array of media channels from kids television programming to local news, which enables the producers to make jokes about themselves and the entertainment industry.
  • Some commentators say that the show is political in nature and susceptible to left wing bias. The writers are also known to evince an appreciation for liberal ideas but the show makes jokes across the political spectrum.
  • The show represents government and large corporations as callous entities which take advantage of the common worker.(portrayal of authority figures conveyed in a negative or childish light). Also the politicians in the show are conveyed as corrupt, ministers like Reverend Love Joy are indifferent and the police as useless.
  • Religion is also a theme as it use to connote how people turn to religion time of a crisis.
  • The media is also a recurring theme in the show, as the show is known for its satire of American popular culture and television culture but since its inception it has covered a wide range of media formats like journalism, animation and movies etc. An example of this would be that The Simpsons satire focuses on TV. Which is mainly done through characters like Side Show Bob, Krusty the Clown and Troy McClure. Each of these characters have had a career in fictional TV shows associated with the Simpsons. The Itchy and Scratchy show is a show within a show used as a satire of animation and in some cases The Simpsons itself. Topics range from plagiarism, unoriginal writing to spoofs of traditional live action clip shows and documentaries.
  • Politics is also addressed in the Simpsons these include topics like Gay marriage and homophobia (included in the episodes There's something about marrying and Homer Phobia).
  • Much of the Simpson series religious humor satirizes aspects of Christianity and religion in general .
2.SouthPark-Insheeption episode:Southpark is a low tech animation which provides raunchy parables on the stage of current mass culture. This episode of Southpark is postmodern as it includes self reference to Inception and includes pastiche as it also takes the mickey out of Inception(Faux TV).
The philosopher Martin Heiddigger describes humor as a way for humans to throwness in the world, which reflects the experience of being thrown away into postmodernity. This kind of humor responds to and references the fixations, frameworks and technologies which underpin our postmodern existence. Southpark is an example of this as it exhibits a carnivelasque postmodern narrative impulse which attacks the meta narrative style explanations of contemporary events, trends and fashion offered in the popular media. South Park carnivelasque humor is a complex critique on a society in which television is primarily instrumental for communication, a center piece to many peoples lives and barometer of contemporary culture, whilst at the same time drawing attention to the fact that the medium being satirized is also used to perform the critique.
1. Humor is a form of discourse which simultaneously refers to two frames of reference or associative contexts. Therefore human is a bio-associative form of discourse.
2.Seriousness can also be considered a form of discourse which relies on a singular associative context.
3.Legally and socially instituted rules which also govern everyday life uses serious discourse as a matter of practical necessity.
4.Ambiguity, transgression and deviancy are problematic to serious discourse but conventions of humorous discourse.
5. Humorous discourse encourages the singularity and totality of the official discourses which govern everyday life. Humor has been subjected to a variety of controls most notably the policing the body documented in the work of Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault.
6. Humor also functions in a manner similar similar to Jean Francois Lyotards concept of mini narratives, destabilizes the totality of official meta-narratives.
This proposes strong links between the oppositional practices of the medieval carnival, outlined by Bahtin and the produced for mass consumption humor of Southpark. Although Southpark embodies the oppositional spirit of the carnival and lacks its fundamentally social nature and lacks its politically resistant potency. With South-park's explicit derision of authority as allowed to circulate through the mainstream media as it implies asymmetric conservative action on the part of officialdom. In this sense it could be argued the humor in South-park is allowed to circulate because of the act of watching and consuming the programme which also acts a deterrent to actual radical activity.It is also proposed that South-park is a cultural product reflecting the material, cultural and epistemological conditions of the era.Southpark also acts a substitute to actual political action. It also depicts a world of consumerism and commodification populated by the parents that are idiotic or absent which leads the children to construct their own knowledge base in an unauthorized arrangements of popular culture playground popular knowledge and sound bite information's gained from the media. (Directed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, 1992, Braniff Productions and Parker Stone studios, grossed $25 million a year in advertising revenue across America and Canada).

Eclecticism is used in the media format of postmodern text such as South Park, talks about electicism by having major techniques techniques. This is used in South Park when we see see the South Park eppisode called Insheption, this has a cultural reference to Christopher Nolans film Inception. In other episodes it also has references to many other films and has also been influenced by other media formats such as the Simpsons, futurama etc. SouthPark also takes the mickey out of celebrity culture and popular culture. Such as South park uses stop motion and 2d animation techniques then rather 3d animation. Or when Stan gets stuck in an cybernetic world or makes reference to youtube videos.

Intertextuality:South Park is intertextual because it makes references to other media formats such as it makes reference to Inception, Cloverfield and the Simpsons. In an South Park episode  it references other popular parts of culture such as it has a reference to Terminator and Pokemeon.

Parody:This is a humorous or satirical imitation of a text. SouthPark included ements of parody within itself by imitating and taking the pissout of some issues within society like abortion and stem cell research. It also makes reference to popular culture and famous characters within society as it disapproves all the idea of generic conventions etc and the humour used in it, is used as a form of discourse which simultaneously refers to two frames of reference to associative contexts, therefore humour is a bissociative form of discourse.

Bricolage is a term used as a technique where works are constructed from various materials avaliable, in South Prak it includes bricolage as in its episodes it explains how in the world there is no originality, this is used in South Park episode where in the epoisode of where it makes direct reference to Terminator where a product is destroyed but Cartman buys another trapper keeper which shows how there is no originality within the world and how we are all consumed by our consumption of technology and using it to seek perfection(technicism).

Acts against modernism, is where the postmodern media format such as that of South Park embodies scepticism towards the ideas and ideas of the modern era such as objectivity, reason  personal identity etc. South Park acts against postmodernism by defining grand narrative such as in the majority of episodes, Kenny McCormack one of the characters always dies, this defines the grand narrative as it presents their is no logical narrative within life and South Park acts against modernism as in one of its episodes it disapproves the religious narrative of Mormons.

Nostalgic: Where the media text celebrates the past and bathes in its glory.  South Park celebrates the past and bathes in its glory by its style of animation and makes reference to childrens shows like Bag puss and the American civil war.

Narcissistic: Is the fascination with one self, excessive self love and vanity. South Park is known to include these elements of narcissm through its portrayal of the character of Cartman who is often seen within the episodes to indulge in himself too much. There is also one episode where Cartman is so indulged in himself and in catholicism that even starts up his own catholic church, which he uses to exploit peoples belief in catholicism to gat money and Cartman is punished by Jesus and sent to Mexico.

Active audience: Assertion that meaning and experience can only be created by the individual and cannot be made objective by an author or narrator; an assumption of an intelligent and active audience. This is used in South Park when it assumes that people know of the American civil war and political issues of abortion and stem cell research.

Hyper-conscious: Is text that is aware of itself. This is used in South Park, in the episode where it mimicks Cloverfield by the filmmaking technique of documentary filmmaking to immerse the audience in the narrative of the episode. This is done when we see Randy using a camcorder to dispprove the logic of realis in mediated saturated texts because through this style or technique Randy uses it to talk directly to the audience or where the Big Brother episode within South Park makes people aware that they are being watched, which takes the mickey out of social realism and through using media formats to show that its aware of itself.

Themes found in South Park:
  • Abortion
  • Celebrities
  • Censorship
  • Drugs
  • Environmentalism and global warming
  • Homosexuality and gay marriages
  • Literature and religion
  • Politics
  • Saddam Hussein, the war on terror and the Iraq war etc

Postmodern Films(elements within postmodern film):
  • Pastiche-Self referential, tongue and cheek, rehashes of classic pop culture.
  • Flattening of Affect-Violence, technology, drugs and media leading to detached, emotionless, unauthentic lives.
  • Hyper-reality-Technologically created realities are often more authentic or desirable then the real world. 
  • Time Bending-Time travel represents another way to shape reality and play "what if games with society.
  • Altered States-Drugs, mental illness and technology provide a dark often psychedelic gateway to different or new realities. 
  • More Human than human-Artificial intelligence, cybernetics and robotics provide to enhance, or replace humanity.
1. Inception(Christopher Nolan, 2010):About a team of con men and architects who loose touch with reality as they delve deeper into their targets dreams.(Directed by Christopher Nolan, 2010, budget-160 million, box office-$825 million, distributed by Warner Bros pictures and produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan). 
Reasons why Inception can be considered postmodern:
There is a countdown element of the missions within the film, which has been used to demonstrate the length of time in which the characters have to complete the missions. In the film it also includes guns, soldiers and videogame type of setting which is demonstrated through the snow fortress scene or when we see DiCaprio's character sitting outside of a cafe, where the city comes towards them. The audience are also told about the how powerful the mind is, which conveys how science is being used to control it and its use of chemicals and futuristic technology. If we were to apply Vladimir Propps theory of character roles in the film and narrative are challenged by its texts. As the theory points to the structure of narrative and the way Inception works disputes the order of the roles. Also there is no original protagonist or antagonist within the film(binary opposition) and their is really no distinction between the hero and villain. Cobbs wife, male holds the antagonist role but the audience soon realize that she only exists within his mind. The film makes out that it is the mind and memories which are primary Cobbs villain and this makes it difficult for him to distinguish between life and fiction (hyperreality). The film also uses a variety of well known actors which destroys Propps theory as it doesn't allow the audience to just focus upon one character.Transtextuality can also be applied because the text uses the features/conventions of different genre films, which designates the film into those genres (architextuality) but also modifies and expands on the convention of the character roles, in order to create an in depth narrative (hypotextuality).
The film is also known to break down the structure and defined meaning of the text and rejects the non postmodernist theory of structional functionalism (Parsons). There are also different interpretations of the dream sequence such as to whether the audience wakes up after the dream by testing the totem and their also no evidence we've woken up from the Satio's dream so we could be someone else dream and he is the subject. There is also evidence that Cobb is transfixed in the dream as his children never seem to age and their is also a question of ambiguity to whether end scene is real which is conveyed through his children.
The music soundtrack used within the film reinforces the idea of Inception and there is also a song which is used to connote the characters have waken up from the dream. Time is also slowed down in the dream which reinforces the theory of transtextuality. A penrose staircase is also referenced a few times and expands on the idea that anything in a dream can be possible with the architects creativity.
The scene with the mirrors in the film has a reference to Citizen Cane(1941), where Kane see's himself . This represents the idea in Inception their are many realities which reflect of the world (a dream within a dream concept) but Ariadane touches the mirror lightly and shatters demonstrating how fragile the dream worlds are.
  • Eclecticism is a wide range of influences, contributions and techniques. Electicism is used in the movie Inception, as the director Christopher Nolan comments upon how the movie is influenced by the movie"Last Year at Marienbad). Nolan also says that the James Bond movies had a strong influence in the construction of his film, Inception as it was similar to places that it was shot around the globe from which James Bond movies where shot in and the James Bond movies have also been influential on Inception in terms of the plot. Christopher Nolan also claims that he has been influenced by the anime movie, Paprika, The Matrix, Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor and Memento.
  • Nolan used techniques such as anamorphic format on 35mm film, with key scenes filmed in 65 mm film and aerial sequences in VistaVision and he used prime lenses for cinematography. For visual  effects he used pratical effects and a miniature of the mountain fortress set. For cinematic techniques he combined elements from genres of science fiction, heist film and film noir. From this Nolan drew inspiration from films by Jorge Luis Borges, the anime Prapika by Satoshi Kon as an influence of the character of Adrianne and Blade Runner by Ridley Scott.
  • Inception includes intertextuality such as in the scene where we see DiCaprio's character and Ellen Page's character creating a reality and then we see, Page's character touching a mirror and it breaks this is reminiscent of the film, Citizen Kane.
  • Parody is included within Inception in the scene where we see DiCaprio's character in a scene running and shooting while a building collapses, this is a parody as DiCaprio's character is seen to be imitating the character of James Bond through his weapons and his dress code.
  • Bricolage is used in Inception in the first scene involving Cobb and Ken Watanabbe's character where we see Cobb wash up on a beach at the start then we see this scene occurring again this shows that their is no originality within the world. 
  • Nostalgia is used in Inception,  such as when we hear the score created by Hans Zimmer which filled with nostalgia and sadness, this is used to connote Cobb's feelings throughout the film. The score is also nostalgic in the fact that its reminiscent as it features a guitar sound which is associated with Ennio Morricone, played by Johnny Marr of the Smith's band. The "Non, je ne regrette rien"(I have no regrets), is used in the film which implies it is nostalgic as it is celebrating the past as its reminiscent of composer Charles Dumont.
  • I would say that Inception acts against modernism, in the scene where Cobb and Ellen Page's character are at a coffee shop and then the whole city comes forward which defies reason and objectivity. Inception also acts against modernism by Nolan suggesting in the film, that there is individual realities within dreams, this implies that their is another reality other then on which we as humans experience. In Inception, this separate reality lays in one dream. The dreams experienced by the characters in the film experience are brought on voluntarily to explore this reality. By using the dream states of the characters, Nolan suggests to much of this separate reality can cause confusion when distinguishing between reality and dream reality. Nolan uses this to say how we should be questioning our own reality.
  • Narcissism is conveyed through Don Cobb in Inception.
  • The idea of an active audience is demonstrated at the end of Inception as the scene where we see the spinner on the table is used by Nolan to get the audience involved with the narrative within the movie and to question if Cobb has got back to reality or not and makes people question their own existence of reality.
  • Hyper Conscious is used in Inception when Don Cobb and the team wake up from the dream world and realize they were in a separate reality. You could also say that they are aware of themselves within the dream world and reality when we see Cobb fall in to the bath or when Cobb uses a spinner the real world from the dream world.
Themes included in Inception:
  • Reality and dreams
  • Dreams and cinema etc.
2.Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001, box office 4 million, budget $4.5million, distributed by New-market Films and produced by Adam Fields, Drew Barrymore etc):About a troubled teen and his attempts to save the world and covers themes such as time travel and free will. The reasons why Donnie Darko is postmodern is that the music at the start holds an intertexual reference to the cinema scene where this operatic score is also played. The innocence connoted by the swan character through her clothing could counteract whats happening beside it in the underlying under story. When the sparkle motion group get to the stage, their silver costumes and starburst dance moves could link to the sci fi postmodern element and Stephen Hawkins ideas about the universe. This also links to living in a parallel universe and there is also a scene at the end which represents an intertexual montage of sequences symbolising the change of pace of the scene. The ending scene also begins with a reference to sci-fi looking through Donnie's eyes as a computer. The eye also shows reminiscence to the artist Rene Margaritte and his painting of 'The false mirror' and there is also reference to Back to the future and is a link to the "Wizard of OZ". Montage shots of Donnie in his room shows him smiling at death and has links to schizophrenia. The fuzzy TV is also a reference to the horror film genre. 
The montage also shows reference to nature showing deers on the wall which possibly links to freedom and purity contrasting Donnie's situation. The adult content shown within the film, is a reflection of Donnie's character. The birds eye view shots of the characters crossing to one another could link to the aeroplane and its accident. The "Mad World" soundtrack has also been used to demonstrate the mood within the film. When we see Donnie's mother after his death wearing a preach blazer and smoking a ciggeratte connotes her nakedness and her exposure after his death.Grethchen on her bike contrasts the scene by adding purity and innocence against the death and destruction of the accident. The end scene demonstrates the non conventional style and structure of the circular narrative of the narrative and how humans have no control over their destiny/fate. 
The themes included in Donnie Darko:
  • Time Travel and Free Will
  • fear/love
  • heroism and martyrdom
  • schizophrenia
  • dreams
  • death and loneliness etc.
Eclecticism: The film Donnie Darko is influenced by many genres such as the horror film genre, science fiction, Philip Dicks novel Blade Runner, Total Recall, Stephen Hawkings ideas on the universe, Alice in Wonderland(nod to the white rabbit leading Donnie into his own rabbit hole), Watership Down, E.T, The Graduate and the book, the Destruction. Richard Kelly, the director also mentioned how he was influenced by Alfred Hitchcock by including a reference the cellar and knife play in Psycho and how the school bully likes to have a large knife when not mimicking Psycho's high pitched violins in class. The techniques used in Donnie Darko include techniques such as using image patterns, music, parallel editing and the casting of the film.
Intertexuality: This is when the author borrowing and transformation of a prior text. Intertexuality is included in the film, Donnie Darko as it includes references to the book, The Destructors as in the film, the protagonist Donnie contributes to a discussion on the Destructors in English. Prior to the movie burned down a house, he thinks the destructors suggests destruction as a form of creation. The fuzzy TV is also a reference to horror film genre.
Parody: Donnie Darko could be considered to have parody included in it becuase when we are introduced to the late Patrick Swayze character, Jim Cunningham as someone who is seen as an cunning motivational speaker. But the scene where, we see all the characters from Donnie's classroom watching a Jim Cunningham's video on "Controlling Fear" but its a parody as the statements on America's 80's ethos is satirical.
Bricolage:I would say that their is a bricolage in Donnie Darko there is the ongoing topic of travelling back in time to change something to improve the world, Donnie Darko manipulates time by going back in time to save Gretchen and save the world, which conveys the reproduction of the topics of free will and time travel.
Nostalgic:Donnie Darko is nostalgic as it celebrates the 80's in America through the song "Notorious" by Duran Duran which we hear when watching Samantha Darko's Dance Group, Sparkle Motion dancing and the image of George McCartney from the Beatles and the track "Proud to be Loud" by Pantera would coincide with the time setting of the film.
Acts agaainst modernism:I would say that the film, Donnie Darko acts against modernism when we see worm holes appearing out of Donnie's and other characters chest but it also acts against modernism by the way of how the Jet engine went through a worm hole to then killing Donnie but the reversal of time to find that Gretchen is alive, Jim Cunningham hasn't been arrested but Donnie has died which signifies how Donnie is able to control when this in reality isn't logically possible as no human being can control time. Or when we see the scene at the end of the film when the sky opens up this suggests that their is no logical meaning within time or space as Dr Fuhrmann explains if this was to happen their would be no existence of God and Donnie is able to control time through transporting the jet engine through a wormhole 28days later, which proves their is no God as he is able to control time through the use of wormholes as time travel vessels. 
Narcissism: I would say Narcissism is shown in Donnie Darko with the characters of Jim Cunningham but I would especially say Kitty Farmer as in on seen where they are watching the video, when Jim Cunnningham comes into the frame she immediately starts to obsess about him.Jim and Donnie would be narcissistic because they both defy the law but Donnie does this through committing crimes without questioning Frank.
The idea of an active audience: This characteristic of postmodernism is produced in the Film, Donnie Darko is at the end of the film, the director Richard Kelly expects us to deconstruct the media text in the last scene leaves the audience with questions unanswered, like did Donnie save humanity, did he find out the answers to Roberta Sparrows work on time travel etc so Richard Kelly is making the assumption that the audience knows about characteristics of time travel.
Hyper conscious:I would say that hyper-conscious happens in the scene where we see Donnie with a knife in the bathroom, using the knife to try to hit Frank when he actually can't hit him with the knife because there are two dimensions seperating them, his subconsciousness and  reality. You could even say when we see Donnie Darko laughing at the end, this conveys to the audience that he knows what fate awaits him or you can say this id done through the song "Mad World" demonstrating how chaotic and complex the world is.

3.Fight Club(David Fincher,1999, budget $63 million, box office-$100.9million, produced by Art Linson etc and distributed by 20th Century Fox.):Violent and schizophrenic tale of a man and his underground society which is full of plot twists, ironies and anarchy. Fight Club is postmodern because it is has self reflexivity, as Edward Norton plays an unamed protagonist, which is a postmodernist feature itself. As he provides narration throughout the film and sometimes he is known to talk towards the camera which addresses the audience directly when we especially discover the occupation of Tyler Durden. Which breaks down the the fourth wall between the text and audience.There is also additional number of characters which draw the attention of the audience to the construction of the text. Which then destroys the self of contained verisimilitude of which we are expected to consume as reality. An example of this is the scene, Tyler discusses the art of film editing with a combination of special effects to emphasis the "ciggeratte burn". 
There is also the self involvement and postmodern condition which allows the examination of human nature and behavior. It also relates to post modernity as it shows that the director not only considered the thematic conventions but also what the contemporary age have done in society. There is also the belief that we have all become selfish which is reflected through Marla Singer and Norton's character, who exploits community support groups for their own emotional and personal advantages. 
Intertexuality is also included in the film as it also used to reference IKEA, which conveys a link to consumerism in capitalism and the graphics used in the text has also been used to destroy the realism of the text. There is also the confusion over space and time, as we find out that Tyler only exists in the film through the mind of Norton's character. Which throws the chronological order of the narrative into turmoil as we are forced into evaluate the pace of the different sequences and their is also an aspect which is ironic in the film. 
There is also the decline of Baudrillards theory and meta-narratives, as Fight Club also becomes a form of meta-narrative itself. Which originates from a minor underground gathering of supressed individuals but also spills over into mainstream society and mutates into a far reaching cult. Fincher also makes us become deterred from social institutions in society like religion etc, which results in Fight Club sharing a strong affiliation with Baudrillards principle of the deconstruction of truth. Which links Durdens rebellion to American authority and capitalist institutions. Tyler's preaching also relates to Baudrillards opinion that one meta-narrative shouldn't be replaced by another but all truths should be treated as skeptical and suspicious. 
Surrealism, in the film is incorporated by Fincher which incorporates many aspects which destroy the realism of piece. Graphics such as text and texts are layered on top of the footage during the post production and there is also a scene where the narrators daydream during a therapy session. The scene where Norton's character is seen in a cave next to a computer generated imagery of a penguin in a ice cave, which actually tells Norton's character to slide, which tears down the facade of the real world and become the silver screen. 

Video Games:
1.Grand Theft Auto(Rockstar Games, 2008, Publisher Rockstar Games, sales of around 3.6 million, Produced by Leslie Benzies):
GTA uses alot of parody and is set in liberty city, which is a reference to the American city of New York. The statue of liberty is a popular sculpture for Rockstar Games which have turned it into a parody or pastiche. In the game, the statue of liberty is seen holding a coffee mug this may be used by the creators of the game to make fun out of New York's association with Starbucks coffee or are maybe making a statement about the culture and meaningless life of New Yorkers. In the game their is also an emphasis on the style at the expense of content or style. The cars also used in the game are also basic references to modern cars today.Music in the game has been used from reality within the game giving a the viewer a sense of what is real and what isn't.                                      
Ther are also confusions over space and time within the game, which has been used within the game to represent how the gamer is being almost forced to playing the game at a fast tempo. Also cheats can be used within the game to show how people within society have grown impatient with their life and surroundings. Bricolage has also been used within the game, as the narrative is non linear. Another way that the game is postmodern as it has no boundaries within its landscape or society. GTA is also shown to break down the distinction between high and popular culture and also has a link to sci-fi and fantasy. Its also narrowcasting as its mainly a alpha male simulator where ganers are able to indulge with creaking into the culture of crime while creating and sustaining their own identities.GTA also harbours the aspect of escapism as it allows people to indulge in their own criminal desires and retaining some kind of existence within this virtual existence, whilst escaping their own life's.
  • Bricolage is used in Grand Theft auto, as it contains a combination of different elements brought together to make something new. For example, it is influenced by films such as Goodfellas, Little Cesar (1931), The Public Enemy and Scarface (1932).
  • An example of how Grand Theft Auto includes intertexuality is that when you start to map the closeness in overall narrative structures between gangster films and the GTA series, it could be implied that its one shameless copying and displays a lack of inventiveness on the designers of the game series. GTA also has references to postmodern characters like Travis Brickle from Taxi Driver and Henry Hill from Goodfellas and through the borrowing of narrative from Goodfellas. 
  • GTA has parody within it as it contains imitations of characters from films such as Henry Hill this is done through Ray Liotta voicing the voices of particular characters within the series.
  • Eclecticism is used in GTA as it has a variety of influences from gangster films such as Little Cesar etc.
  • Acts against modernism is implicated in the GTA series as it conveyed within the story of how generic conventions from the gangster genre are used an replicated in GTA such as the game is set up in big cities, featuring young men who become indulged in a life of crime, all seeking their own version of a grand narrative which is the American Dream of being able to make it big through talent and hard work. 
  • GTA celebrated the past by including references to numerous gangster films like Goodfella's etc.
  • Hyperconscious is included in GTA series as it makes referencing to allow the viewer to tune out of subjectivity and to step into the shoes of the games characters. 
  • I would say GTA includes an active audience as the game allows players to do things in the game which they wouldn't do in real life. There is also the death of another metanarrative which is the god like voice behind the texts, which means users of the digital media would be able to navigate their own way across unchartered seas of potential knowledge making their own sense of the body material, each user following new pathways through the matrix of data each time they set out on their journeys. There is also a major shift between the relationship between the producers and the consumers of the media texts. 
  • Themes included within the Grand Theft Auto series include themes like drugs, prostitution, the American dream etc.

2.Call Of Duty:Modern Warfare 4:The playing frenzy within the game was coupled with stories about the the optional amoral campaign level "no Russian" predictably it was based on the hypodermic theory of audience.  Which fueled the result that gamers have become dominated by certain texts. There is also the creative process of gaming known as ludology and the immersion into the world of game is based postmodernist features. When playing the game, people are known to become an active participant in the game or text itself meaning that people who play these games sort of games also have to recognize the blurring between the text and audience which are characteristics of every game.
It is the level of immersion characterizes modern warfare. There are also three elements in Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 2 is that it contains the player further within the text.
1.In the Call of Duty franchise there is the first person perspective within its franchise, with other 'first game shooters' is that the player see's his hands and the various amounts of weaponry which are used within the game. This level immersion becomes compelling when we're are required to do more tasks.
2. There is also the detailed three dimensional mise en scene, as it works to immerse the player into the game. There is also a comparison/reference to the game Wolfenstien (1992) reveals how modern warfare is becoming more intelligent. There is also detail within the mise en scene which renders the game realistic.
3. The diegetic sound encourages further participation in the text. Dialogue in Call of Duty 4 used by captain Price, which is used to connote how this character is constructed to care for the gamer, which compels the gamer to continue and satisfies the gamer in get them in believe that they belong to some kind of group. Engagement of the player through these combined elements shifts the the relationship between the individual and the stand alone text where there is usually no connection. The analysis of the text audience relationship must include a consideration of hyper-realism in the act of gaming as the gamer is immersed into a diegetic world which represents a more intense and exciting reality. This hyper-reality of Call of Duty allows to manufacture our own identities which allows us to become someone else after we die. By playing this game, we immerse ourselves in an simulation were we are are at a loss with our reality, when we apply Baudrillards theory. The boundary blurring between text and audience raises the question of identity. The theme of identity can be demonstrated through the gamer taking on a variety of different identities through the characters they play. The postmodern female player, the hyper real state of male maleness presents an intriguing variation. During online play we have a social identity as we often play within a team and can join the various clans for a more permanent identity. Fact that identities can be swapped, invented and is multiple which is essential to understanding the postmodernist representation of the self.
Lyotards death of the grand narrative highlights the need for the micro narrative:a story appropiate for each individual in the diverse postmodernist world. The routes across the Russian field 'All ghilled up'(Call of Duty 4) is symbolic of the micro narrative. The component of the game accounts for much of the appeal for the game, which is a postmodernist element as it demonstrates how we are all authors.
The analysis of both these games in this type of context proves how useful postmodernism is in accounting for the popularity of the texts in our contemporary world. Which also heralds the the emergence of an audience who functions creatively within the texts. (published by Activision and Square Enix 2007, sold over $20 million copies).

Postmodern Adverts 1-Official Vodafone advert featuring Yoda:
Alterity: Principle of exchanging one's own perspective for that of the other.
Aporia: Puzzle used in conjunction with deconstruction.
Bricolage: Processes by which traditional objects or language are given a new often subversive, meaning and context.
Catharsis: Emotional cleansing, which occurs simply from the act of viewing tragedy.
Commodification: Attaching emotional value to something which is not considered a commodity.
Cybernetics: A process by which a biological organism enhances its abilities by the integration of technology.
Cyberpunk: Science fiction genre based in the near future and set in post industrial dystopias.
Cyberspace: To describe an all encompassing, virtual reality internet.
Dystopia: Societies which are characterized by the decay or oppressive governments.
Eclecticism: An approach which doesn't hold rigidly to a single paradigm, or set of assumptions but instead draws upon styles, theories etc to gain complementary insights into a subject or applies different theories in certain cases.
Flattening of effect: Describes a persons detachment and lack of emotional re-activity.
Hyper-realism: A more intense and improved reality.
Hypodermic theory: The idea that audiences consume the media passively and are injected with information or ideas.
Hyperconscious: Allows text to dissolve fourth walls and hyper-consciousness of media it plays with but it also means that the postmodern media format is highly aware that its a postmodern text.
Intertexuality: The shaping of a texts meanings by other texts.
Kitsch: Characterizes how art is considered an inferior copy of an existing style.
Ludology: Theory of game play
Micro-narrative: An individual truth or story that is one of many possibilities.
Narcissistic: Used to connote some kind of problem in a person's or groups behavior with self and others and has also been used to mean egoism, vanity, conceit, or selfishness. When applies to postmodernism, it can connote how postmodernist theory loves itself.
Nihilism: Used as a rejection of established laws and institutions which defies postmodernism. When talking about existential nihilism, it describes how life is without objective meaning, purpose or intrinsic value. Moral nihilists argue morality doesn't inherently exist, and that any established moral values are abstractly conceived. Another meaning of it would be that knowledge is not possible or contrary to popular belief, some aspect of reality doesn't exist as such.
Nostalgic: The yearning for the past, often in idealized form. This term also celebrates the past and bathes in its glory.
Parody: Is an imitative work created to mock, trivalise on original work or comment on, its subject, author, style etc by means of humorous satiric or ironic imitation.
Pastiche: Tongue and cheek imitation or tribute used in movies etc.
Simulacra: A copy of a copy, removed from the original, that it can stand on its own and even replace the original.
Semiotics: Study of signs, symbols and how meaning is constructed and understood.
Virtual Reality: A simulation technology providing an immersive computer generated imagery.
Jean Baudrillard: Argue our media saturated society offers only a representation of reality and not reality itself.
Andreas Huyssen critic: Believes that the arts in modernism is viewed as superior to the rest of society.
Jean Francois Lyotard: Postmodernist theorist, who argues that there's no single unifying truth in the postmodern world but different truths and stories.

2.Curry's advert featuring C3PO and R2D2:
The first two adverts are postmodern as the company Curry's uses self reference within the adverts by using characters from Star Wars to the reference the film itself. Whereas even those the third advert is postmodern because it is self referential to the film, Star Wars by having a child dressed up like Darth Vader to sell their products, as they are also mocking Star Wars, to show how funny they can be, when trying to appeal to an audience through this. I have noticed those how all the adverts make reference to Star Wars not through the characters that are used or portrayed in the adverts but through the soundtrack used within the adverts which are an association of Star Wars. It is also postmodern through the computer generated imagery of the characters portrayed in the first two adverts, whereas the Volkswagen advert does this through costume. I would say that the Volkswagen is the most postmodern advert of them all as the person portraying Darth Vader isn't able to distinguish between life and reality through him trying to use the force (simulation).Another way the third advert is postmodern is that it contains elements such as nostalgia, intertexuality and includes the theory of Julie Kristeva. The color coding is also significant as it is cultural and has technological interplay between the generations. Also with it's remote star feature the car seems out of Star Wars and features many parodies.
3.Volkswagen's commercial:The Force 


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