Mock Essay - Beth

Why is some media described as Post Modern?

What is Post Modern media?

Post Modernism is a theory of a reaction to the times of Modernism. It goes against all ideology of Modernist times and acts as a binary opposite to all Grand Narratives we have ever had. However, post modernism is a grand narrative within itself, meaning that it is in fact contradicting this lack in belief and the collapse of these structures. It rejects any ideas of there being original ideas and any truth, making us rethink whether there is any truth to anything now. The theorist Lyotard believes that there is no and will not be any more progress in our society, and has disbelief in any Grand narratives being understood and followed as Post Modernism repels against them. He has a negative view on Modernism, as Post to this many forms of media now step outside of the structures and boundaries.

As Post Modernism opposes against many Grand Narratives and the theories in regards to Modernist times, it is now clear that we live in an extremely Post Modern society as we are surrounded by it daily through the media. The boundaries that have been held up throughout Modernism are all blurred together to create this ‘Anti Modernism’ theory, which applies to many media texts. In the Disney film Wreck It Ralph, the boundary is collapsed between the hero and villain, which is a not a stereotypical trait within modernist times. The villain Ralph in fact wants to be the hero which challenges conventions, and chases this goal throughout the film. This is not something one would see if it were to follow a grand narrative, therefore creating this element of a twist instead of following a general narrative structure, blurring the metaphorical wall between 2 characters. Also Lady Gaga markets herself as multiple identities conceal the truth, she constantly changes her appearance and sexuality for the audience’s attention, this blurs the genders of male and female, as she portrays the image of both. This is an example of hybridity.   

Wreck It Ralph is a tremendously Post Modern text, and holds numerous elements of Post Modern style and visual saturation throughout it. The theorist Frederick Jameson states that there is no more a fixed meaning to any media texts, where his theory of the importance being style over substance shines through Wreck It Ralph. He believes that there is nothing original anymore, and that everything uses cultural recycling, and cannibalises various past styles to recreate new ones. This film incudes various intertextual references, they vary between other video games and characters within the film. The main one is the 80’s 8bit retro game Fit It Felix Junior as well as another example of this is the Pacman game where many characters from all different games meet here, inside of the game, blurring all of the different genres of each of these together to create a bricolage. The reason for intertextuality is for the audience to feel a sense of nostalgia when watching it, so that they can recognise the references more personally, they see the film as ‘pure’ and it makes the audience want to play these games again. It is a very attractive Post Modern aspect.

One of the main Post Modern Theorists, Baudrillard believes we live in a world which is made up of simulacra and mediated hyper real images, which replace the reality of our society. He says that any boundary between the real and simulated is broken and they have merged together, generating another type of world. Out sense of what reality is, is dominated by popular images. Wreck It Ralph tells a real life story within a simulated world. Whilst the characters are inside their games, it is realistic for them, but when they step outside of the game is like their real life. However, both for the audience are simulated, the video games as well as the characters lifestyle. The human characters are again animated, creating this whole simulated atmosphere for the audience. This identifies exactly what Baudrillard’s theory suggests.

Nicki Minaj does her upmost to appeal to her audience as superficial and ‘fake’. She uses the appearance of a barbie doll and copies this image for herself. This is to target and appeal to her audience of young girls, which makes them aspire to be like her, and they can relate to her like a doll – as if she is perfect, longing to look like a celebrity. She blurs the line between the real and the simulated, and she mixes her Barbie look with the genre of rap and hip hop, creating an innocent image, which is hyper real.

Maisy's mock

Postmodernism is a direct reaction to the grand narratives of progress on which Modernity is based upon – the logical idea of a progress in the knowledge we as humans have through things such as science and technology. With a lack of faith grand narratives, which Lyotard suggests, causes the start of postmodernism as a response to the structure of Modernity. With the boundaries and barriers holding grand narratives together gone, postmodern allows a new way to create and produce. It causes a change in narratives too, such as in Disney animated film Wreck It Ralph, in which the protagonist breaks conventions of being the villain by being the hero of the film, and also by wanting to be the hero of the story and being self aware. The film also blurs the genre boxes by using various elements of genres including sci-fi to make a hybrid image and therefore a hybrid narrative storyline. With postmodernism being the lack of faith in anything new, any progress, Wreck It Ralph supports Jameson’s theory of no idea being new, and therefore everything now has been ‘culturally recycled’ – Wreck It Ralph uses nostalgia as a marketing point as it uses characters from the 1980s game Fix It Felix Jr. This also works not only to be aesthetically pleasing to young children – its main target audience, but also to adults of whom will be experiencing the characters and gaming world again, though through a different and developed way. Image is a crucial part of the rebranding in Wreck It Ralph; in the same way that image is important in the advertising and production of singer and concept Nicki Minaj, as Jameson’s theory suggests postmodern texts are style over substance, as her image and personas are better selling points than her actual music. Baudrillard’s postmodern theory of our world is now a simulated version of reality can be found in both Wreck It Ralph and also Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror episode 15 Million Merits. In Wreck It Ralph, the simulated world in which the characters inhabit is set in the ‘real world’, which still to the audience is simulated as it is animated. A vivid use of simulacrum can be found in the character Ralph himself, as his physical traits are reminiscent of the actor who voices him. This directly blurs the line between reality and the hyper-real. In 15 Million Merits, the characters Bing and Abi exist in a totally simulated world, where Dubord’s theory of the society of the spectacle’ is suggested as the characters lives are connected via the digital technology around them, which ultimately determines and controls their lives, as seen when they can’t remove advertisements playing in their rooms. Nicki Minaj also supports Baudrillard’s theory shown through the use of backing dancers being dressed like Minaj herself in Superbass to show a hyper real situation. Her consistent use of multiple personalities also shows a definitive use of bricolage of other artists and pastiche as characters such as ‘Black Barbie’ are presented in her music as well as the marketing oh her image. Some texts are purposefully postmodern in an attempt to make the audience think about the current pop cultural society we live in and to often reflect the world we live in, in hyperbole situations. This can be argued through Dubord in 15 Million Merits as the virtual dominated relationship Bing and Abi share through their avatars is reflective of the lives we lead on social networking sites such as Facebook where ‘real life’ is simulated through editing and simulacra of who we really are. The dystopian narrative of 15 Million Merits as well as the philosophical ideas on society behind it shows the lack of faith, which Lyotard argued was a main point in the growth of a postmodern culture.

Theorist Roads

Intertextual Moodboard for Idea of TV in 2023

Task 2 - Nicki Minaj & Wreck It Ralph in relation to Baudrillard and Dubord

Task 1 - Theoretical Approach to 15 Million Merits

Minaj and Ralph - BAUDRILLARD/DUBORD

Lyotard's perspective on 15 Million Merits

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/14364497/lyotard

Exam Content Plan

What is Postmodern Media (after or collapsing Modernism, empty, no belief in progress of meaning)

Give examples of aspects of Postmodern Style (Jameson)

Give examples of aspects of Postmodernity Historical/Structural (Lyotard (POST-Modern)

Give examples of aspects of Postmodern Theory (Baudrillard, Dubord, Foucault)

Which 3 Theorists will you reference - and what theories
Jameson - Style over substance
Baudrillard - Simulacra
Dubord - 'Society of the Spectacle'

Which 2 or 3 different media forms and what approach makes them Postmodern

Compare 3 ways they are similarly and differently Postmodern

Similar

- Style over substance 

 Nicki Minaj - Image is a lot more important in marketing her than the actual music.

Wreck It Ralph - In terms of narrative, the way the characters look is a major selling point, their image is being kept from decades ago.
Black Mirror - In the narrative, image is everything in terms of how the characters have to act. Abi is used for her looks, not her talent.

Differently

Give example of an earlier Postmodern Media Text (Intertextual references for our Case Studies?) 

How we have moved on from then to your contemporary text?

An example of a prediction for the future of Postmodern Media based on one of the Case Studies - where are we headed (Black Mirror?)

Intertextual Reference for 15 Million Merits (Black Mirror)

Theoretical Approaches to 15 Million Merits

Task 5 - Exam Content Plan

Give examples of aspects of Post Modern Style (Jameson)

Give examples of aspects of Post Modernity Historical/Structural (Lyotard POST Modern)

Give examples of aspects of Post Modern Theory (Baudrillard, Dubord, Foucault)

Which 3 theorists will you reference and what theories?

Jameson - Style and Aesthetic

Baudrillard - Idea of simulations and hyper reality

Lyotard - Grand Narratives

Which 2 or 3 different media forms and what approach makes them post modern?

Task 3 - Intertextual Moodboard: 15 Million Merits

I have created this moodboard to show all of the intertextual references throughout the Black Mirror Episode of 15 Million Merits.

Firstly one of the references is of a singing/talent show named 'Hot Shot' which has been taken from the idea of a show with a panel of judges, like X Factor. One has to achieve '15 million million merits' to enter the show and be seen by the judges, they then either put you through or don't, which is just the same as X Factor, another talent show.

I also believe that there is a reference to a video game, where you have the ability to shoot people down and kill them, (something like Call of Duty), and the main character is playing a similar version of this using weapons to shoot the villains down.

Also included is a reference to The Sims, where you have the ability to create a simulated version of yourself, and it lives a hyper real life just like a human does. In 15 Million Merits as well as The Sims you can change your 'Sim''s clothing, hair styles, etc which shows that this is where the idea has come from. All of the characters in 15 Million Merits have a simulated version of themselves.

Personally, I also think that there is a slight reference to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, only because of the idea of recieving a 'golden ticket'. You need one to reach the Hot Shot talent show and also one to reach Willy Wonka's factory. This is just an idea.

Plus, where the characters are cycling every day in 15 Million Merits, this could be reference to games where you are actually driving a simulated character around, which the characters do with the simulations of themselves.