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.