postmodern theorists summary
TRANSCRIPT
Postmodern Theorists
Strinati Breakdown of distinction between culture and
society (mediaization) – art’s purpose used to be to reflect reality; now we refer to media texts to portray reality, emotions, truth
Confusion of time and space – instantaneity of travel, communication and media; content can become incoherent due to speed and ease
Decline of meta-narratives – universal ideas and ‘answers’ abandoned in favour of personal and individual ideas and opinion
Style at the expense of substance and content – culture places value on appearances over function; cult of celebrity; advertising wins over product quality
Breakdown of distinction between high art and pop culture – high art is no longer just for the elite but is being combined with pop culture to appeal to the masses; bricolage
Baudrillard Hyper-reality
The copy (or media representation of the original) is more real than the original and this fake is more readily accepted by society
Simulacrum (sg), simulacra (pl) These media representations are simulacra of
reality – a copy of an idea or concept that is more successful than the original
Within culture meaning is lost and all that is left is the surface representation.
Rejection of Truth universal ideas and ‘answers’ are not to be trusted.
Jameson
Historical deafness As mediaization increases so culture finds
itself losing a sense of historical context – we live in the ‘now’; instantaneity, there is nothing new just copies of copies of copies…..
Cultural depthlessness Meaning is lost and all that is left is surface
representation Everything is meaningless and just for
entertainment
Lyotard
Decline of grand-narratives There is no single truth, there are
multiple truths Interpretation of meaning lies with the
audience; not inherent in text or dictated by the author
This makes a postmodern society less stable than a modern society because grand-narratives are challenged and there is no single unifying truth; fragmented society.
Barthes (Semiotics)
The study of signs and symbols (denotative and connotative) Denotation (what it actually is) and
connotation (the associated meaning the audience attaches to the object)
Interpretation of meaning lies with the audience and depends on the experiences, interests, beliefs and culture they bring with them; multiple meanings
Goodwin Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (may be
hybridised or subvert conventions) Relationship between lyrics and visuals (interpretation
may rely on audience knowledge, experience and culture) Relationship between music and visuals Demands of the record label will include the need for lots
of close-ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which occur across their work (cult of celebrity; self-reflexivity)
Frequent reference to the notion of looking, particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body (reflection of a postmodern society; style over substance, appearance over functionality, exterior valued over interior)
Intertextual references
Hall
Audience interpretation of media texts: Dominant reading ‘hegemonic’
Reader accepts and reproduces the preferred meaning of the texts
Negotiated reading Reader broadly accepts the preferred reading
but resists or modifies elements based on own experiences, interests or beliefs.
Oppositional reading (‘counter-hegemonic’) Reader understands the preferred reading but
rejects it
Parody vs Pastiche
Parody - A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.
Pastiche -A text that is made up of element borrowed from other texts.
Pastiche differs from parody in using imitation as a form of flattery rather than mockery, and from plagiarism in its lack of deceptive intent.
Foucault Panopitcalisation – gaining power
through watching We live in a society where we are
always being watched and want to be watched
We like watching other people
Self Reflective
To reflect and comment on society, attitudes, social practices, ways of doing things
Acknowledging the social/culture background in which the text is produced
Often making ‘fun’ of that context Can make serious comment on the issues
in society Talks about current issues Often negative
Self Aware
Drawing attention to the fact that it is a constructed text
Direct Address to camera Seeing the means of construction
(cameras, obtuse editing, jump cuts,) Characters drawing attention to plot
holes Referencing the media itself
Media Concepts Language - Attention is drawn to the
construction of the text Genre - Genre conventions are challenged,
subvert, adapted, Hybridity Representation - Audience expectations are
subverted/ challenged, New ‘stereotypes’ New Representations
Narrative - Break all the rules, Fragmentation, Non Linear, Open Ended, Multiple Lines of Action
Audience – Diverse, Fragmented, Active, like texts that challenge and don’t comfort.