postmodernism & genre theory

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Postmodernism & Genre Theory Jade Holt

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Page 1: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Jade Holt

Page 2: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

GenreGenre means a style or category of art, music, film or literature. It originally comes from the early 19th century French meaning ‘a kind’. Therefore conventional films such as Mainstream/Hollywood films have clear genre styles that are highly rigid.However this is a flexible definition as many new genres are being made or multiple genres are being merged to form a Hybrid Genre, such as Romance and Comedy to make a Rom-Com. Negotiations are now made between producers and audiences. This enables the producers to understand that audiences want a more challenging and new experience- Postmodern films give this and now producers are making a conscious effort to provide this.Steve Neale stated that “Genre are instances or repetition and difference. Difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre.” Neale also stated that Hollywood uses generic genres to “guarantee meaning and pleasure from an audience” and to “offset the considerable economic risks of industrial film production”Horkheimer’s Critical Theory stated that this social theory embraced the future possibilities of society by critiquing and changing society as a whole, rather than the traditional theory which only consists of trying to understand or explain society.

Page 3: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Pulp Fiction (1994) uses lots of different techniques to entertain the audience and keep them interested in the narrative. The narrative is non-linear and told through multiple points of view, with events that happened in the same time frame but from different characters perspectives.Throughout the film, we swap from scenes of Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace, to Butch and Marsellus Wallace; story’s which overlap but with different reasons are behind what takes place. This keeps the audience interested as they start to ask questions such as “Why have they changed clothes?” and “Where is Jules?”, questions that are answered later on in the film. They also use Hyperreality to make the audience aware that they are watching a film. This adds humour when Mia Wallace says “Don’t be a …” and draws a square rather than naming it, and the square appears as she draws it.All of the characters are violent anti-heroes, this adds to the intrigue of the narrative.

Page 4: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Django Unchained is an example of a postmodern film as it is a remake of the original 1966 Django. Tarantino has adapted the original Django and has made the remake a slight parody to the original alongside also paying homage to it through the use of the original soundtrack and the name. Django fits the criteria for a postmodern film as it challenges the Meta-narrative through an Anti-Hero and through the film being a Hybrid Genre of Western, Blaxploitation and Action.The original Django and Django Unchained both have the same theme of revenge throughout and Django Unchained uses similar costume and fonts that are used In the original. This shows that Tarantino is using Pastiche rather than parodying the film.

Page 5: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Dystopian FilmsA Dystopian film is a film that depicts an imperfect world as opposed to a Utopia that is a perfect world. Postmodern film narratives typically critique modern society by using human error or a natural disaster to create an imperfect world. For example in Post-Apocalyptic films such as 28 Days Later (2000) and World War Z (2013), human error caused a Zombie apocalypse to be triggered.

Page 6: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Character types in Dystopian FilmsPostmodern films challenge Metanarratives and this means that they often have unconventional characters that are difficult to categorise. Dystopian films typically have a heroic male protagonist, classified as an Anti-Hero, who has an ideology of the “Post-Modern Cowboy”, meaning that they are the loner type who is forced into action. Other character types are:Animalistic groups who use violence to survive.Human Survivor groups who struggle to survive in this new and dangerous world.The hero helps this group as they remind him of the past and of humanity. An example of this would be Mad Max (1979)The Helper who are usually from the alien/infected race who help the hero and the human survivors fix or survive in the new world.

Page 7: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Dystopian Subgenres/ HybridsTypically of Postmodern films, Dystopian film genres are often Hybrids or have Subgenres. Examples of these include:

Science Fiction: “Science gone wrong” e.g. The Matrix, The Terminator.

Post-Apocalyptic: An end of the world scenario with limited survivors. It uses the basis for Darwin’s theory of Evolution in that those who can adapt are the ones that will survive and advance e.g. Mad Max, Planet of the Apes, The Road

Horror: A chaotic outbreak of Mutants or Zombies created by humans e.g. 28 Days Later, World War Z

Page 8: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Dystopian Films

Hybrid Genre: Post-Apocalyptic/ Zombie Horror

Killer Virus

Anti-Hero

Heroic FemalePost World

War- due to lack of oil.

Anti-Hero/ Loner

Page 9: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Warm Bodies is an example of Dystopian Postmodern films as it is a post-zombie apocalypse film that uses humour to differentiate itself from the countless other zombie films.

Setting/ LocationIn Warm Bodies it is never explicitly stated what urban city it is set in but the city has been bordered off from the rest of the world to protect from the zombies. The film is set 8 years after the zombie apocalypse.

Warm BodiesCharactersWarm Bodies is narrated from the point of view of R, a zombie about his life as a zombie and feeling disconnected to the rest of the world because he is dead.

LightingThroughout the film, the lighting uses grey tones to show how bleak the world looks without the millions of people going about their everyday lives. However the memories we see are well lit and show the contrast between the memories before the apocalypse in comparison to after where everything starts to look bleak.

Camera Shots/ AnglesAn extreme close up is used to show the make up used for the zombies alongside a Mid-Shot to show the characters make up and costume.Wide shots are also used to show the location and to help tell the story.

The other character in this film is Julie, whose father is the leader of the survival group who is “kidnapped” by R and eventually falls in love with him.

Postmodern Techniques UsedThis film is postmodern as it uses Hyperreality to show that we are watching a film and not real life. The technique used in Warm Bodies is to show the zombie’s hearts starting to beat through their clothes as this is not possible in real life.

Page 10: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

28 Days Later is an example of Dystopian Postmodern films as it is a post-zombie apocalypse film that includes a hero, who doesn’t know about the apocalypse until it’s too late.

Setting/ Location28 Days Later is set in London. It is set 28 days after the apocalypse.

28 Days LaterCharacterThe main character in this film is Jim, a bike courier from London. He wakes up in the hospital once the “Rage” virus has taken over the city. The trail

LightingThe lighting for 28 Days Later is very dark in the beginning. This is to emphasise the effect that the infection had on the human populace. However when the main character awakens, the scenes use a yellow tint on top of them to make them look slightly distorted.

Camera Shots/ AnglesThe beginning of the trailer uses jump cuts to show the epidemic spreading through the country. Mid shots are used when showing action moments from the film. However it is mainly a mixture of wide angled shots and extreme close ups throughout the trailer. This means that the audience get a sense of what is going to happen in the film but it does not ruin the entire storyline.

Postmodern Techniques Used28 Days Later is postmodern as the main protagonist falls under the postmodern character profile of a member of the “Human Survival Group” as he struggles to come to terms with the new world.

Page 11: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

The Purge is an example of Dystopian Postmodern films as it is set in the future. Not much has changed in the future, just that crime is down and unemployment is in the 1%. However for one night a year, all crime is legal.

Setting/ LocationThe Purge is set in futuristic America. It never states what specific city this film is set just that it is in the US.

The Purge

CharactersThe characters we are first shown are the family the Sandins. This means that the audience know who the film is based around. We are also shown a few of the “Purgers”. These are shown to the audience usually wearing masks. We also are shown a clear shot of the neighbour preparing a weapon for the purge. This shows the audience that everyone is normal and lives together peacefully until that one night every year.

LightingAs the film is set at night, the trailer is dark, with only the beginning of the trailer being light when the scene is being set. All the scenes have a dark tint to them. This adds to the anticipation of the event.

Camera Shots/ AnglesThe trailer begins with establishing shots of the city where it is set. Close ups are used to show the “Purgers”. Wide shots are also used to show the audience the number of “Purgers” that are around in one night.

Postmodern Techniques UsedOld security camera footage is used to set the scene for the audience. Some of the scenes look as if they have been shot with a handheld camera. This means that the audience feel as if they are part of the action.

Page 12: Postmodernism & Genre Theory

Bibliography

• Wikipedia

• Google

• Imdb

• https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Critical_theory.html