Essay Structure:
- Opinion (Paragraph)
- Past (Paragraph)
- Present (Paragraph)
- Future (Paragraph)
- Conclude (Paragraph)
Skills are always the same:
- Point
- Evidence
- Theory
- Link to Q
The kinds of thing you might use as case studies include:
- How post-modern media relate to genre and narrative
- Post-modern cinema
- Interactive media
- Music video
- Advertising
- Post-modern audience theories
- Parody and bricolage in media texts or a range of other applications of post-modern media theory
Essay writing:
- You MUST refer to at least TWO different media products
- You MUST refer to past, present and future (with emphasis on the present contemporary examples from the past five years)
- Refer to critical/theoretical positions
Postmodernism
My statement: Postmodernism refers to media products that challenge and/or conform to modern conventions, often referencing products that have already been made, in a stylised way/approach. (Weird for the sake of being weird).
Django Unchained
Postmodernism has no absolutes, nothing is original and therefore copies others.
Art constructed from/inspired by other work, therefore being influenced by others.
Paradox* with no absolutes.
Mr Ford's statement: A reaction to and a rejection of modernism.
Modernism: Grand narratives (War, religion, science etc...) and a utopian** view of the world. Modernism strove to be modern, rooted in the now.
Theories of Genre:
Claude Levi-Strauss
French Structuralist***, 1970s
Levi-Strauss saw any text as constructed out of socially recognisable 'debris' from other texts. (Bricolage)
He saw that writers/film makers construct texts from other texts by a process of:
-Addition
-Deletion
-Substitution
-Transposition****
One of the 'problems' is that you have to be culturally literate to understand if something is postmodern or not.
Postmodern media plays with our perception of what is possible/allowed.
Everything is allowed, no aspect of culture is off limits. Everything is source material.
*Paradox: A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded true.
**Utopian: modelled on or aiming for a state in which everything is perfect; idealistic.
***Structuralism: structuralism is the methodology that elements of human culture must be understood in terms of their relationship to a larger, overarching system or structure.
****Transposition: The cause of two or more things to exchange places.
Theories of genre - John Fiske - American professor of Communication arts, 2000s.
9/11 - "Like something out of a movie."
People refer to movies as real experiences often can relate to what is seen in films.
Claude Levi-Strauss - French Structuralist, 1970s.
Levi-Strauss developed the concept of bricolage.
Levi-Strauss saw any text as constructed out of socially recognisable 'debris' from other texts.
He saw that film makers construct texts from other texts by a process of:
- Addition
- Deletion
- Substitution
- Transposition
Gerard Genette - French structuralist - 1990's.
Genette developed the term 'transtextuality' and developed five sub groups, however only four apply to film.
-Intertextuality (quotation, plagiarism, allusion)
-Architextuality (designation of the text as part of a genre by the writer or by the audience)
-Metatextuality (explicit or implicit critical commentary of one text on another text)
-Hypotextuality (the relation between a text and a preceding hypotext - a text or genre on which it is based but which it transforms, modifies, elaborates or extends including; parody, spoof, sequel, translation).
Baudrillard
Developed the ideas of McLuhan to the point where it is possible to deny that the message underneath the medium has any substance at all. Therefore, the audience comes to perceive through the media, a world that appears 'real' but it is not.
Baudrillard developed the idea of simulation and simulacra.
Simulation - the process in which representations of things come to replace the things being represented... The representations become more important than the 'real thing.'
Simulacra - They have no relation to reality, they simulate a simulation.
9/11 has now became the coverage rather than the event itself.
Hyperreality - a condition in which "reality" has been replaced by simulacra, argues that today we only experience prepared realities - edited war footage, meaningless acts of terroris, the Jerry Springer/Jeremy Kyle show.
The very definition of the real has become: that of which it is possible to give an equivalent reproduction... The real is not only what can be produced, but that which is always already reproduced: that is the hyperreal... which is entirely in simulation.
Illusion is no longer possible, because the real is no longer possible.
Frederic Jameson
He rejects the idea of postmodernism.
Jameson essentially believes that the postmodernism provides pastiche, humorously referencing itself.
Frederic Jameson
He rejects the idea of postmodernism.
Jameson essentially believes that the postmodernism provides pastiche, humorously referencing itself.
Django Unchained
Bricolage theory.Django Unchained (A Western)
Addition:
Addition:
Tarantino has added the following to this film:
- Slavery
- Humour
-The German
- Black lead
- White bad guy (in a western they normally fight indians).
- Extreme violence
- Modern music
Deletion:
- Slavery
- Humour
-The German
- Black lead
- White bad guy (in a western they normally fight indians).
- Extreme violence
- Modern music
Deletion:
Tarantino deleted the following from his film:- Native Americans
- The West
- Cowboys
- Traditional Western music.
Substitution:
- The West
- Cowboys
- Traditional Western music.
Substitution:
Tarantino substituted the following from in his film:- Location (Not set in the west, more towards the south due to slavery)
- Steven is an 'Uncle Tom' character, he's embraced by the white people almost as an equal.
- He also refers to the black slaves as niggers in a derogatory manner (He's black himself).
Transposition:
- Steven is an 'Uncle Tom' character, he's embraced by the white people almost as an equal.
- He also refers to the black slaves as niggers in a derogatory manner (He's black himself).
Transposition:
Tarantino exchanged the myth into his film.- Links to the german myth of Broomhilda.
Ennio Morricone (Composer)Utilises Spaghettti Western themes/Hip-hop (Rick Ross)/Folk/Tupac v James Brown (mash up) to create the soundtrack for Django Unchained.
Ennio Morricone (Composer)Utilises Spaghettti Western themes/Hip-hop (Rick Ross)/Folk/Tupac v James Brown (mash up) to create the soundtrack for Django Unchained.
Aspects of the film:
- Costume
The blue suit that Django wears (The blue boy by Gainsborough)
Django's green jacket and cowboy hat (Little Joe from Bonanza)
- Setting
Western film, not actually set in the west.
Scenes set in snow, western's are associated with desert.
No Cowboys.
- Spaghetti Western
Italian made (International cast)
-Hero's
African-American man (Unusual)
German man (Unusual)
Together they make a very strange collaboration of friends who become hero's.
-References to the other films
The big silence
The Searchers
Birth of a nation
Django
-Soundtrack/Music
The music doesn't fit, no music of the era (1859).
Mash up of different music makes the whole soundtrack.
-Parodies
Race element.
Acting (Stephen and other black characters)
Acting is purposely OTT and exaggerated.
Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz act 'normally.'
Jamie Foxx is at the bar with Franco Nero, he says "Django, the D's silent" and Nero says "I know" because he is the original Django.
The whole film is a mash up
- Western
- Southern melodrama
- Revenge movie
- References other Quentin Tarantino films.
The N word is used a lot as well as 'Motherfucker'.
Spike Lee tweeted about the film being racially insensitive, slavery isn't taken seriously.
Who's the hero?
Criticism
Vacuous
Circular references (Keeps referring to itself)
Self referential jokes.
The Lego Movie
Lots of intertextual references.
An understanding depends on the 'type' of intertextual reference.
The Lego Movie has more recent/obvious references and are therefore easier to understand.
The character of President Business brings reality into the fantasy (blurs the lines).
Lots of famous characters:
- Batman
- Superman
- Wonder Woman
- Green Lantern
- Hello Kitty
- Star Wars
Stereotypical characters // Generic action film characters.
All of them are voiced by famous actors.
Drive
Characters: Red if they die in the film.
-Driver (name is never given) referred to as 'kid' a lot.
-Shannon
-Bernie Rose (Killed by Driver)
-Nino (Killed by Driver)
-Irene (Relationship with Driver was over before it began)
-Standard
-Benicio
-Blanche
-Cook
-Thug in Elevator (Killed by Driver)
-Two Men in Motel (Killed by Driver)
-Nino's Driver (Killed by Driver)
Not many characters survive the film, a lot of deaths occur.
Location:
Sparsely populated Los Angeles (hyperreal - Self contained world).
Night time long shots of the city (From Helicopters).
Birds eye views.
City as a character?
Music:
Love scene - Oh my love (doesn't fit).
Electronic/80's/Retro sounding
Genre:
Crime/Gangster
Psychological/Thriller
Romance
Neo Noir* (In drive we're on the side of the bad guys and see their perspective)
-Noire films often featured an inspector who was on a similar level of intelligence to the criminial they're pursuing, however they do finally catch up on them.
Drama
Action
Hyperreal**:
Director: Nicolas Winding-Refn (Bronson, Pusher (I, II, III), Valhalla Rising, Drive, Only God Forgives.)
*Neo-noir (English: New-black; from the Greek neo, new; and the Frenchnoir, black) is a style often seen in modern motion pictures and other forms that prominently use elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in filmnoir of the 1940s and 1950s.
**In semiotics and postmodernism, hyperreality is an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced postmodern societies.
-Driver (name is never given) referred to as 'kid' a lot.
-Shannon
-Bernie Rose (Killed by Driver)
-Nino (Killed by Driver)
-Irene (Relationship with Driver was over before it began)
-Standard
-Benicio
-Blanche
-Cook
-Thug in Elevator (Killed by Driver)
-Two Men in Motel (Killed by Driver)
-Nino's Driver (Killed by Driver)
Not many characters survive the film, a lot of deaths occur.
Location:
Sparsely populated Los Angeles (hyperreal - Self contained world).
Night time long shots of the city (From Helicopters).
Birds eye views.
City as a character?
Music:
Love scene - Oh my love (doesn't fit).
Electronic/80's/Retro sounding
Genre:
Crime/Gangster
Psychological/Thriller
Romance
Neo Noir* (In drive we're on the side of the bad guys and see their perspective)
-Noire films often featured an inspector who was on a similar level of intelligence to the criminial they're pursuing, however they do finally catch up on them.
Drama
Action
Hyperreal**:
Director: Nicolas Winding-Refn (Bronson, Pusher (I, II, III), Valhalla Rising, Drive, Only God Forgives.)
*Neo-noir (English: New-black; from the Greek neo, new; and the Frenchnoir, black) is a style often seen in modern motion pictures and other forms that prominently use elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in filmnoir of the 1940s and 1950s.
**In semiotics and postmodernism, hyperreality is an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced postmodern societies.
Eminem
Homage:
Does your chosen artist use other artists music in a respectful manner?
Are they bringing a potentially forgotten or overlooked style to a new audience?
My Name Is (1998) directly samples Labi Siffre's 'I Got The...' (1975)
This utilised a sample of music from an original soul/funk song and incorporated it into a parodic hip-hop track.
In response to Eminem using other artists music in a respectful manner I would say he shows a variety depending on what song he uses the samples in. The sample of Labi Siffre is used in a respectful way and shows how one beat can be used in two very different songs, I believe Dr Dre's role as producer should be respected as he saw the potential in a song that is very different to that of his and Eminem's intentions with My Name Is.
Parody:
Marshall Mathers (2000) samples Lyte Funkie One's 'Summer Girls' (1999)
Eminem takes one line from Summer Girls and changes the following lyrics to disrespect boy band New Kids On The Block, he also suggests they are homosexual by saying 'I cant wait til i catch you faggots in public'.
LFO
New Kids On The block,had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer,for the summer
Eminem
New kids on the block sucked a lot of dick
Boy/girl groups make me sick
And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public
I'ma love it.. (hahaha)
Bricolage:
Like Toy Soldiers (2004) directly samples Martika's 'Toy Soldiers' (1988)
Eminem produced this and sampled a rock/pop song into a belligerent yet conscious hip-hop track.
The sample of Martika's 'Toy Soldiers' used in 'Like Toy Soldiers' is taken from one genre of music and applied to a very different one, the original intentions of the song are changed by Eminem who applies the lyrics to a current affair in his life.
Intertextual References:
Simulacrum:
Consumption:
Creation:
Performance:
Influence:
Does your chosen artist use other artists music in a respectful manner?
Are they bringing a potentially forgotten or overlooked style to a new audience?
My Name Is (1998) directly samples Labi Siffre's 'I Got The...' (1975)
This utilised a sample of music from an original soul/funk song and incorporated it into a parodic hip-hop track.
In response to Eminem using other artists music in a respectful manner I would say he shows a variety depending on what song he uses the samples in. The sample of Labi Siffre is used in a respectful way and shows how one beat can be used in two very different songs, I believe Dr Dre's role as producer should be respected as he saw the potential in a song that is very different to that of his and Eminem's intentions with My Name Is.
Parody:
Marshall Mathers (2000) samples Lyte Funkie One's 'Summer Girls' (1999)
Eminem takes one line from Summer Girls and changes the following lyrics to disrespect boy band New Kids On The Block, he also suggests they are homosexual by saying 'I cant wait til i catch you faggots in public'.
LFO
New Kids On The block,had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer,for the summer
Eminem
New kids on the block sucked a lot of dick
Boy/girl groups make me sick
And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public
I'ma love it.. (hahaha)
Eminem uses the chorus from Summer Girls and changes the lyrics/context of the words to show a lot of disrespect for boy band New Kids On The Block, he references Lyte Funkie One's to have a dig at the sexuality of the band members. Many believed and still do believe Eminem is a homophobe and therefore releasing lyrics like this didn't help his case that he wasn't.
Bricolage:
Like Toy Soldiers (2004) directly samples Martika's 'Toy Soldiers' (1988)
Eminem produced this and sampled a rock/pop song into a belligerent yet conscious hip-hop track.
The sample of Martika's 'Toy Soldiers' used in 'Like Toy Soldiers' is taken from one genre of music and applied to a very different one, the original intentions of the song are changed by Eminem who applies the lyrics to a current affair in his life.
Intertextual References:
Simulacrum:
Consumption:
Creation:
Performance:
Influence:
Jameson
Jameson sees postmodernism as vacuous and trapped in circular references.
Nothing more than a series of self referential 'jokes' which have no deeper meaning or purpose. (Ironically postmodernists don't disagree but use his criticism as their purpose).
For Jameson, literary and cultural output is more purposeful than this and he therefore remains a modernist in a world increasingly dominated by postmodern culture.
