Notes and definitions
Postmodernism: a late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories. (Source: Dictionary definition)
A brief history
Postmodernism is linked to the premodernism and modernism eras.
Pre-modernism: up to late 19th century.
Religion dominates society.
Modernism: late 19th century to mid-20th century
Science dominates; religion questioned; distinct difference between high culture (e.g. art) and low culture; industrialisation.
Postmodernism: mid- to late-20th century to present
Blurring of high and low culture/art and popular culture; media-driven hyper-reality; style over substance.
Postmodernism and the media
Postmodernism is often defined by scepticism, irony, self-referentiality or intertextuality.
What does that mean? The Simpsons provides an example. The structure is a classic family sitcom but the content ridicules authority (including its media conglomerate owner) and is full of intertextual references to other films, TV shows and popular culture.
Further examples of postmodernism
An example in architecture would be Las Vegas; in art, Andy Warhol's pop-art of the 1960s.
Award-winning 1998 German film Run Lola Run (‘Lola Rennt’) is credited with revitalising German cinema with a postmodern take on crime drama that features a repeating narrative and a blurring of genres.
Postmodernism: theory and terminology
Strinati
Dominic Strinati identified five ways to define postmodernism:
1. ‘Media-isation’ of culture – we make sense of reality using media texts
2. Emphasis of style over substance e.g. celebrity, reality TV
3. Breakdown of difference between art and popular culture
4. Confusion over time and space – modern society is built on the instantaneous
5. Decline of meta-narratives or grand narratives (e.g. religion or political theories such as communism)
Key terms
There are some key terms we need to learn when studying postmodernism in media texts:
Bricolage
The juxtaposing of old and new texts, images, ideas and narratives to create new meanings.
Hyper-reality
Jean Baudrillard argued that audiences view the ‘copy’ of reality in the media as more real than the original. Fredric Jameson discussed the idea of ‘historical deafness’ by suggesting the media-isation of history means we only understand historical events through their media representation.
There are some key terms we need to learn when studying postmodernism in media texts:
Pastiche
This refers to media products that imitate the style of another text, artist or time period. Pastiche is an example of intertextuality and takes a positive view of the original source.
In contrast parody is similar but ridicules the original source (e.g. Scary Movie parodies horror).
Fredric Jameson on parody and pastiche
“Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without any of parody’s ulterior motives, amputated of the satiric impulse, devoid of laughter.”
Jameson suggested pastiche does not offer up comment on society or history – it is simply done because it is ‘stylish’. He marks this as an example of ‘historical deafness’.
Deutschland 83: a postmodernism text
The following scenes of Deutschland 83 provide excellent examples of bricolage, hyper-reality and pastiche:
- Opening scene: 0.00 – 3.00
- Title sequence followed by archive footage: 8.10 – 9.15
- Running/supermarket scene: 17.10 – 18.10
Postmodernism & Deutschland 83: blog task
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #54: Introduction to Postmodernism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:
1) Read the section on Strinati's five ways to define postmodernity. What examples are provided of the breakdown of the distinction between culture and society (media-isation)?
The example provided of the breakdown of the distinction between the culture and society are the characters Bruno, Borat and Ali G. They are more recognised and 'real' than the actor who plays them, Sacha Baron Cohen. The media reality is more real than the object itself and we only understand it and see it through the media. Advertising is an example of this, in society people are very influenced in buying the 'brand' rather than the actual quality of the product.
2) What is Fredric Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness'? How can the idea of 'historical deafness' be applied to Deutschland 83?Frederic Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness' is the decline of historical context.
3) What examples and theories are provided for the idea of 'style over substance'?
The modern takeover of celebrities initiated through reality television programmes such as 'Big Brother' can be seen as the culture celebrating style over substance. Many celebrities are now famous for their appearance and presentation rather than for a talent or ability.
4) What examples from music are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture? Can this be applied to Deutschland 83?
The examples from music that are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture are:
- High art- opera, ballet, theatre, visual arts like paintings. This was for an elite, wealthy and educated group. This can be seen in Deutschland 83 because the girl in West Germany is singing a formal song.
- Low art/popular culture- film, TV, pop music. This was for the masses. This can be linked to Deutschland 83 because you can see in the garden party in East Germany, all the people are joining and singing to pop music.
5) What is bricolage? What examples of bricolage can be found in Deutschland 83?
Bricolage refers to the process of adapting and juxtaposing old and new texts, images, ideas or narratives to produce whole new meanings. We see this in the show during the montage of the character being taught how to be a spy- we see different brands and logos.
6) How can the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 be linked to postmodernism? Read 'The decline of meta-narratives' and 'Media texts and the postmodern' to help answer this.
The audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 can be linked to postmodernism through nostalgia. The show uses brands and technology from the past which allows the audience to view it from a modern perspective. The 'grand-narrative' of the show are the events around Able Archer but the show does focus on the fall of communism and the USSR. Meta-narratives were therefore less applicable to the world as communism was falling. Postmodernism doesn't look to one single truth to explain the world which supports Deutschland '83 as being more postmodern.
7) Read the analysis of media concepts and postmodern approaches on page 3 of the factsheet. Choose three of the concepts and write an example from Deutschland 83. Clue: genre, representation, ideology and audience would all be good options for this task.
8) Now look at page 4 of the factsheet. How does Deutschland 83 demonstrate aspects of the postmodern in its construction and ideological positioning?
9) Which key scenes from Deutschland 83 best provide examples of postmodernism? Why?
10) Why might audiences enjoy the postmodern aspects of Deutschland 83? What audience pleasures might elements of bricolage or pastiche provide viewers?
Postmodernism: a late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a general distrust of theories. (Source: Dictionary definition)
A brief history
Postmodernism is linked to the premodernism and modernism eras.
Pre-modernism: up to late 19th century.
Religion dominates society.
Modernism: late 19th century to mid-20th century
Science dominates; religion questioned; distinct difference between high culture (e.g. art) and low culture; industrialisation.
Postmodernism: mid- to late-20th century to present
Blurring of high and low culture/art and popular culture; media-driven hyper-reality; style over substance.
Postmodernism is often defined by scepticism, irony, self-referentiality or intertextuality.
What does that mean? The Simpsons provides an example. The structure is a classic family sitcom but the content ridicules authority (including its media conglomerate owner) and is full of intertextual references to other films, TV shows and popular culture.
Further examples of postmodernism
An example in architecture would be Las Vegas; in art, Andy Warhol's pop-art of the 1960s.
Award-winning 1998 German film Run Lola Run (‘Lola Rennt’) is credited with revitalising German cinema with a postmodern take on crime drama that features a repeating narrative and a blurring of genres.
An example in architecture would be Las Vegas; in art, Andy Warhol's pop-art of the 1960s.
Award-winning 1998 German film Run Lola Run (‘Lola Rennt’) is credited with revitalising German cinema with a postmodern take on crime drama that features a repeating narrative and a blurring of genres.
Postmodernism: theory and terminology
Strinati
Dominic Strinati identified five ways to define postmodernism:
1. ‘Media-isation’ of culture – we make sense of reality using media texts
2. Emphasis of style over substance e.g. celebrity, reality TV
3. Breakdown of difference between art and popular culture
4. Confusion over time and space – modern society is built on the instantaneous
5. Decline of meta-narratives or grand narratives (e.g. religion or political theories such as communism)
Key terms
There are some key terms we need to learn when studying postmodernism in media texts:
Bricolage
The juxtaposing of old and new texts, images, ideas and narratives to create new meanings.
Hyper-reality
Jean Baudrillard argued that audiences view the ‘copy’ of reality in the media as more real than the original. Fredric Jameson discussed the idea of ‘historical deafness’ by suggesting the media-isation of history means we only understand historical events through their media representation.
Fredric Jameson on parody and pastiche
1. ‘Media-isation’ of culture – we make sense of reality using media texts
2. Emphasis of style over substance e.g. celebrity, reality TV
3. Breakdown of difference between art and popular culture
4. Confusion over time and space – modern society is built on the instantaneous
5. Decline of meta-narratives or grand narratives (e.g. religion or political theories such as communism)
Key terms
There are some key terms we need to learn when studying postmodernism in media texts:
Bricolage
The juxtaposing of old and new texts, images, ideas and narratives to create new meanings.
Hyper-reality
Jean Baudrillard argued that audiences view the ‘copy’ of reality in the media as more real than the original. Fredric Jameson discussed the idea of ‘historical deafness’ by suggesting the media-isation of history means we only understand historical events through their media representation.
There are some key terms we need to learn when studying postmodernism in media texts:
Pastiche
This refers to media products that imitate the style of another text, artist or time period. Pastiche is an example of intertextuality and takes a positive view of the original source.
In contrast parody is similar but ridicules the original source (e.g. Scary Movie parodies horror).
“Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without any of parody’s ulterior motives, amputated of the satiric impulse, devoid of laughter.”
Jameson suggested pastiche does not offer up comment on society or history – it is simply done because it is ‘stylish’. He marks this as an example of ‘historical deafness’.
Deutschland 83: a postmodernism text
The following scenes of Deutschland 83 provide excellent examples of bricolage, hyper-reality and pastiche:
- Opening scene: 0.00 – 3.00
- Title sequence followed by archive footage: 8.10 – 9.15
- Running/supermarket scene: 17.10 – 18.10
Postmodernism & Deutschland 83: blog task
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #54: Introduction to Postmodernism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:
1) Read the section on Strinati's five ways to define postmodernity. What examples are provided of the breakdown of the distinction between culture and society (media-isation)?
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #54: Introduction to Postmodernism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:
1) Read the section on Strinati's five ways to define postmodernity. What examples are provided of the breakdown of the distinction between culture and society (media-isation)?
The example provided of the breakdown of the distinction between the culture and society are the characters Bruno, Borat and Ali G. They are more recognised and 'real' than the actor who plays them, Sacha Baron Cohen. The media reality is more real than the object itself and we only understand it and see it through the media. Advertising is an example of this, in society people are very influenced in buying the 'brand' rather than the actual quality of the product.
2) What is Fredric Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness'? How can the idea of 'historical deafness' be applied to Deutschland 83?Frederic Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness' is the decline of historical context.
2) What is Fredric Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness'? How can the idea of 'historical deafness' be applied to Deutschland 83?Frederic Jameson's idea of 'historical deafness' is the decline of historical context.
3) What examples and theories are provided for the idea of 'style over substance'?
The modern takeover of celebrities initiated through reality television programmes such as 'Big Brother' can be seen as the culture celebrating style over substance. Many celebrities are now famous for their appearance and presentation rather than for a talent or ability.
4) What examples from music are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture? Can this be applied to Deutschland 83?
4) What examples from music are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture? Can this be applied to Deutschland 83?
The examples from music that are provided for the breakdown of the distinction between art and popular culture are:
5) What is bricolage? What examples of bricolage can be found in Deutschland 83?
- High art- opera, ballet, theatre, visual arts like paintings. This was for an elite, wealthy and educated group. This can be seen in Deutschland 83 because the girl in West Germany is singing a formal song.
- Low art/popular culture- film, TV, pop music. This was for the masses. This can be linked to Deutschland 83 because you can see in the garden party in East Germany, all the people are joining and singing to pop music.
5) What is bricolage? What examples of bricolage can be found in Deutschland 83?
Bricolage refers to the process of adapting and juxtaposing old and new texts, images, ideas or narratives to produce whole new meanings. We see this in the show during the montage of the character being taught how to be a spy- we see different brands and logos.
6) How can the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 be linked to postmodernism? Read 'The decline of meta-narratives' and 'Media texts and the postmodern' to help answer this.
6) How can the audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 be linked to postmodernism? Read 'The decline of meta-narratives' and 'Media texts and the postmodern' to help answer this.
The audience pleasures of Deutschland 83 can be linked to postmodernism through nostalgia. The show uses brands and technology from the past which allows the audience to view it from a modern perspective. The 'grand-narrative' of the show are the events around Able Archer but the show does focus on the fall of communism and the USSR. Meta-narratives were therefore less applicable to the world as communism was falling. Postmodernism doesn't look to one single truth to explain the world which supports Deutschland '83 as being more postmodern.
7) Read the analysis of media concepts and postmodern approaches on page 3 of the factsheet. Choose three of the concepts and write an example from Deutschland 83. Clue: genre, representation, ideology and audience would all be good options for this task.
8) Now look at page 4 of the factsheet. How does Deutschland 83 demonstrate aspects of the postmodern in its construction and ideological positioning?
9) Which key scenes from Deutschland 83 best provide examples of postmodernism? Why?
10) Why might audiences enjoy the postmodern aspects of Deutschland 83? What audience pleasures might elements of bricolage or pastiche provide viewers?
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