- Compare approaches (Theory vs stylistic) to answer question
- contemporary examples from 2 different media
- arguments for & against
- 1 reference to the past
- 1 prediction for the future
'Why is some Media described as Post-Modern?'
Postmodern
Media is the idea that anything can be Media and have a great value. Media is
described as Postmodern because it usually involves features that are a form of
nostalgia or the recycling of original content.
Baudrillard
is the main post modern theorist whom came up with the idea that were living in
a world where the 'Fake' is no longer distinguishable from real (art). This is
because there is no longer a clear distinction between what is media and what
is reality. Today we in a media saturated world that is presented by images and representations created through
playing with the idea of conventions.
As a society we are presented with
more and more information being fed to us yet it is gaining less and less meaning,
in the sense that we no longer appreciate the 'real' more than simulations of
the real thing.
This goes
with the 'illusion is no longer possible, because the real is no longer
possible', this can be linked to 15 Million Merits where
the storyline is based on individuals who live a
virtual life in a cell where they are controlling their persona via an Avatar.
The Avatar expresses their individual in a better light and appears to live a
better life ‘Fake fodder is the only thing that works anymore’. Those
living in the cell are not happy and they lack very little social interaction
with one another, their actions and socialisation is mainly displayed through
the Avatar. This is evident when Bing has brought an entry ticket for the
female character who thanks Bing by sending him a virtual kiss.
This also
recites Foucault’s ideas about the Panopticon prison and how those living in
that situation have no social interaction or enjoyment in what they are doing.
The clothes worn symbolise the dull lives they lead and you can signify this to
prison life. This episode particularly reflects the idea of voyeurism as an act
or power and control where only escape is the entertainment show. Hot Shot (the
entertainment show) is a cruel and humiliating for the individuals who enter on
to it, as there are three judges in particular who have the power and control
to accept an individual to get out of the ‘bleak and depressing’ lifestyle.
This gives the opportunity for someone of the ordinary to get a taste of the
life of being on TV. Being in this situation the watcher becomes the
watched.
A great
example of Postmodernism can be seen in Reality TV as it has changed
dramatically. The difference between reality tv in the past with soaps such as
Coronation Street where the actors learn and act according to their script
directions where as in todays Reality TV such as The Only Way Is Essex is
becoming much harder to determine as real tv because of the way in which 'real'
people perform or "act" we begin to question whether how they are
acting in genuine and their actual selves or 'are they reading from a script'?
Another great example is Big Brother where they audition and take on real
'average' people to live in a house for 11 weeks where we see how their
'characteristics' change. The people who put themselves forward for this show
are those seeking for the life of a celebrity where they can be seen on a wide
scale. However, TV is very clever in how it can manipulate the audience and
contestants in to believing what they are seeing is real however in fact it is
majorly edited to change the opinions and way the audience see the
contestants. In relation to each other they both result in attracting
those in society who want to become famous. Both shows hold auditions in which
individuals have the opportunity to impress in order to move forward. However,
for both shows rather than only ensuring they move forward those who have
potential and are ‘normal’ they take a variety of different individuals who
will impel an audience to watch. It has a lot to do with money, for example Big
Brother, they had recently stopped it on C4 because they simply were not
getting enough views which meant it had to be scrapped.
On both
shows as the members progress closer to the final of the shows, the audience
begin to develop a better picture of those members and we see how each member
has changed in order to gain the higher spot. For example on the X-Factor a
stylist and producers will change the sound and style of a contestant to please
and attract the crowd because at the end of the show they need to ensure the
winner will make money.
Scott
Pilgrim (SP) Vs The World can be argued as 'stylistic' as it contains many
elements that make it Postmodern. This film has many more features that give
this film the 'style' over 'substance' and this is for many reasons. To start
with we can automatically see that the characters are living in a hyperreal
world, that is based around the use of bricolage and interextuality of
different subcultures coming together which have references to previously seen
texts, for example the way in which Scott Pilgrim has to defeat several evil
ex's (who are the villains) through a Nintendo computer game style 'fight' like
the game that is featured in the 'Mortal Combat' or 'Tekken'. Further on, the
audience come to realise that it is Hyperreal in more ways, where there is a
'audience' in the background in some of the scenes who cheer and laugh when
Scott does something good, funny or bad. As part of the idea of hyperreality
the characters are given superpowers. A simulation of the character is also
seen when Scott Pilgrim dies but then regains a life which comes up with a '1
UP' simulation which in reality would not happen, as once your dead, your dead!
(I guess)
However,
we soon realise that this film contains flawed charaters who are not portrayed
as the typical characters you would expect to find in say a film that would
resemble reality. Scott Pilgrim who has the characteristics of a weak yet
likeable character who does not appear as the type of 'hero' we as an audience
would expect to see. Then we have Scott's second girlfriend who doesn't appear
as the damsel who needs rescuing because she does not look 'girly' and she is
emotionally stronger than Scott. Lyotard claims that there is a death of
'meta-narratives' truth is all
that matters as its the popularity. (good always beats evil) which is correct
in Scott Pilgrim as he does beat the evil characters and does get the girl.
Scott Pilgrim is very hard to distinguish the exact time and place in which the
film is set, as it is dislocated with a numerous number of locations which
signify as dreams or thoughts. This is also evident through the use of a
disjointed narrative as the audience are constantly being thrown back and
fourth through flashbacks and flashforewards, therefore the scenes are always
shifting (which can make it difficult to keep up with).
15 Million Merits has
a thematic approach to Postmodernism. This is because is has more significance
to the audience. This particular series of Black Mirror relates to consumerism
and the importance of individuals in society who seek to become something their
not or a product of society. For example, in this series we see this happen to
Bing. Based on the idea of the characters living a bleak life in a cell and
their only way to exit this life is through the reality tv show 'Hot Shot',
which supposingly will be the chance of a better life. The idea of distopian
and whether this type of programme will eventually come true to us.
Overall
as a society do we prefer simulations rather than the original? as a whole I
think not, yet we are so obsessed with the image of fame and celebs. In the
future are all films like Scott Pilgrim that hold a stylistic approach going to
be the focus on all film/tv making? or do we think that we are going to be so
obsessed that we hold a similar life to those in 15 Million Merits. You be the
judge!
