TOWIE VS GORILLAZ

Essex…‘s most bemusing aspect is that it seems to straddle the very thin line between fact and fiction. A great deal of it is quite obviously staged and the delivery of lines is wooden at best. Every now and again however raw flashes of real, genuine emotion push past the script and cause the viewer to question what they are watching. The programme is extremely self-reflective. Cast members (characters?) frequently break the fourth wall and reference the fact that their lives are essentially staged, bickering over the importance of their individual roles in the performance. Much like in the novels of postmodern godfather Thomas Pynchon, in which characters break into songs regarding their situation at random intervals, Essex…simultaneously accepts and resists that it is a work of fiction. In this sense, it’s quite clever. I might go so far as to say it recognises the falseness in our own lives and presents an example of this going a bit too far, staging actual scenarios and waiting for real emotion to come through.


Characters are over the top to the point of ridiculousness, uncannily real yet utterly constructed at the same time


Gorillazz

POMO – GORILLAZ & TOWIE

Introduction

Why do you consider them (Gorillaz, X-Factor, TOWIE) to be postmodern?
BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN AUDIENCE, TEXT AND PRODUCER

TOWIE- blurs between fact and fiction (stereotypes? A lot of it is staged but then we get flashes of reality of genuine emotions that go beyond the script which make us the audience wonder what the hell we are watching!?)

It’s extremely self-reflective (aware of its own structure) docu-soap to show style as they are aware of being filmed.

The characters are extremely over the top, they are constructed to act that way.

Hybrid genres- docu-soap/reality show?

Gorillaz- hybrid genres – dub, rock, punk, bricolage LYOTARD
NO, the audience arnt involved all they do is consume the music.

Simulacra (BAUDRILLARD)
TOWIE- produced/use a script not real like a documentary
GORILLAZ- Their a simulated band,

Vacuous Narratives (empty, superficial, fame for fame's sake - no 'Grand-narrative')

characters


Self Reflexive (being aware of its construction/making the production process apparent
GORILLAZ- might be? they dont know they are simulated


Voyeurism
TOWIE- stars are always being watched by the audience, they are objects..
GORILLAZ- Performance is visual through animations of the characters, (image over music) 


Style over substance (Celebrity culture, superficial, vacuous, fame for fame's sake - no 'Grand-narrative'




TOWIE- Its more style over substance because the stars are famous for fames sake, theres no talent, its more about teir appearance and stereotype.
GORILLAZ- 


Intertextuality (think about how other Media & Celebrity Culture re-enforces the Show
TOWIE- 
GORILLAZ- Anime


Consumerism (music, culture, relationships become a commodity or product)
TOWIE- 
GORILLAZ- not only buying into their music but also their identity 


Hyper-reality (obviously this is crucially important: 'Reality TV?')

The characters are extremely over the top, they are constructed to act that way.
Gorillaz- 




GORILLAZ AND AUTHENTICITY!!!!!!!




Which 'forms and style conventions' of Traditional Media do they challenge?

To what extent do you agree and disagree they do challenge?

Arguments for

1. Point - why PoMo, apply theory 

2. Example, 

3. Explanation of how this challenges traditional Media forms/conventions

Arguments against

1. Point - why PoMo, apply theory 

2. Example, 

3. Explanation of how this doesn't challenge traditional Media forms/conventions

Conclusion

To what extent does Gorillaz & Reality TV challenge traditional forms?

What aspects do you see as influential in developing Media Futures - where is our Media Culture headed?