postmodernism

 Postmodernism in music video: Blog tasks

Media Magazine Theory Drop - Postmodernism

Create a new blog post called 'Postmodernism in music video: blog tasks'. Read ‘The Theory Drop: Postmodernism’ in MM66  (p26). You'll find our Media Magazine archive here - remember you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Answer the following questions:

1) How does the article define postmodernism in the first page of the article?

 Postmodernism takes this concept of questioning traditional structures, representations and expectations and pushes things a step further.

2) What did media theorist and Semiotician Roland Barthes suggest in his essay 'The Death of the Author'?

he challenged tradition when he said that a writer’s opinions, intentions or interpretation of their own work are

no more valid than anyone else’s.

3) What is metatextuality?]

Metatextuality is where a text draws attention to the fact that it is a text.

4) What is the repeated phrase on the cartoon on postmodernism on page 28?

‘postmodernism is a cultural movement that distrusts all established philosophies and frequently

experiments with the medium it is presented in’.

5) How does postmodernism link to media representations and reality?

Postmodernism is  making a parody out of serious things. This is shown in media representation through the hyper reality and genres such a comedy.

Music video CSPs and postmodernism

Now apply postmodern ideas to our music video CSPs by answering the following questions:

1) How does the music video for Ghost Town incorporate elements of postmodernism?

Style over substance: mimicking genres and art house cinema's purely for the look rather than deeper effect

Time and space confusion: Not knowing where they're driving to, or for how long only know it's for a long time due to change of day light. Unrealistic use of car space- fitting that many people in the car doesn't make since.

Pastiche: copying subcultures

intertextualities: hammer horror, film noir, neo expressionism

2) What film genres are alluded to in the music video for Ghost Town? Which scenes in particular created these links?

Road movies where the  characters are on a road trip and the setting is in the car following their journey. Also horror movies since there is low key lighting.

3) How does Old Town Road use postmodern elements in its music video?

Time and space confusion: Travelling through time from 20th century to 21st century

Bricolage: Mix of old time ere with a modern/ postmodern era

Intertextuality: Hoe Down like Billy Cyrus' daughter Miley Cyrus' scene in her movie hannah montana

Parody: The horse race and conversation after is humorous. Chris Rock's scenes.

4) How does the Old Town Road music video reflect technological convergence and modern digital culture?  

5) What do YOU think Lil Nas X was trying to say about reality and American culture in the music video for Old Town Road?

Cuylture is important and unites people together thought out history.