The social, political and cultural attitudes and images of the late

2Oth / early 21st century

Post -Modernism!!!

Postmodernism was originally a reaction to modernism.

Influenced by the Western European disillusionment induced by World War II

Rejection of perceived bourgeois, elitist culture

Post Modernism: Key Points or how to spot a Postmodern text! Intertextuality Self –reflexivity Generic Hybridisation Kitsch Irony Mix of Low and High Art Nostalgia (for the past) Mass produced is now

art! Semiotics (signification

confused)

Post Modernism in Action

Analysis becomes aware that the context of the text and the reader create meaning - semiotics

Literature- pessimistic narratives Art – self reflexivity Music – Generic Hybridisation Visual Culture – the visual becomes

more important Architecture

Semiotics and Culture

We can apply these structural approaches to culture…

Fashion Subcultures Music Advertising Film

Literature

Common nature of Narrative (Narratology)

Grammatical systemsDeath of the Author (Barthes)readers become a key creator

in the textReadily and Writerly texts

Pastiche & Irony

Cultural production starts to speak a new language in Architecture, Art, Music and Film

Parody aims to mock an original in a critical way.

Pastiche is merely a stylistic maskIrony is surface & underlying

meaning not the same

Bricolage and Intertextuality

The way signs or artefacts are borrowed from different styles or genres to create something new.

Pulp Fiction clip - Can you identify the post modern elements?

Postmodernismand Identity

Living in a global village - we borrow from other cultures - food/music/clothes

Domination of the flow of media images

Break up of ‘traditional agencies’ - family, religion

Class/gender roles - Noveaux riche

Post Modernism and Identity

Fragmented identitieswe are made up of several shifting and

fragmented identities Identity is defined by our lifestyle and what

we consume rather than what we produce or by our background.

Marxism

key to the Semiotic climate of structuralism

sought to understand human culture as a science

Attempt to solve the flaws in society

attempt to understand societal structures (class)

solve the problems of exploitation

Post Modernism: Key Points or how to spot a Postmodern text!

Intertextuality Self –reflexivity Generic Hybridisation Kitsch Irony Mix of Low and High Art Nostalgia (for the past) Mass produced is now art! Semiotics (signification confused)

Your Task! – Spotting postmodernism

Choose one of the music videos in your class and watch in your group.

Is it postmodern? What postmodern traits does it show?

Present your finding to the rest of the group in a short presentation.

Music Videos to Choose From

Pulp – Babies or Bad Cover VersionThe Chemical Brothers – Let Forever BeBasement Jaxx – RomeoKylie – Come into my WorldMuse – Time is Running outWeezer – Buddy HollyBowling for Soup – Punk Rock 101