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