Mock Re-write

Answering Question 1A

Question 1a advice from Media Studies

Useful Links

Included are some websites that have really helped me when researching postmodernism within films. There are generic websites such as wikipedia but other blogs and websites too:

www.onpostmodernism.com/movies

www.imdb.com/list/Is051370237/

www.postmodernblog.tumblr.com

Explaining theory to Parents

As a part of the task in which we wrote 3 paragraphs to do with Baudrillard, Lyotard and Jameson's theory, we had to explain it to a friend or family member. I explained it to my Mum. She believed that it seemed like a complicated theory but I tried to keep it quite simple. She did ask me to explain what exactly postmodernism was however I struggled to do so as there are just so many different examples of what it could be and many terms which can be applied to the theory in which are criticised and praised by many theorists.

Overview of Lyotard's Theory

One of the main ideologies outlined by Lyotard's theory is the notion of the 'Postmodern Condition.' He has argued that we no longer need these grand narratives since the evolution of technology over the past 100 years. He believes that little or 'meta' narratives are now more appropriate in terms of explaining various social transformations and political problems, with this being the driving force behind postmodern science. As meta narratives fade, science suffers a loss of faith in its search for truth, therefore new ways must be found in order to legitimate its efforts. Connected to this legitimacy is the growing dominance for computers. Lyotard argues that one day, in order for knowledge to be considered useful, it will have to be converted into computerised data.

Overview of Baudrillard's Theory.

One of Baudrillard's main ideologies is the notion of hyperreality. Hyperreality is a condition in which reality has been replaced by simulacra. Simulacra can be defined as when a sign loses its relation to the real world. This loss of realism can cause desensitisation and ignorance towards what is really going on in society. He highlights some causes of simulacra which can include the evolution of the economy, the media and capitalism. (Capitalism is a marxist concept in which the bourgeoisie exploit the workings and labour of the proleteriat in society.)

The mass media has played a massive impact on simulacra because it has excessively shaped the shapes and meanings of the symbols portrayed in various mediums. These symbols can be seen as agents of representation, creating new signs of new culture, imaging and codes within the value of reality.

Overview of Jameson's Theory

One of Jameson's main postmodern ideologies is Pastiche and its evolution from the modernist view of parody. Jameson has said that postmodernity can be characterised by pastiche and a crisis in the authenticity of history. He believes that society as a whole has moved on from Hutcheon's view of parody in which work is mimicked and destroyed in a way that could be deemed disrespectful, and this is replaced by the ideology of pastiche in which even though has similar characteristics of parody, it is nostalgic and pays tribute to art and literal texts.

Jameson states that parody is more common in modernist texts (pessimistic postmodernism), as it copies old styles of art but takes a critical view of this unlike pastiche by asking questions and does not just simply duplicate. In terms of pastiche, he states that it is a mixture of past styles, however shows no understanding of history. It reflects the idea that society has abandoned the possibility of change. Jameson overall believes that pastiche is becoming postmodernism's most dominant trait.