Student Essay C3 Grade 31/50
Some media is described as post modern as traits of media have changed. Codes and conventions of what? go against traditional traits media used to follow. Good, but examples?
Postmodern media reflects the society of today. Postmodern media rejects the idea of truth and reality. We no longer can differentiate reality and hyperreality. Some media now blurs boundaries. Directors and producers subconsciously affect us as well as consciously by bombarding us with TV-addled drones, advertisement and confusing films including so many stylistic approaches trying to make create something new and exciting. Some really good ideas here but too quickly lost without relating this to the question There has been a wave of reality TV shows and CGI films which muddles the true meaning of the context. Cinematic photography??? is no longer as important as it was 100 years ago. People want to see striking visual images, illusions and artificial simulations. Society has become a commodity, a cynical world where nothing is real anymore. I'd argue however the idea of truth is still in the back of everyones minds, we don't believe all the bullshit we see,!!! not in an academic final A2 exam please only the naive and foolish do.
Scott Pilgrim plays with some many modernist traits I don't know where to begin on how to describe it as post modern???? Please think about structuring your answer before you write it It has so many stylistic elements of postmodernism but cleverly intwines these with modernist views, after all they don't want to confuse its audience too much. Would SPs audience be aware of these elements of modernism and post? Jamesons theory couldn't be more correct when you compare it to this film, 'everything is recycled'. A weird combination of references to hip romance, comic books and video games that are displayed in the film. The film is set in a what seems like a normal real world until the Video game fights were introduced to the equation. After killing someone you gain coins and bonuses. CGI effects are used to exaggerate the real making the fight sequences extremely hyperreal. They become a simulation of a fight you control when you play a video game. The effect of living in simulacra is a distorted sense of reality. CGI demonstrates style over substance, if what you see looks good how can you argue. Apply Baudrillard here please to create an argument as to how far you consider this film to be postmodern
As I said before Scott Pilgrim references other existing media intertextuality – throwing away marks for terminology here , the referencing to battle of the bands and video games is an example of pastiche. It's a tribute to what? and something which the audience can relate to and understand why can they understand?. Scott Pilgrim simultaneously switches from comedy, sci-fi and action. This is hybridity??? again terminology The film maker who is he – name please? has deliberately used bricolage to jumble together sub-cultures into a single film references to Grunge, Manga Anime, 90's Nintendo Computer Games, Japanese Techno and Vegan(ism) help create humorous scenes but they are only funny to people that understand. Scott pilgrim is arguably post modern however, scott after all is trying to win the heart of ramona, the whole film follows this narrative and single story used in many other conventional films, in the film he knows he can't fight Ramona's ex girlfriend as 'he can't hit a girl'. So how does this fit in with your assessment is it postmodern because of this?
Philosopher Jean Baudrillard describes society as being so closely attached to the mass media that we can no longer differentiate between reality and hyper reality. Is this a defining characteristic of Postmodernity? In ‘15 Million Merits’ ordinary humans are reduced to the status of TV-addled drones and advertisements. They are all cocooned inside their drab virtual worlds and forced to spend their days pedalling for credits while living their lives through a videogame avatar. It’s a dystopian world; why is distopia a theme related to 'post'-modernism: cynicism towards Modernist ideals if progress? people are being portrayed as avatars which is a simulation of their lives. The effect of living in simulacra is a distorted sense of reality. You MUST address why all this above is considered to be postmodern – how is all this a reaction to values and ideas of Modernism, whats the relationship?
Mick Googan and Debord’s theories are relatively similar.???? why is this important? The society of the spectacle has a theme, the culture of society as a whole has turned into a commodity. 15 million merits incorporate a caustic satire on TV talent shows. Bing tricked his way back in front of the judges, with a shard of glass held to his neck, delivered a passionate speech against manufactured culture. He got a reaction but maybe not the one he wanted. He was offered his own show and his own penthouse. His rants about the system which is televised on screens is a contradiction in itself. ‘The triumph in the spectacle is found in the emptiness in the media conscious celebrity’. This cannot just hang here as a summary of the scene – why is this paragraph essential to you explaining why this is postmodern or makes 15 MM a postmodern text?
Foucault argues that 'contemporary world knowledge is by product of science and technology that is supported by the leading party'. The characters in 15 million merits are being controlled and bombarded with adverts on the screens constantly. This advertising is made to subconsciously affect the humans as well as consciously. 15 Million Merits exaggerates this into a possible future where you literally cannot escape from television and adverts. Why is this important to your answer on the extent to which we can define 15 MM as post-modern? The TV producers would offer only certain programmes to the humans controlling what they watch and slightly beating them down to what they want them to be. The programme highlights our cultures obsession with technology and our fascination with reality shows. Intertextual to xfactor – why is this postmodern?
Both Scott pilgrim and 15 million merits are postmodern in many ways. You sound like you are summarising here but you haven't yet explained in the main body above WHY they are postmodern and in what ways – they are for different reasons - 1 should be a stylistic approach and 1 should be a thematic approach that comments on postmodern ideas – how do they both reject traditional forms of audience participation – do they? How do they both seen as a reaction to Modernist style or thought? They both however don't interact with an audience. The audience only watch, they don't vote whether it was good. Compared to Xfactor which we also regard as postmodern They are both simply televised to the public like any normal ???? traditional (ie Modernist) television program or film. I would predict that television will stay quite traditional, nobody likes change.??? So why is youtube so popular, and music downloading, and CGI, 3D, watching on demand, facebook, and twitter? People clearly do like change. I do think however more film and television programs will use postmodern traits to try and create something recycled until that gets boring as well. CGI effects will get better and the distance between reality and hyper reality will blur even more but also become so far apart people will just accept it and move on with their lives??? Surely the argument is whether narrative, character and plot and meaning is important over style and special effects??? Meta narratives such as religion will live on??? Why have you addressed this in a question that asks you to define postmodern media? In conclusion, our society is so sucked into CGI, reality TV and what is hyper real we've already learnt to accept it and move on with our day to day lives. SO what are you saying aboiut the future of post-modern media?
Starts promising but you do not answer the question, you have mentioned the case studies but there is no understanding of why these features are postmodern, or explaination of why they are differently postmodern.
You must show you understand why pastiche, hyper-reality, and intertextuality are seen to different or beyond Modernism which was very structured, all about the meaning not style over substance like PoMo
15 MM deals with PoMo themese but why is it distopian and celebrity focused? Why is PoMo so cyncial about the future? Show you understand why these theories are postmodern – go back to 10 things list and the Modernism vs PoModernism table we put together. Why is Bings behaviour fit postmodern theory?
Ultimately you have to answer the question – back to basics – why are these described as “Post”-Modern?
Analysis L3 Mid - 13
Examples L2 High - 11
Terminology L3 – 7
31/50 C3
Student Essay Grade D1 29/50
Why is some media described as PostModern?'
Where is the introduction? Essay plan?
The idea that nothing is ever 'real', nothing can ever be an original/unique design or idea and will always have some aspects of something else in it. Now to you that may seem like utter rubbish??? You are writing to an Examiner, this is not an article in a newspaper or blog – be mindful of your prose but when put into a theory it can become the truth as everything around us suddenly becomes hyper-real, and like it or not we are living in an exaggerated 'false' world. You haven't mention post-modern media this is the question? What texts will be your examples and why? How can your case studies be seen to be pomo differently? What is pomo?
Now lets talk more about the theoretical side of postmodernism, with the first big thinker being Baudrillard and his theory being based on (hyperreality and simulacra) with his theory stating that 'we inhabit in a world made up wholly of simulacra- simulations of reality which replace any pure reality. Pure reality is thus replaced by the hyper-real where any boundary between the real and the imaginary is eroded.' WHy is this postmodern idea though – how does this react to Modernism, why is this a feature of postmodernity – media saturation?
Think about it for a second...the fairly lets say 'popular' – why is this relevant, the idea of popularity being the only important thing is a very postmodern idea but why – develop this... Reality tv show aired at the moment- The Only Way is Essex is seen to be reality with the cameras supposedly following the everyday lives of a group of random? Actors? people. However we all know do we? Who is we? this is complete nonsense as if these people actually live like this, it all comes down to stylistic approach known as style over substance, which in easier terms is a way of describing a media in which the substance being a true story isn't important anymore and we are more interested in the style of it. Why is this relevant to the question? Why is this postmodern – how does it show a reaction to moderism or relate to consumerism? So in fact what is sold to us as 'real' is completely edited and unlike original soaps such as Eastenders where characters are scripted they have now been taken over by 'reality tv' where the reality and fiction is blurred. Why is this postmodern? So without even arguing against this blurring of what is real and false we have grown to accept that this is how Postmodern works.
This theory also relates to '15 Million Merits' what is this? (2011) for instance the characters are living in a hyper-real world where they are living their life through an animated simulation of themselves where every move they make is watched upon and therefore effects their animated computerised self which is seen as their living 'real' self. Good now tie this in... This can be related to social networking site Facebook where everyone is able to have a profile page which is seen as a copy of themselves known as a simulation, where people are able to share their personal lives over the net with no actual meaning behind it. However do we even care anymore that this isn't the real them? the truth is no, as in our eyes this internet page with a picture of them on it is seen to be the 'real' them with no questions asked. Good, but can you link this to the essay question?
Now another way of looking at Postmodern is by a stylistic approach – what is this then, how does postmodern style reflect the ideas or thinking behind what postmodernism is, otherwise you are not showing you understand PoMo where a theorist know a Jameson talks about how everything is recycled and re-used. This can relate to the film Scott Pilgrim (2009) as this uses the styles of postmodernism to show this theory. The film is based around a blurring of genres this is a great? example of showing how the walls??? of a very modern film, where it would have a specific genre and nothing else have totally broken down and instead many postmodern films now use a variety of different genres. An example of when genre is shown in the film is when Scott comes face to face with one of the ex's, however this time she's a girl and so a meta-narrative is shown as much like in the Modern era the boy is not able to fight the girl. Good This is an example of how Jameson's theory is shown with the idea of the boy not fighting the girl has been recycled and re-used in postmodern films – no this is not what he is saying, this is Lyotard and the meta-narrative – so in some ways it isn't postmodern. Also another style that is used a lot during the film is a dislocation of time and space this therefore making the audience unaware of the characters surroundings, this represents how blurring is used representing how postmodern can be seen as a dislocation as we become unaware of what is real and what has been made to seem 'real'. Also parts of the film have been edited into a style book theme, once again representing Jameson's theory of how an original idea has been manipulated and changed to be re-used in a postmodern film. You must mention it came from comic book adaptation. What about the more obvious intertextual references, parody, etc...
By looking at both 15 Million Merits and Scott Pilgrim it's safe to say??? that they are both very PostModern – there is no argument here then? This will prevent you from getting Hi 3 or L4 with one showing the theorists understanding of it all and the other showing how stylistic approach has been used. However arguing against this i have come to understand how Scott Pilgrim uses meta-narratives to represent the idea of love and hate and evil vs good, so therefore this ISNT Post-MODERN as Lyotard suggests showing how Jameson's theory of how ideas are always recycled. He was on about the style not the stories the signs band tshirts, video game references, comic book styles, manga anime artwork etc... But surely by using a structured storyline for example Love and hate this challenges the idea behind Postmodernism and how there is never one set genre and it is mixed and blurred?
Also to what extent can we say that either of these films/ Tv programmes are actually PostModernism - so are they, are you contradicting what you dsaid 2 paragraphs ago and now saying they aren't? as unlike reality Tv for example Big Brother and Xfactor where it interacts the audience by letting them vote ect. Both 15 Million Merits and Scott Pilgrim do neither of these things and so therefore they become much like a modern programme for instance Eastenders with a structured storyline and characters. Where is your argument – this just hangs here?
Also with this idea that we are all, every single one of us living in this exaggerated world filled with media and 'fake' people what happens to the people who cannot afford to have for instance an iphone or a laptop, and it may seen a tad extreme but perhaps they simply work on a farm totally and utterly dislocated from any media...are they not considered in this 'Postmodern world' as they are surely living it too. Futures ought to be based on the future of postmodern media texts – will it be like the virtual and intrusive media of 15 MM or the hyper-real style over substance of SP? You didn;t like SP – this is your opportunity to state whether you think that this satisfies audiences enough to focus on CGI and confusing bricolage rather than story
So will we come to a stage where there is no possible way of seeing what is real and what is made to seem 'real'? Your guess is as good as mine.??? Do not end your essay like this. You are asked to draw conclusions about where PoMo media is heading – what will come after PoMo and what will it look like? Where can it go? 15 MM is trying to make a point, some meaning – this is a Modernist concept but postmodernism is trying to get us to question everything.
Some degree of understanding of PM theory expressed coherantly
Examples have some relevance to the question but need greater depth in what aspect you are writing about
Points are not linked to answer the question
Need to revisit the definitons of PostModernism how is is 'Post'-Modern
Analysis Mid – Hi L2 11
Examples L2 11
Terminology – 7
29/30 D1
Student Essay Grade D2 28/50
15 Million merits and Scott Pilgrim are very similar in a number of ways (They are? but we are using them to contrast different definitions of postmodernism?), but they both show different aspects of Post Modernism, Scott Pilgrim features a number of stylistic approaches and 15 Million Merits takes a more theoretical approach, No you are taking the approaches, you are the writer analysing them. the two theorists I am going to apply to this is Jameson and Baudrillard. Good
Baudrillard said that ‘We live in a world where there is more and more information, and less and less meaning’ and 15 Million Merits resembles this, as the characters in it no longer have a meaning, other than to ride the bikes and earn the merits they need, so that they can live. They live in a system, some of them disagree with it, but the main character Bing is like this but at the end he simply becomes apart of it. Even though 15MM looks very stylistic, as an audience this isn’t what attracts us, it is the situation of the characters. Baudrillard’s theory of Hyper reality and Simulacra can easily be applied to 15MM as the world they live in is fake, they do not know a reality or the outside their world, all they know is to ride bikes & consume media products and advertising, ‘Fake fodder is the only think that works anymore’ this theory can be applies to the avatars they have to represent themselves as people, it is a simulation of what, or what they would like to look like, like the social networking site Facebook. It is hyper real as an audience we have not encountered the world they live in, so it gives us an insight to what sort of world we could live in, in the next 100 years. It could be argued that 15MM have also gone for a stylistic approach by making everything that is featured in the program very modern and futuristic, and the fact that all the characters communicate and live by using very developed technology. Good but you must link to why this fits in with what we know about PostModernism and what defines it Also, in 15MM, they are represented as ‘a society of the spectacle’ they are watched all the time through cameras, a good example of this is when Bing is in his room and because he does not want to watch something he covers his eyes, but due to the fact that people/someone is watching him, they pause it until he stops, and is forced to carry on. Don't let this hang – you must now explain why this is a postmodern idea – how is it a reaction to Modernist thinking? This links??? Intertextuality – don;t throw away terminology marks in with other media texts, such as Big Brother, a reality show. People are put into a house for 12 weeks and are watched by the british public 24/7 and have to survive evictions and whoever is the last one standing wins a cash prize. You do not need to explain the format unless you are going to now explain how this is a postmodern media text and why – how does it embody the ideas of postmodernity – consumerism is most important, taste isnt, lacks meaning or value This also links into Debord’s theory of ‘Consumer culture’ and that ‘the only way we can escape is if we go onto a reality show’ shows like Big Brother change people into celebrities over night, but this only puts them in the society’s spectacle and are only represented in the media, this applies back to 15MM as that is the purpose of the talent show ‘Hot Shot.’ You must be careful you do not show how this liniks nor are you answering the question anymore – why is this considered in your eyes as a postmodern quality to the program – explain to me to show you understand WHY this show is PostModern not just because we can apply a theory to it – how does it fit in with what you know postmodern is trying to be?
Scott Pilgrim on the other hand is very stylistic??? this is not a definition of postmodernism it is a way of approaching a media text to see how POstmodern ideas are reflected in its style – ie irony, playfulness, blurring structure and genre – here you must show me how you link these features to what postmodern is rejecting about Modernism or traditional media style , as it takes a theme of video games that runs the whole way through the film, especially in the fight scenes, as they are exaggerated with effects and hyperreality, so Baudrillard can be applied here too, but Jameson’s theory of ‘recycling old, to make new’ applies very well, as they are using other medias (video games) to make a new product, but why is Jameson saying this is postmodern – this lack of originality or mashing up existing media – you MUST show you understand why this is considered to be postmodern the fight scenes in Scott Pilgrim all represent pre-made video games, for example, the second fight is represented like a skateboarding game, and this is also heightened as one of the characters throws Scott into a tower and he comes out with no scratches or blood, which is what you would have expected. Hyperreal – but why is this postmodern? It isn't enough to say because some dead philosopher said so... Another example of the fights is the very last one, it is represented as ‘The Final Level’ where you have to destroy the main villain. Everything in Scott Pilgrim represents the video game style it has, with titles to inform the audience who the characters are, how old etc, and also their ‘ranking rate’ which once again links back. These titles break up the film as it is told in the form of a video-game. Another aspect that makes Scott Pilgrim post modern is the band ‘Clash at Demon head’ as they are very style over substance, this is also the case for Ramona, as she is constantly changing her hair colour. The style over substance themes link to other medias such as X-Factor, because as soon as the contestants get to the live shows, their image gets changed drastically, (what is your point? the substance – the fact they are not writing the songs themselves, the fact that they use autotune so its a simulation of their voice, or the fact that it is art reduced to commodity with all the originality taken out? for example, X-factor 2011, Good Janet Devlin went on the show and her hair got dyed to a different colour and the clothes she wore changed. It could be argued that Scott Pilgrim focuses on the video game themes so much that it is taking a theoretical approach from Baudrillard because of the hyper real elements, like in the opening scenes, the length of the room is heightened. Good but for what purpose?
Overall, I think both stick to their themes and both have many aspects of postmodernism. which they show well, but one has more stylistic elements than the other, and the other has more theory behind it. But comparing these two texts leaves us with questions of will we live in a world where we have to earn merits to live like in 15 Million merits? Dont we already – we work for money to buy stuff we don't need or will the stylistic approach of Scott Pilgrim take affect on other films and follow Jameson’s theory of recycling old elements to make new ones? These are questions that cannot be answered until we get there – where – we are in postmodernism aren;t we? Where can we go from here?, but for now, I think that the difference between theoretical and stylistic approaches works well as it gives audiences a wider choice of what films to watch, but are audiences aware of these approaches – surely this is theory which is a modernist concept and therefore not truth in postmodern eyes and gives us hope that maybe someday we will be able to watch more stylistic films, or actually live in a world where we can only use technology to communicate and survive, some will look forward to it, and others not. But thats the divide postmodernism puts in between audiences.
I think there is a point emerging in your conclusion which could be quite interesting but its not quite there yet
Good effort
You have some accurate examples here
You MUST show that you understanding why these themes and stylistic fetaures are said to be postmodern – not just because a theorist said so. Look over the ways PostModernism rejects Modernist ideas – style over substance and popularism is a rejection of taste and cultural worth – like art cinema and opera as opposed to CGI blockbusters and pop music. Why is Xfactor postmodern TV – what does it do differently to traditional TV?
Lots of statements are left hanging – it is essential these are all tied into the question to show you know why we define texts as PoMo. EG why is parody & hybrid genre considered to be postmodern – its not enough to say that Jameson said so.
Analysis Hi L2 - 11
Examples Low 3 - 11
Terminology Hi 2 – 6
28/50 D2
To Improve:
Plan out your essay to make sure you are selecting the most important examples, your theorists are sound but you have to show why they are postmodern ideas
There needs to be some historical aspect where you relate pomo media to a non- contemporary examples (Fight Club for instance). How have ideas moved on?
What are the differences between how 15 million merits is using PoMo ideas and how Scott Pilgrim is using them – this is the crux of your essay.
Your futures must be covered – will alli films be hyperreal bricolages like scott pilgrim – empty of meaning and all style? Will all shows be the format of xfactor? Is 15 million Merits a warning of the future or are we partly there already?
Student Essay Grade D1 29/50
Why is some media described as Postmodern?
Post Modernism is the after effects of modernism where it is described as an ideology of the future but we live in Postmodernity, so it is now isn't it? How is futuristic, whats its purpose? Current media pieces Terminology - texts are considered as postmodern as theorist Fredric Jameson says that what is considered as new media is just recycled material from old to create something that is seen as fresh to younger audiences. Good We are exposed to post modern media everyday on bus stops, billboard, television, newspaper, magazines and more when are you going to introduce what 2 key texts and why you are comparing them to answer the question – otherwise the examiner will presume you haven;t read the question as I am now.... This is how the media is constructing our world as everywhere we turn there is a form of media directed our way. You need to add in about Media Saturation, & what aspects of a Media Text are considered relevant to PoMo – commercialism, popularity, its themes, its style?
Tv Drama 15 Million Merits is a media ? being represented as their virtual selves, still being an active being but in a simulation where they can achieve and experience more than they could in the reality of their own lives. People in the gym seem to prefer the simulated version of working out where the reality is that they are on an exercise bike, but the artificial version is that they can explore being outside riding a bike on a colourful sunny day, the idealistic version of working out, a lot like the latest games consoles, Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect where you actively progress your simulated avatar. OK yes, but why is this considered Postmodern, is it media saturation & technology, blurring the boundary of the audiences like X factor? Theorists to back up your explaination of why this is postmodern?
Another man in the gym has his fantasy interrupted by a reflection of a cleaner, he states "one minute I'm in slits ville and the next there's a pig gawking at me" this is his way of showing how the media portraits women as before he was enjoying a game show which ridicules larger ladies, revealing that some men are comparing the hyper real, media twisted version of women from what form of media – pornography, look at your Postmodern vs Modernism this is listed on here to the reality of how an average lady appears. Stykle over substance is this also applicable and a feature of how 'Post' Modernism is a rejection of Modernism – this is the purpose of the essay. This proves Baudrillards theory that "the effect of living simulacra is a distorted sense of reality or hyper reality" as the man prefers the artificial copy than the original. Why is this a postmodern theory, how does it relate or define it?
Baudrillard also said that we are now living in a world developing more information and less meaning, Good – you are now presenting some link to the question of what postmodernism is this is apparent in their everyday life of cycling for merits, merits for what exactly? A new virtual haircut which has no relation to how you appear in reality, but in their world is the best it can get. Link into the question...
Guy Debord's theory why are we bringing him in, whats he got to do with postmodernism? of the world as we see it is now the world of the commodity proves right by the end result of Bing's outburst on the Hot Shot show, is that after trying to beat out the system, he is now recruited as a spectacle in the media and that his only way out of being a consumer in his reality, was to become part of the commodity which he wished to escape from in the first place. His character has developed from a consumer to a product which he is now being represented from the media's perspective as an entertainer with merchandise available for virtual avatars and his own show where he can rant on about how unfair the system is, therefore transforming their culture of the system into a commodity - selling out his beliefs and point of view for a fancy penthouse. Excellent example but wasted because you haven;t explained why this defines the media text as postmodern by its theme...
Alot like the Xfactor and Big Brother, 15 Million Merit's equivalent Hot Shot, the audience decides the fate of the contestants, Michel Foucault describes this as voyeurism being the act of control. Why is this a defining characteristic of postmodernism, why is xfactor postmodern? This is apparent in the audience of Hot Shot full of the virtual avatars isn't this also simulacra behind the panel of judges. The reality tv in relation to this program would be the Hot Shot entertainment show, where everyday individuals can save up their merits to participate in the glamorous show. What makes this show appealing is how the media has represented the auditions and how the judges have critiqued the performers. It's a lot like Dennis McQuail's theory of escapism where you can watch the tv and get away from your life and problems – keep it PoMo or its is not relevant
This show can be considered as either modernist for its structure of being a grand narrative – what is this then and what's it got to do with PoMo – what is it reacting to in Modernism? Why does Lyotard who's theory this is say its postmodern? and the audience taking a passive part, or this could be a post modern piece for it’s self reflectivity and it’s unusual way of portraying our everyday lifestyle.
Whats the link – you have to establish WHY you are looking at Scott pilgrim and 15MM – what have they got to do with defining PoMo & how do they do it differently? To what extent are they actually Postmodern (argument?)
Scott Pilgrim Vs the World is a post modern context of what our future could look like?. A computer game?? – I think you have this mixed up with 15 MM... The storyline is that the boy meets a girl however the plot twists when the post modern theme of having to defeat her exes to be in a relationship with her. This media FILM could be either modernist again for its passive audience (you MUST establish earlier that an interactive prosumer oarticpatory audience is an example of PoMo media for this to make sense) and grand narrative of boy meets girl, good defeats evil and the whole story fixated on a basic (its not basic, it jumps to dream sequences and music video sections & has 2 different endings) structure. It could also be considered as post modern for it’s blurring of genres and stylistic themes, good – now go on to explain to the examiner why these stylistic aspects of blurring are 'POST'Modern... this is after all the question also the involvement of having homosexual characters is a twist on grand narrative of just boy and girl.
Although this media what, Film? could seem brand new??? (Cinema is over 100 years old, do you mean CGI effects or mixing with computer game style?) , Jameson’s theory behind the film is that all of these traits have been recycled from other media, This is where you discuss Intertextuality and list all the references to games, anime, comics, music, subgenres, veganism etc that you took copious notes on during the screening as examples for this exam for example the root of the film relies on the computer game stylistic approach as this hasn’t been featured in many media works.??? Terminology - Again, do you mean films?
Where is the answer to the question – why does this qualify it as being defined as post modern?
The use of style of substance in this film is the storyline is very basic however effects and use of hyper reality create a surreal??? Its not surreal, it is clearly structured around video games and music videos – its is hyper-real, surrealism has no structure & is dreamlike – this is not so, you make sense of it from your experience of other Media that is one of the defining characteristics of postmodernism- that is how you answer the question.
Both media texts could be considered as either modernist or post modern for the audience sake of it being a passive show and don’t interact with the audience like todays popular reality tv shows such as the X factor and Big Brother for this to make sense in answering the question and for you to convincingly put over this argument, you are going to have to explain WHY this is a defining characteristic of postmodern media – what are you comparing it to that is a more traditional & therefore MODERNIST text? as their audience is plays a major part in their show. Other shows like The Only Way Is Essex could be considered as reality tv with both active and passive audiences, some who soak up the entertainment and those who use social networking sites to interact with the cast giving an insight of what they think of the show. It could however be a modernist tv show as most of the drama caused is scripted and acted out for the audiences pleasure. Good but too little too late, this is what the question was asking you
Scott Pilgrim and 15 Million Merits are prime examples of how everything is hyper real for example the computer effects in Scott Pilgrim, and the future of style over substance in 15 Million Merits where we are doomed to be controlled by the media.
Where is your prediction for future of postmodern media – will all shows be like Xfactor?
Is 15 MM a warning or are we there already?
Will all films be CGI spectacles with limited plot & meaning like Scott Pilgrim?
Without this you are limited to L2/3 border in your analysis as it is a requirement of the mark scheme.
What you have done well:
Some good examples but as you can see it doesn't demonstrate you know what postmodernism is, but you know some theorists and what it looks like
Theory is sound and appropriate, but must be tied into the question not just cos Baudrillard said so.
Key points for improvement:
1. Know why you are looking at these texts – SP = stylistic PoMo text, 15MM has PoMo themes in it
2. Use the opportunity to discuss the stylistic Terminology – what is it referencing, Parody/Pastiche, Intertextuality, Bricolage etc
3. Show your understanding of why stylistically & thematically (theories) these are postmodern characteristic – look back at the 10 things about PoMo post & the list of Modernism vs Postmodernism for the answer. Eg 15MM presents a distopia which is a thematic reflection of PoMo's cynicism to human progress, its also reflects the importance of consumerism, it also presents a character who questions everything (Truth, Culture etc) but 'sells out' for consumerism – not your hero at all. Without this level of understanding you are not answering the question and you will be limited to L2/3
4. You must develop the argument – to what extent are they actually postmodern texts, what don't they do that defines PoMo Media, how are they actually similar to Modern media, or are they both meaningless, style over substance? For this you must have at least 1 older texts to refer to – we could use Fight Club (1999) this has a strong story.
Analysis – Low 3 12
Examples High 2 11
Terminology L2 6
29/50 D1
