Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media.

Postmodernism is a rejection of modernism (the movement in western arts,

architecture and design) and traditional narrative structures like Grand Narratives
(Lyotard). Postmodernism is characterised by using earlier styles and conventions;
mixing different artistic styles and media together as well as a general distrust of
theories.
Some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media including multiple
theorists like Jameson, who suggests postmodernism has no point and that is the
point. Postmodernists tend to create texts for fun instead of creating them for a
purpose. Texts will regularly contradict media conventions and will form their own.
Conventions of postmodern media, such as: self-referentiality, intertextuality,
hyperreality and structure influence why some people arent convinced by it.
Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film directed by Tim Miller and is a
postmodern film. This is due to Deadpool being self-referential towards- himself, the
film and the fact he knows the audience are watching him in a film throughout the
movie. He performs multiple asides to the audience which breaks the fourth wall and
reminds the audience they are watching a film. His self-referential actions can range
from a wink to direct address to the audience- A 4th-wall break inside a 4th-wall
break! That's like, 16 walls!". This has been criticised as Jameson suggests
postmodern films are nothing more than a series of self-referential jokes which have
no deeper meaning or purpose. Postmodernists dont disagree with this statement;
however, they use this as their purpose for including self-referential jokes within
media. Self-referentiality has become a convention of postmodern media which, like
Jameson, Noam Chomsky sees as "meaningless because it adds nothing to
analytical knowledge.
Postmodernists take moments from previous texts and apply it to their own to create
something new. Usually, this is done either respectfully in homage to the original text
or in mockery for comedy as a pastiche (Jameson). Intertextuality between texts is
criticised as audience members would have to understand the context of the joke to
be able to appreciate it. In Deadpool, actor Ryan Reynolds (who plays Deadpool)
makes a reference to a moment within the comic book of Deadpool. He breaks into
an apartment and orders a pizza to the door, before he completes the job he was
sent for. Audience members, who havent read the comic book, may not understand
the reference compared to someone who has read the book and misses the humour
of the moment. Some people may not be convinced by postmodern texts as they
could be feeling as though they wouldnt be able to understand a text if they arent
able to understand the original reference; putting them off postmodern media.
Furthermore, originality is questioned if the same material is being regurgitated as it
could lose its humour if overly used.
The Neon Demon is a 2016 psychological horror film by Nicolas Winding Refn. It is
based on an aspiring model in Los Angeles, whose beauty and youth generate
intense fascination and jealousy within the industry, leading to her murder. The Neon
Demon is a postmodern film. This is due to the hyperreal world and what the
characters think is normal, but we dont. For example, the three models, who are
consumed by jealousy over the new model (Jesse), murder her by pushing her into
an empty swimming pool, cut her body up and eat her. This is something we, as an
audience, wouldnt be used to in the real world, however they seem used to it in their
world. This shows how a model can be consumed by the industry, and in this film, it
is literal as they eat Jesse- possibly to consume her beauty. Furthermore, another
area of hyperrealism is when one of the models (Ruby) goes to work in a morgue
and performs sexual activities with a female corpse. Necrophilia is extremely
uncommon and frowned upon in our world, however it seems to be acceptable in
theirs. This reflects Baudrillards idea that the real is no longer possible as
postmodern films have taken a turn to different, artistic narratives from the traditional,
realistic grand narratives we are used to. This may cause people to be unconvinced
as the hyperreality makes things less meaningful which they prefer when they watch
films with real meanings and storylines.
The episodic nature of The Neon Demon comes from there being short scenes with
very little dialogue. Audiences are no longer concerned with the process of
understanding a text (through dialogue) as they can interpret it from the visuals. The
linear narrative enables audiences to follow the film in a way that would make them
understand it; even with little dialogue. This would not be possible in Deadpool as
the narrative is fragmented and non-linear. Deadpool plays around with time and, as
an audience, it would be harder to understand as the dialogue would carry the
events happening in the film. The lack of dialogue was replaced by music which was
upbeat and continuously increased tension, as well as allowed room for
interpretation. Theorists (Kramer) would suggest that multiple meanings to media is
a good thing as it allows us to take something from the film that we would value.
However, some criticise this and are unconvinced by postmodern media as there
must be certain elements of a films structure that are necessary for the audience to
understand the narrative (Parsons). If this isnt there, like Deadpool, some may not
get it and become confused; displeasing them and refraining them from continuing
with postmodern media.
Postmodernism doesnt just exist in film, it exists in all kinds of media. Like
Deadpool, artists like Kanye West, Eminem and Grimes all use elements of
bricolage, parody, homage etc to form their music; leading them to be labelled as
postmodern artists.
Eminem is a singer, songwriter and musician within the hip hop/rap genre of music.
He frequently collaborates with artists from the same genre and from a multitude of
others. Eminem is a postmodern artist due to his crossover between genres; using
bricolage; much like Deadpool. Eminem first collaborated with singer/ songwriter
Rihanna on his seventh studio album Recovery in 2010. Rihanna is an artist within
the pop, r&b and regge genres which contrasts against Eminems rap. They
collaborate again on his eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP.2 in 2013
which, again, uses multiple genres. Rihanna isnt the only artist he has collaborated
with. He joined together with rock artist Pink! in 2010 for the fourth track on his
Recovery album. Much like how Deadpools mixture of genres widened its
audience, Eminem opens his music up to a variety of consumers as he, not only
targets his own fans, but targets the fans of the artists he collaborates with. Thus,
introducing his audience to a wider variety of genres they may not have heard of if
they have only been experienced in his own. Kramer would suggest Eminem is a
postmodern artist as he does not respect boundaries between sonorities through
his use of mixed genres. Some people may not like this cross over, and prefer artists
who stick to one genre like Busta Rhymes who only produces music in the hip hop
genre.
Predicting the future for postmodernism is difficult as there as so many routes
postmodern media can go down. Technology allows us to explore things further and
come up with new ideas that no one would have thought about. For example,
Michael Jackson was made into a hologram for the 2014 Billboard Music Awards
where he performed his first set after his death in 2009. Since then, companies
have been experimenting and recently, in Star Wars Rouge One, there have been
CGI effects added to place the faces of past characters (of whom the actors are now
dead) onto the bodies of other people so they could return for the film. This has had
some criticism and some people arent convinced by it as many dont want the CGI
faces to replace the past actors as they should be remembered for what they did.
But, this seems to be the route that postmodernism is going down. If it is happening
for stars, maybe people will invent ways of bringing back friends and family that they
could interact with like those who interacted with Michael Jacksons hologram on
stage.