The document discusses several key aspects of critical social/cultural theory: 1) There is a breakdown of distinctions between culture/society and reality/media due to increased media influence. 2) Modern culture experiences a confusion of time and space due to instant communication and a focus on appearances over substance. 3) Universal narratives have been replaced by individual ideas and opinions with the loss of shared meanings and truths.

1. CriticalApproach – Social/ Cultural/
Political

2.  Breakdown of distinction between culture and society
(mediaization) – art’s purpose used to be to reflect reality; now
we refer to media texts to portray reality
 Confusion of time and space – instantaneity of travel,
communication and media; content can become incoherent
due to speed and ease
 Decline of meta-narratives – universal ideas and ‘answers’
abandoned in favour of personal and individual ideas and
opinion
 Style at the expense of substance and content – culture places
value on appearances over function; cult of celebrity;
advertising wins over product quality
 Breakdown of distinction between high art and pop culture –
high art is no longer just for the elite but is being combined
with pop culture to appeal to the masses; bricolage

5.  Hyper-reality
 The copy (or media representation of the original) is
more real than the original and this fake is more
readily accepted by society
 Simulacrum (sg), simulacra (pl)
 These media representations are simulacra of reality –
a copy of an idea or concept that is more successful
than the original
 Within culture meaning is lost and all that is left
is the surface representation, nothing is real.
 Truth no longer exists and we are not interested
in the truth

8.  Historical deafness
 As mediaization increases so culture finds itself
losing a sense of historical context – we live in the
‘now’; instantaneity
 Cultural depthlessness
 Meaning is lost and all that is left is surface
representation

11.  Decline of meta-narratives (or grand
narratives)
 There is no single truth, there are multiple truths
 Interpretation of meaning lies with the audience;
not inherent in text or dictated by the author
 This makes a postmodern society less stable than
a modern society because meta-narratives are
challenged and there is no single unifying truth;
fragmented society.

14.  To reflect and comment on society, attitudes,
social practices, ways of doing things
 Acknowledging the social/culture background
in which the text is produced
 Often making ‘fun’ of that context
 Can make serious comment on the issues in
society
 Talks about current issues
 Often negative

16.  Drawing attention to the fact that it is a
constructed text
 Direct Address to camera
 Seeing the means of construction (cameras,
obtuse editing, jump cuts,)
 Characters drawing attention to plot holes
 Referencing the media itself

18.  Media Language
 Ideology
 Narrative
 Representation
 TheAudience

19.  Relate “Fight Club” to Lyotard’s theory of the
decline of the grand narrative. Explain the
different narratives “truths” presented within
the film.
 Tip:Think about each of the key characters
and their representation. How might varied
audiences view them – uses and
gratifications.