Postmodernism is characterized by destroying theories and ideologies, drawing attention to conventions, and using irony, intertextuality, unconventional perspectives, and pastiche. Jessie J's music video "Who's Laughing Now" exemplifies postmodern elements through its references to other works like Mean Girls and Bugs Bunny, as well as its ambiguous cutting between past and present that makes reality hard to distinguish. Constantly shifting between different characters, the video questions what is real and leaves the audience confused about whether young or old Jessie is being portrayed at any given time. Overall, the video achieves a postmodern effect through its ironic questioning of reality.

1. Postmodernism
Postmodernismisastyle andconceptin the arts characterizedbydestructionof theoriesand
ideologiesandbythe drawingof attentiontoconventions.
It can be characterizedby:
 Irony
 Intertextuality
 Playingwithconventions
 Magic realism(exaggeration)
 Black humour(leavesyouansweringmore questions)
 Differentperspectives (excusingall valuesof judgement)
 Pastiche (pastingtogetherandcommentingonthingsof the past
 Bricolage (constructions/creationof aworkfrom a diverse range of things)
Who's Laughing Now- Jessie J
Throughoutthisvideothere are manyfeaturesof intertextualitythroughthe lyricsandthe
characters that are featuredwithin.The first,mostnoticeablereferenceisinthe openingscene to
the song that showsa groupof girlsdressedheadtotoe inpinkstaringat a girl andwhispering
abouther as she walksdownthe corridor.Thishighlightsthe plasticsfrom'MeanGirls'as itlooks
justlike a scene fromthe movie whichisfurtheremphasisedbythe girlsbeingdressedinpink.
Anotherexampleof intertextualityinthismusicvideoiswithinthe lyrics
whenthe girlsinpinkmockJessie'syoungerselfbysaying"HeyJessica,
you're so funnyyou've gotteethjustlike BugsBunny."Thisline of the
songusesthisreference andthe image of bugsbunnyto create an insult.
Thiscartoon imageryalsoenhancesthe playful/childhoodaspectsthatare
featuredwithinthe video.

2. HyperReality- Aninabilitytodistinguishrealityfromastimulationof reality.
ThroughoutthismusicvideoJessieJisseenplayinglotsof stereotypicalcharactersaswell asherself
includingstudents,teachers,acleaneranda dinnerlady.Moreover,thisisanexample of hyper
realitybecause the cameraisconstantlycuttingbetweenbothJessie Jandthe youngerversionof
hershowinghowtime isbeingusedeffective.Asthe cameraiscuttingthismakesthe audience
questionwhethertheyare viewingthe videofromyoungJessie'sorolderJessie'sperspective.This
causespostmodern ironybecause none of whatwe are watchingisreal as we can't tell if young
Jessie isaflashbackfromolderJessie orthe olderJessieisafigure of youngJessie'simagination.
The whole videoisquite playful withJessie actingoutasthe differentcharactersandyoungerJessie
havingthe exactsame hairstyle asolderJessie.Moreover,the whole ironictheme present
throughoutthe videoaddstoit beinga postmodernvideodue tothe constantmediaandcelebrity
references.Thisideaof celebrity statusisa grandnarrative and ironicseeingasJessie Jisalreadya
celebrityandissingingabouthowherstrugglinginschool made herthe womanshe is.
In myopinion,thisvideoispostmodernbecausethe videoconstantlyjumpsfromJessieasher
youngerself toJessie nowwhichbuildsupironyandleavesthe audience toquestionwhatisreal.
Additionally,thisleadsthe audience tobe confusedastowhetherthe olderJessieisyoungJessie's
imaginationorthe olderJessie islookingbackonheryoungself inherschool days.