Modernism grew out of optimism after WWII but gave way to postmodernism with its loss of faith in institutions and people. Postmodernism acknowledges consumerism and questions whether technology makes us more connected or alone. Jean Baudrillard's theories of simulacra and hyperreality, where images replace reality, are demonstrated in slice-of-life YouTube vlogging that manufactures authenticity and in Westworld where the park replicates reality. Stranger Things references the 1980s and plays with simulacra by placing itself within that period through visual and narrative cues.
3. Oranges...
The reality in your
hands = the orange
The image is a reflection
of the reality = picture
of orange
The image masks the
absence of the reality =
the orange juice mimics
the reality of the fruit
‘made from concentrate’
Which do you prefer?
The image bears
no resemblance
to the reality,
it is a
simulation of
an orange =
Terry’s
Chocolate
Orange
4. Jean baudrillard and postmodernism
1. The image is the reflection of a basic reality
2. The image masks a basic reality
3. The image masks the absence of a basic reality (plays at
being an appearance)
4. Image bears no relation to any reality, it is purely a
simulation and becomes a hyperreality
5. modernism
Modernism as a movement grew from the ruins of WWI and WWII and a hope for a better future
Modernism was about faith and optimism:
Faith in people
Faith institutions - religion, the law, family
Faith that things will get better - careers, economic status, romance : Through education, social class could
be a thing of the past. The Modern era is meritocracy (We succeed through earning our way, not because of
who we know or to whom we are related)
Faith in new technology and industry : Machinery and technology made life easier, less laborious and
information was at our fingertips - The World Wide Web
Faith in the opportunities that Globalisation offered previously gated countries/communities to become
interconnected : The EU was a product of Modernism
12. Applying Baudrillard
The reality = LIFE!
The image masks a basic reality = Slice of Life Vloggers create YT videos of their
day-to-day life
The image masks an absence of reality = these vloggers are manufacturing a
certain image, often promoting products and managed by a third party
The image replaces reality to form a hyperreality = Nosedive (Black Mirror) and
Pls Like (BBC3), a TV Drama and a Mocumentary representing slice of life
vlogging/social media which in itself is a representation...a copy of a copy...
17. Newspaper industry
The news in an ideal world reports on current affairs in a
balanced, unbiased way
We know this to be false - newspapers are often politically
motivated and are constructing a ‘version’ of the truth
This plays into the notion of ‘Grand Narratives’ that
newspapers conform to - UK news will play to the notion
that Brexit is leading the country downhill, that the
government is in internal chaos and our economy will suffer
as a consequence - if you read certain newspapers
Equally - Theresa May is a strong female Prime Minister
striving for the best deal for the United Kingdom having
responded to what the majority of the voters opted for - to
leave the EU
24. Postmodernism
Modernism as a movement grew from the ruins of WWI and WWII and a hope for a better future
Modernism was about faith and optimism:
Faith in people
Faith institutions - religion, the law, family
Loss of Faith that things will get better - careers, economic status, romance : Acknowledgement of capitalism
- Greed is Good! We live in an increasingly consumerist society
Loss of Faith in new technology and industry : We have so many tens, hundreds of ‘Friends’ on Facebook -
how many of them do we actually speak to in a week? Are we actually more alone now than before?
Loss of Faith in the opportunities that Globalisation offered previously gated countries/communities to
become interconnected : BREXIT!
5 clicks
29. Plurality and intertextuality
Postmodernism allows for cognitive dissonance - the ability
to hold two contradictory beliefs or understandings
Postmodernism allows for playfulness, parody and self-
referentialism
30. Stranger things and Baudrillard
ST places itself firmly within the 1980s
The opening placecard tells us it is 1983, Hawkins, Indiana
32. Baudrillard and simulacra, simulacrum
https://qz.com/1112034/watch-how-stranger-things-nailed-its-
1980s-homage-right-from-the-start/
http://www.uncannyvalley.us/2016/07/stranger-things-season-1/
https://www.metapsychosis.com/reality-is-analog-
philosophizing-with-stranger-things-part-two/
Have a read of these and post some notes on your blog
