2. Kanye West - Stronger
• One main factor that creates a sense of
postmodernism in this video is the
intertextual references to other forms of
media. For example, using special computer
effects to create more modern scenes, “a
hyper reality” that relate to a Japanese Manga
“Akira” released in 1988. All the similarities
between the music video and the manga
create a narrative throughout the video.
3. Akira / Stronger
Kanye is representing the character in the film Tetsuo. First he is in a lab in some massive
machine.
4. This is the shot of the motorbike speeding down the streets of Tokyo with light
trails following behind.
This shows citizens of Tokyo rioting.
5. Despite the change in camera angle this scene has been recreated almost
perfectly, with the nurse in the exact same position.
6. Here it shows Kanye/Tetsuo writhing in pain in the hospital bed, clearly in agony.
7. Several riot police wearing almost exactly the same uniforms as well as gas masks.
In this shot Kanye uses superhuman powers to eliminate the police.
8. In addition to this the backing of the song is the well known dance song “Harder, Better,
Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk. Daft Punk play a role in this video as people operating the
machinery that Kanye is in. The prescence of these two on the song is post modernistic as it
relates to popular culture and two musical legends from an earlier era.
