The document discusses postmodernism in media such as the film Deadpool and music duo Chase and Status. It provides examples of how they exhibit postmodern characteristics like referencing past works, mixing genres, and breaking conventions. Deadpool references other superhero films through jokes and homages. Chase and Status combines genres in their music and samples from various sources. The document also speculates on potential futures of postmodern film and music, such as more genre blending, nonlinear narratives, and new models of album releases that integrate video and streaming services.

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Explain how certain types of media can be defined as postmodern
Postmodernism is based on the concept that the possibilities of the media have been
exhausted and therefore we are left with regurgitating the past. It defies the rules of context
and meaning, by formulating creations that use any combination of components. This type of
media is created by stealing, changing and warping current concepts and manipulating the
viewers perception of reality. This is the opposite of modernism, modernism focuses on
innovation and moving forward to create something entirely new. The following will explain
how the film “Deadpool” and the music duo “Chase and Status” can be viewed as
postmodern.
Deadpool
Deadpool is an action/adventure/comedy film based on a superhero concept. It is a filmthat
involved a fast talking mercenary (Deadpool), who is subjected to an experiment that gives
him accelerated healing powers, however, at the same time ruining his appearance. He is on
a quest for revenge for the person that did it to him (Francis) to fix it. On top of this, getting
back with the woman he loves which poses a task due to the experiment incident.
One of the reasons why I believe Deadpool is postmodern is because it uses multiple
intertextual references regurgitating the past. Green Lantern was referred to at the start of
the movie which is a film Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) starred in. However, he didn’t like the
script for the film and his costume because it was computer generated and not made
properly. He mocks this in the film Deadpool through a card at the start as an inside joke, as
well as the quote “Don’t make the suit green or animated” which publicly reveals his hate for
the film he was in. This is an example of parody. Another intertextual reference is towards
the film 127 hours “Have you ever seen 127 hours? Spoiler alert” and then he cuts his hand
off which is what the film“127 hours” is allabout. This is anexample of pastiche. Furthermore,
the quote “Oh, watch out superhero landing. That must be hard on the knees” (which is
breaking the fourth wall) is reference to stereotypical superhero movies and the film
Deadpool uses this but in the way he is mocking it as well providing humour to the audience
while stillcleverly stillincluding stereotypical superhero conventions that make it a superhero
film. This is homage to superhero films.Linking this to my next ideaof superhero conventions,
Deadpool uses conventions from previously shown superhero movies. It is clear in the scene
where Deadpool realises he is now a superhero and is trying to discover his costume. This is
well known in the original Spiderman film and the first Kick Ass film. This highlights how
Deadpool has steeled, changed and warped concepts and is another example of homage. This
leads to the assumption that Deadpool is a postmodern film.
Furthermore, another reason why Deadpool can be viewed as postmodern is due to the
amount of times the film breaks the fourth wall. This has the effect of creating a relationship
between the characters in the film and then the audience, as the audience member feels as
if the character within the movie is directly speaking to them. This occurs through Deadpool
speaking to the camera as if he is speaking to the audience. This defies the rules of context
and meaning, by formulating creations, this enables a special relationship to be created
between the audience and the character on screen. A memorable moment from the film

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where this is apparent is where Deadpool says “A fourth wallbreak inside afourth wall break?
That's like, sixteen walls”. The film is self-reflexive which is unusual compared to other films,
however in the same time making it humorous for the audience, and is why it can be seen as
postmodern. Another example of a fourth wall break, as well as an intertextual reference,
was Deadpool’s homage of Ferris Bueller’s scene in the end credits of the movie.
However, there are believed to be criticisms ofthe ideaof post modernism. Theorist Jameson,
argues that post modernism is nothing but a series of self-referential jokes. He sees it as
trapped in circular references and that there is no depth to anything. On the other hand, that
is the whole idea of postmodernism and why Deadpool is sucha successfulfilm.Theseaspects
make the filmpostmodern and unique in the sensethat it manipulates stereotypical concepts
of films. Going back to the past to create reform ideas isn’t exactly a bad thing. He would
argue that Deadpool isn’t a film, and is just a bunch of jokes based on the superhero genre
combining them in one film. For example, Green Lantern reference, 127 Hours reference, X-
Men Origins reference – “rhymes with Pulvorine”. This can be evident to the audience,
however Deadpool does it in a clever way I feel, using humorous jokes for hardcore superhero
fans while at the same time creating its own superhero film and concepts which would
typically result in a good film for someone who likes this genre of film.
Chase and Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music production duo composed of Saul Milton
(Chase)and WillKennard (Status). One reason why I believeChaseand Status are postmodern
is because various different styles of songs from different genres have been produced across
three different albums. For example, Jungle/drum ’n’ bass, Dance/electronic, Hip-hop/rap,
Grime, Dubstep and hip hop have been produced. This is one reason why Chase and Status
are viewed as postmodern as it applies to Johnathon Kramer’s theory that Chase and Status
challenge barriers between “high” and “low” styles and Mix everything up. They do not
respect boundaries between music.
An element of postmodern music is homage. This refers to the ideas of do the artist use other
people’s music in a respectful way? Are they bringing a potentially overlooked or forgotten
style to a new audience? Chase and Status in the song “Funny”, sample quotes from the
popular kid’s TV programme SpongeBob to a music form. This highlights how they have used
another text in their own but in a respectful way by using it to add to the song. This applies
to the definition of postmodernism of “formulating creations that use any combination of
components. They steal, change and warp current concepts”.
Bricolageis another postmodern music element which highlights for music to be postmodern,
it must use music from different time periods of genres? Does this change the “meaning” of
the original song? In the Chase and Status song “Count on me”, they sample elements from
the song “I Know” by New Atlantic in 2008. Chaseand Status reform the nature of that original
song in 2008 by creating a more modern Dance/Electronic song in 2013. An even more
extreme example of bricolage would be the sample of the Loleatta Holloway’s “Love
Sensation” song in 1980. Chase and Status stealed, changed and warped current concepts of
this song in their remake in Blind Faith song by Chase and Status in 2011. However, the

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postmodern music element of bricolagewas alsopresent in this sample, as the Love Sensation
song by Loleatta Holloway was in the Soul/Funk/Disco music genre and Chase and Status
manipulated this using it ina Jungle/drum ’n’ bass / Alternative/Indie / Dance/electronic song.
Furthermore, parody is another element of music that defines it as postmodern. Parody is
mocking something in an original way. Chase and Status did this famously in the music video
to the song “Let You Go” ft. Mali. The music video mocks the Jeremy Kyle Show through an
imitated version. They are portraying the idea that people like him are often self-serving
hypocrites, through an artistic medium. This can be seen as entertaining for the audience,
watching a different version of a popular show. However, this video shows the scenes after
the show mocking the star host. Which is why this is aparody. The structure of the song within
the music video is also played with. Fading in the audio relating to the images, but then also
having the song playing throughout – this applies to Kramer’s theory (Playing with the
structure of music within a song, various styles in it. Music stops and starts in a different way).
Images of an imitated “Jeremy Kyle” are shown in the music video of him dealing with
people’s problems which typically involve alcohol issues, smoking problems, family
arguments, relationship issues and parental problems with kids. But the music video presents
the idea that Jeremy Kyle is a hypocrite and actually pursues these actions himself after the
shows are filmed so who is he to tell people how to solve their life problems when he needs
to solve his own. This can be viewed as a parody for reasons previously shown, but can also
be taken as a serious issue, which results in the music video complying with Kramer’s
postmodern music theory of that music can lead to a deeper social meaning and context
which Chase and Status have tackled.
Furthermore, another reason Chase and Status can be classed at as a postmodern artist is
because other artists are keen to collaborate. This applies to the postmodern music elements
of “Has your artist influenced the wider world of music (are other artists keen to collaborate,
have mainstream artists appropriated their sound? Mainstream artists have definitely
appreciated their sound and is why artists such as Plan B, Cee Lo Green, Rihanna, Example,
Dizzee Rascal and Tinie Tempah have collaborated with the music duo.
Performance is a key reason why Chase and Status are postmodern. They perform live, and
produce DJ sets, which is a postmodern element within itself. They always collaborate with
artists who are passionate and love performing. Chase and Status also have an MC when they
perform live who interacts with the crowd and makes the live performances even better. This
is why they are postmodern as there is a strong interaction between the music duo and the
crowd, creating a better connection between the fans and their music.
The future of Pomo
Postmodernism makes us wonder, what willthe future behold? Will films be fragmented with
non-linear narratives. Just using concepts from the past just ever slightly changing them.
Would this result in films becoming boring as similarconcepts would have already been seen?
Another element is that more mash ups of genres could be seen, meaning viewers who like a
particular film genre may not be able to find a film that particularly like as it could include
other genres that they don’t like. Also, postmodernism could result in films using CGI actors

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instead of real actors. This could potentially damage the success of films as viewers would
realise this and not be able to form a strong bond with the actors within the film. A popular
recent example of this would be the Star Wars films and how the death of Carrie Fisher (who
plays Princess Leia), hasn’t affected the storyline of the film as her character was computer
generated, however there was an uproar as the future films she will feature when actually
she is dead and people should pay respect to her character. In terms of the future of
postmodern music, artists will result in releasing their music solely through music streaming
services such as Spotify, Sound cloud, Apple Music and will result in the release of CD’s
stopping and all music will be available online. Artists may not get as much money through
these methods, as previously CD’s would have been a good source of income. However, due
to advancements in technology the ease of illegally downloading music allows people to get
music for free, so moving to services such as Spotify is the only way for music artists to get a
good income as music is primarily listened through phones. Another future of music would
be never ending albums and the manipulation of songs within albums at any time. A recent
example of this would be Kanye West’s Life of Pablo album which was exclusively release on
Tidal and updated several times. A final possible future of postmodern music is for artists to
copy the way Beyoncé released the album “Lemonade”. The album was broadcasted in full
on live TV, with a video for each song, and then made available on streaming service Tidal.
This creates a more exciting viewing of the album and creates buzz for fans.