This document contains summaries of scenes from The Lego Movie using postmodern film theory terms. The summaries describe how the scenes feature bricolage through the combination of genres, intertextual references to other works, and parody to critique genres. They also discuss how the scenes are self-reflexive commentaries on the artificial construction of the text.

1. Lego Movie Questions
Justas withphysicallyproducedfilms,the clapperboardfeatures'slate'detailsof the directors,the
scene andthe take. Additionally,‘Don’tSkip’inthe scene onthe clapperboardissignificantinthis
scene because thisindicatesthatanon-plotrelatedclipisgoingtofollowfromthis,whichis
Batman’sspeech.
Pastiche:
The clappersignifiesthe introductiontoa textandin the trailer;thispropcan be considered
pastiche because thismaterial isoftenusedfor‘real life’productionfortakes,butinsteadithas
beenusedforan animationgenre andistherefore takenoutof contexttosignifythe take of
Batman’sspeech.
Intertextual References:
Intertextual referencesare featuredinthe scene asitfeaturesthe Batmancharacter whichoriginally
came fromexistingproductssuchasChristopherNolan’sThe DarkKnighttrilogy. Furthermore,the
clapperboardcan arguablybe an interterxualreference because thispropisoftenusedduringthe
productionstagerof filmproductionorto indicate the beginningof some moviebloopers.
Meta:
Thisscene isMeta because thisisa textwithinatext.Because the scene featuresaclapperboard
before Batman’sspeech,thissignifiesthata separate textisgoingtofollow before the maintext.
Thistextis Meta because the speechisoff topicandthenfollowswiththe maintextwhichisthe
actual filmtrailer.
These postmoderntermslinktothe self-reflexive awarenessof the textasanartificial construction.

2. Justas withLego kits,the coffee boardadvert showsinstructionsonhow topurchase coffee in
modernsociety.The coffee boardemphasisesthe expense of coffeeproductsandthisisa resultof
postmodernismbecause thisisonoverlypricedoccasionthatisinfluencedbythe mediaonthe
consumers.
Meta:
Thisscene isself-referential becausethisparticularboardoccursinmany Legoproductsto represent
a newmeaning. Byusingthe Legoproductsin thisscene,itencouragesthe marketingand
advertisingof the franchise.
The ‘Flattening’Effect:
The ‘flattening’effectisa depthlessvacuousworldinwhichrealityissupersededbymarketingand
advertising.Thiseffectisappliedtothisscene asthisisvisuallymarketingandadvertisingLego
productsfor the audience topurchase because itisdisplayedonscreen.Aswe live incorporate
worldswhere criticismandnegativeemotionsare marginalised,successandhomogenouslivesare
encouraged.Thisiswhythe followingscene tothisboardshowsEmmethighlightingthatthe coffee
isoverpriced,butisvictimtosocial conformityandisclaimingitas ‘Awesome’tohighlightthe
homogenouslifestyle.
These postmoderntermslinktothe purpose of “critique of consumerismandsocial conformity”.

3. In thissequence,the trafficmovesinuniformitydue tothe capitalistoppressionof President
Business.Thismeansthatthe trafficmove atthe same time,atthe same speedandare all the same.
The movementof the trafficisequal because everyone inthisworldare followinginstructionson
howto live theirlivesandare thereforevictimof bothcapitalistoppressiondue tothe forceful was
of livingaswell associal conformitybecauseeveryoneisdoingthe same.
Simulacrum:
The traffic’suniformity isanexampleof simulacrumbecausethisisarepresentationof whatthe
trafficlookslike undercapitalistoppression.Whereasinmodernsociety,trafficdoesnotoperate in
the same manner,so the representationof thisisanideaof whattrafficcould looklike if appliedto
modernsocietyunderthe same conditions.
Thispostmoderntermlinkstothe self-reflexive awarenessof the textasan artificial construction

4. In thissequence,Batmanisstrikingagate control to activate it.But multiple attemptshave failed
until one Baterangfallsontothe control to activate it,where Batmanfollowsbyclaimingthatitwas
his‘Firsttry’. This scene portraysthe ironicdistance betweenBatman’sseriousnessinthismovie
comparedto Nolan’strilogy.
Bricolage:
Thisscene containsbricolage because the settingforthe scene mainlyconsistsof the science fiction
crossedwithaction.Thisisbecause the gate control concept typicallyoriginatesfromthe science
fictiongenre andthe Batmancharacter originatesfromthe actionsgenre.
Parody:
Thisscene isalsoa parodybecause Batmanattemptsto activate the gate control multiple times
withoutsuccess. Thisisa parodybecause we expectthischaracterto hitthe switchthe firsttime but
has beenmockedforcomedypurposestocontribute tothe bricolage of the scene.
These postmoderntermslinkthe "ironicdistance betweenBatman’sseriousness,asif he were ina
Nolanfilmandthe character’sactual absurdity".

5. In thissequence, the MicroManagersare summonedbyLordBusinesstocause damage to the
public.The Micro Managers enterthe citythrougha large space-craftand flydowntowardsthe
frame. Thisscene showsthatthe capitalistoppressionhasledtodesperate measuresinorderto
stopEmmet,‘The Special’.
Bricolage:
Thisscene featuresbricolage becausethe genre of the MicroManagers originatesfromthe science
fictiongenre ratherthanthe action/fantasy.The combination of these genreshelpstocreate anew
meaningtothe text.
Intertextual References:
Thisshort sequence featuresmanyintertexual referencesconcerningthe MicroManagers.The first
intertextualreferenceisthatthe Micro Managers are similartothe Toclafane fromDoctor Who –
The Soundof The Drums (2007). I have noticedthisintertextualreferencebecause the appearance
of the modelsis similartothe designsof the Toclafane andthe entrance tothe worldisalsosimilar
because inthe episode,the Toclafaneenterthroughatearin the skyto cause damage,similarlyto
the Micro Managers.Lastly, anothersimilaritybetweenthe twoisthattheyare both controlledbya
capitalistpower;LordBusinessandThe Master. Anotherintertextual reference withthisscene
comesfromAvengersAssemble (2012).The creaturesthatcome intothe worldthroughthe
Tesseractare similarbecause againthese creaturesare beingsummoneduponandbroughtdownto
the city to cause damage.
These postmoderntermslinktothe self-reflexive awarenessof the textasanartificial construction
and the Critique of the action/fantasy/sci-figenre.

6. In thissequence, we are introducedtoGoodCop/BadCop appearingoutof a police car window.The
character isattemptingtostop the protagonist,Emmet,fromescapingwith‘The Piece of
Resistance’.
Bricolage:
Thisscene featuresbricolage throughthe weaponusedbyBadCop. Bad Cop appearsto be equipped
withwhatappearsto be a ray gun,whichisa weaponassociatedwiththe sci-figenre.The inclusion
of thisweaponissuitedtothe targetaudience asitmay be consideredinappropriate tousedmore
realisticappealinggunsfora youngaudience.The weaponcreatesanew meaningtothe textandto
the character.
Intertextual References:
The firstnoticeable intertextual reference isthe appearance of BadCopis similartoAgentSmith
fromThe Matrix.The glassesthathe wearsand vacant expressionissimilartothe antagonistinThe
Matrix.Additionally,the appearanceandglassesare alsoa reference tothe police officerinthe
movie Psycho.The sternimpressionsof the characterandintimidatingvibe thatemitsfromthe
character are somewhatsimilartoBad Copbecause he isalwaysthreateningandintimidatingtothe
protagonists.
Parody:
The actionsthat Bad Cop giveswhensomethingdoesn’tquite gohisway.Whenthishappens,he
repeatedlykicksanynearbychairstorelease hisfrustration.Thisactionisforcomedicpurposesfor
the audience due toabsurdityof the action.
These postmoderntermslinktothe self-reflexive awareness of the textasanartificial construction
and the Critique of the action/fantasy/sci-figenre.

7. In thissequence,the audience are introducedtothe characterVitruvius.The characterisintroduced
tryingto defendthe Kragle bywieldinghisstaff towarnoff Lord Business.
Intertextual References:
The filmfeaturesanintertextual reference forthe character.The appearance of the character is
similartotwowizardsfromlarge fantasygenres,Gandalf fromThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise and
Dumbledore fromthe HarryPotterfranchise.The elderrole tothe protagonistsissimilartothese
twowizardsand the staff that Vitruviusisequippedwithisatypical propthat a wizardis equipped
with.
These postmoderntermslinktothe self-reflexive awarenessof the textasanartificial construction
and the Critique of the action/fantasy/sci-figenre.