Postmodern media texts employ several defining features that blur traditional boundaries between reality and representation. These include hybridization, intertextuality, self-reflexivity, manipulation of time and space through nonlinear narratives, and an emphasis on dystopian themes and flattened affect. Key postmodern theorists like Baudrillard, Foucault, and Lyotard explored related concepts of hyperreality, panopticism, and the critique of grand narratives. While postmodern media challenge conventional understandings of genre, narrative and the audience experience, some critics argue that postmodernism is not a useful framework or that all contemporary media cannot be defined as postmodern.

1. Pomo Revision (before exam)

2. Remember the pomo features

3. The pomo features
Hybridisation/hybrids
Bricolage
Juxtaposition
Intertextuality:
Homage,
Pastiche,
Parody
Voyerism:
Voyerism,
scopophilia,
panopticisation
Self reflexivity
Non linear narratives
Dystopian narratives
(& pessimism)
Flattening of Affect
Hyperreality
Nostalgia
High/low art hybrids
Artificialness

4. The pomo features - RAG
R A G
Hybridisation/hybrids
Bricolage
Juxtaposition
Intertextuality:
Homage,
Pastiche,
Parody
Voyerism:
Voyerism,
scopophilia,
panopticisation
Self reflexivity
Non linear narratives
Dystopian narratives
(& pessimism)
Flattening of Affect
Hyperreality
Nostalgia
High/low art hybrids
Artificialness

5. theories
Their theory
Baurillard
Foucault
Lyotard
Jameson

6. theories
Baurillard Hyperreality
Simulations & Simulacra
-audience: will have distorted sense of reality (as media create idealistic representations of reality)
-audience will left to feel inadequate (hyperbeauty/sexuality)
Foucault Panopticanisation (& voyeurism in pomo times)
The act of watching was an act of power and control.
Lyotard Grand narratives or ‘metanarratives’
Dominant ideologies that people claim as ‘truths’. The metanarratives is a way of simplifying to an
extreme like ‘the overall story’. Postmodernism is scepticism toward metanarratives as it breaks down
metanarratives and breaks down these ‘truths’.
According to the advocates of postmodernism, metanarratives have lost their power to convince – they are, literally, stories
that are told in order to legitimise various versions of "the truth". With the transition from modern to postmodern, Lyotard
proposes that metanarratives should give way to "localised" narratives. Postmodernists attempt to replace metanarratives by
focusing on specific local contexts as well as the diversity of human experience. They argue for the existence of “multiple
standpoints" rather than grand, all-encompassing theories.
Jameson There are no original ideas

7. Past paper Questions
DATE EXAM QUESTION
Jan 10 What is meant by ‘postmodern media’?
Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial.
June 10 Why are some media products described as ‘postmodern’?
“Postmodern media blur the boundary between reality and representation”. Discuss this idea with
reference to media texts you have studied.
Jan 11 Explain why certain kinds of media can be defined as postmodern.
Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media.
June 11 How do postmodern media differ from other media?
How far do you accept the idea of postmodernism?
Jan 12 “Postmodern media manipulate time and space.” To what extend does this definition apply to texts
you have studied?
Define postmodern media with examples.
June 12 Assess the arguments for and against postmodernism, in relation to media examples.
“Postmodern media break the rules of representation.” Discuss.
Jan 13 “All contemporary media is postmodern.” Discuss this statement in relation to examples you have
studied.
Evaluate theories of postmodernism in relation to media.
June 13 Provide your definition of postmodern media and support it with examples.
To what extent do postmodern media challenge the relationship between text and audience?

8. Last years question
June 14 What makes a text postmodern? Explain, with examples
Explain the most important theories of postmodernism and apply them to media texts you have
studied.

9. Past paper Questions
DATE EXAM QUESTION
Jan 10 What is meant by ‘postmodern media’?
Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial.
June 10 Why are some media products described as ‘postmodern’?
“Postmodern media blur the boundary between reality and representation”. Discuss this idea with
reference to media texts you have studied.
Jan 11 Explain why certain kinds of media can be defined as postmodern.
Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media.
June 11 How do postmodern media differ from other media?
How far do you accept the idea of postmodernism?
Jan 12 “Postmodern media manipulate time and space.” To what extend does this definition apply to texts
you have studied?
Define postmodern media with examples.
June 12 Assess the arguments for and against postmodernism, in relation to media examples.
“Postmodern media break the rules of representation.” Discuss.
Jan 13 “All contemporary media is postmodern.” Discuss this statement in relation to examples you have
studied.
Evaluate theories of postmodernism in relation to media.
June 13 Provide your definition of postmodern media and support it with examples.
To what extent do postmodern media challenge the relationship between text and audience?
Sometimes no
option to define it

10. Required platforms to study
• How post-modern media relate to genre and narrative
across two media,
– computer / video games and new forms of representation
– post-modern cinema
– interactive media
– reality TV
– music video
– Advertising
Also study…….
– post-modern audience theories
– aspects of globalisation

11. Styles of questions
• Definitions of postmodernism (in relation to media products and media audiences).
• What are the different versions of post-modernism (historical period, style, theoretical approach)?
• The difference between postmodern media and traditional media.
• What are the arguments for and against understanding some forms of media as post-modern?
• In what ways do media audiences and industries operate differently in a post-modern world?
• The impact of postmodern media on audiences and the ways in which we think about texts.
• How do post-modern media texts challenge traditional text-reader relations and the concept of representation?
• In what ways do media audiences and industries operate differently in a post-modern world?
• How do post-modern media texts challenge traditional text-reader relations and the concept of representation?
• Debates about postmodernism and whether it is really a useful theory or not.
• Examples of media products which you think can be, or have been defined as postmodern, and the reasons for
them being analysed in this way.

12. Essay Question Checklist
• Definition (elements)
• Different versions
• Comparison between pomo/traditional
• How pomo texts challenge traditional text reader relations
and concept of representation
• How audiences & industries operate differently in pomo world
• Impact on audience
• Arguments for/against (debates) – useful theory?
You will have choice of 2 questions, answer 1

13. Case Studies (texts) you should know
• Traditional modern art
• Black mirror ‘white xmas’ (and any other episode you want) (TV)
• Big Brother (and other reality shows such as Xfactor,TOWIE, I’m a celeb…) (TV)
• Catfish (FILM/TV)
• Gogglebox (TV)
• Social networking such as Facebook (INTERACTIVE/ONLINE MEDIA)
• Video game of your choice (GTA is good) (video game)
• Cadbury gorilla advert (and similar adverts that go against traditional representation)
• Any other texts you put on your chart
• Any films for nothing new/nothing original
• Recent music scandal (sam smith/tom petty & pharell/robin thicke/marvin gaye) (for debate about nothing new/nothing original)
• Knowledge of traditional media (tv, film, radio, online in previous decades)
• Simulation video games (sims…)
• Simulation technology (virtual reality…..google glass)
• ALS ice bucket challenge (interactive online media)
• No make up selfie (interactive online media)
• War in the news (tv/print)
• Kim Kardashian meme (interactive online media)
• Genetically modified food/organisms (GMO)
• Barbie girl/Nicki Minaj (hyperbeauty)
• Dove (sketches campaign) (advertising & interactive online media)
• Dove parody (interactive online media)
• This Girl Can campaign (advertising & interactive online media)
• Like a girl campaign (advertising & interactive online media)
• Ellnett hairspray OR Gucci guilty perfume advert (advertising)
• Autotuning (music industry)
• ‘try music video’ (music video)
• Google glass (links with simulation and facebook/social media (online interactive media)
• *you need to discuss have 2 platforms

14. Representation
• How do pomo texts blur line between reality
and representation?

15. Representation
• How do pomo texts blur line between reality and representation?
– Representation: to re-present a reality
– So much of what is being ‘represented’ is not real (therefore it’s hyperreal) or
it’s not ‘traditionally’ represented. It’s very easy to get ‘lost’
• i.e. hyperbeauty
• i.e. Products not being represented in a literal way (Cadbury chocolate)
• i.e. war on news (so much of what we see is so highly edited and biased, it’s not accurate
– the facts we are told show little resemblence to what actually happened therefore it’s
hyper-real
– Link to semiotics (signs and meanings)…..texts are very polysemic
– Texts are very interactive and therefore blur roles (video games and online
videos – ‘concept of prosumers’
– Other traditional theories including genre, narrative & representation are
challenged in pomo texts…. (because of above)
• Genre: so much hybridisation and challenge of generic conventions
• Narrative: change of time and space (modern day editing)
– Kuleshov
– Can manipulate audience to believe anything with editing
– Modern films: modular narratives (which manipulate time and space as they are not linear)

16. Julian McDonald video
• http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/mm/subscribers/_mmclips/mcdougall_postmodernism1.php
• Is the reality of NY a something that exists outside of media representation or is that media representation in your
head?
• You have a reality that is a reality based on non-reality = hyperreality (Disneyworld)
http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/mm/subscribers/_mmclips/mcdougall_postmodernism2.php video games & the
cadbury ad
Video games (such as GTA)
-blurs understanding of who you are (audience)
-are you playing game?
-are you a character?
-are you reading a story?
-playing game using controllers (physical world)
-can’t apply traditional theories on genre, narrative, representation etc. (because study showed male audience
followed different things)
-interactivity element
-1 male said ‘it’s like watching a film, except going into the screen/world and being in it’ (hyperreality)

17. Revision checklist
1) Do you know key terms?
2) Revise chart –
representation/genre/narrative/audience etc
3) Revise theories
4) Make notes on case studies
-in connection with all key
terms/theories/media topics etc.
5) Essay plans (next slide)

18. Writing the essays is revision
Revision Task How much % will you
remember?
Reading notes
Writing notes
Discussing/teaching
Do it (write essay)
( & drafting)

19. Writing the essays is revision
Revision Task How much % will you
remember?
Reading notes 10%
Writing notes 20%
Discussing/teaching
(study group)
60-70%
Do it (write essay)
( & drafting)
90%

20. Revision tip 1
• Write out the texts (bullet points/mind maps
etc)
• List how/why pomo (question 1)
• List pro’s/con’s / for/against
• Relate to 2 theorists

21. By text example
Black Mirror
(15 million merits)
Dystopia
-
-
-
Intertextuality
-
-
-
Pro’s / advantages
-
Media platforms
-online/internet
-
-
-
Baurillard (theory)
-
-
-
Focault (theory)
-
-

22. By text example – Black Mirror
BLACK MIRROR Dystopia Focault theory Flattening of
affect
Ep 1 ..…. ..…. ..….
Ep 2 …… ..…. ..….
Ep 3 …… ..…. ..….

23. Revision tip 2
• Write out the pomo features (bullet
points/mind maps etc)
• List how/why pomo (question 1)
• List pro’s/con’s / for/against
• Relate to 2 theorists

24. Essay plans
1 2
Intro:
Body paragraph 1:
-bullet point
-bullet point
-bullet point
Body paragraph 2:
-bullet point
-bullet point
-bullet point
Body paragraph 3:
-bullet point
-bullet point
-bullet point
Intro:
PEAL 1:
-P: _______
-E: _______
-A: _______
L: _______
PEAL 2:
-P: _______
-E: _______
-A: _______
L: _______
PEAL 3:
-P: _______
-E: _______
-A: _______
L: _______

25. Basic essay structure (question 1)
How/why are pomo texts pomo
1
Pomo features
2
Texts
Pomo feature 1 – (compare between texts)
**PEAL**
Pomo feature 2 – (compare between texts)
Pomo feature 3 – (compare between texts)
Pomo feature 4 – (compare between texts)
*comparison between texts
Text 1– (all features that make it pomo)
**PEAL**
Text 2– (all features that make it pomo)
Text 3– (all features that make it pomo)
Text 4– (all features that make it pomo)
*limited comparison
-if why: must give context
-could compare to other media if you want

26. Basic essay structure (question 2)
Pros/cons of pomo / For/against pomo
1
Pros then cons
2
Texts
1
Pomo features
Pros reason 1 – (compare
between texts / features)
**PEAL**
Pros reason 2 – (compare
between texts/ features)
Pros reason 3 – (compare
between texts/ features)
Cons reason 1 – (compare
between texts/ features)
Cons reason 2 – (compare
between texts/ features)
Cons reason 3 – (compare
between texts/ features)
*no comparison of pro/con
Text 1– (comparison of pros/cons &
features)
**PEAL**
Text 2– (comparison of pros/cons &
features)
Text 3– (comparison of pros/cons &
features)
Text 4– (comparison of pros/cons &
features)
*limited comparison
Pomo feature 1 – (comparison
of pros/cons & features)
**PEAL**
Pomo feature 2 – (comparison of
pros/cons & features)
Pomo feature 3 – (comparison of
pros/cons & features)
Pomo feature 4 (comparison of
pros/cons & features)
*comparison between texts

27. Potential questions
1
How/why are pomo texts pomo
2
Pros/cons of pomo
For/against pomo
Why are some media products described as
‘postmodern’? (jun 10)
Explain why certain kinds of media can be defined
as postmodern. (jan 11)
Define postmodern media with examples. (jan 12)
Provide your definition of postmodern media and
support it with examples (jun 13)
Discuss why some people are not convinced by the
idea of postmodern media. (jan 11)
How far do you accept the idea of postmodernism?
(jun 11)
Assess the arguments for and against postmodernism,
in relation to media examples. (jun 12)
Evaluate theories of postmodernism in relation to
media. (jan 13)