The document discusses several key aspects of postmodernism, including the breakdown of distinctions between culture/society and high/low art due to media influence. It also examines the rejection of universal truths, historical context, and cultural depth in favor of surface representations and individual interpretations. Postmodernism is characterized by a lack of stable grand narratives, constant media simulation of reality, and focus on signs/symbols over meaning. Audience interpretation depends on personal experiences rather than inherent text meaning.

2.  Breakdown of distinction between culture and society
(mediaization) – art’s purpose used to be to reflect reality; now
we refer to media texts to portray reality, emotions, truth
 Confusion of time and space – instantaneity of travel,
communication and media; content can become incoherent
due to speed and ease
 Decline of meta-narratives – universal ideas and ‘answers’
abandoned in favour of personal and individual ideas and
opinion
 Style at the expense of substance and content – culture places
value on appearances over function; cult of celebrity;
advertising wins over product quality
 Breakdown of distinction between high art and pop culture –
high art is no longer just for the elite but is being combined
with pop culture to appeal to the masses; bricolage

3.  Hyper-reality
 The copy (or media representation of the original) is
more real than the original and this fake is more
readily accepted by society
 Simulacrum (sg), simulacra (pl)
 These media representations are simulacra of reality –
a copy of an idea or concept that is more successful
than the original
 Within culture meaning is lost and all that is left is the
surface representation.
 Rejection ofTruth
 universal ideas and ‘answers’ are not to be trusted.

4.  Historical deafness
 As mediaization increases so culture finds itself
losing a sense of historical context – we live in the
‘now’; instantaneity, there is nothing new just
copies of copies of copies…..
 Cultural depthlessness
 Meaning is lost and all that is left is surface
representation
 Everything is meaningless and just for
entertainment

5.  Decline of grand-narratives
 There is no single truth, there are multiple truths
 Interpretation of meaning lies with the audience;
not inherent in text or dictated by the author
 This makes a postmodern society less stable than
a modern society because grand-narratives are
challenged and there is no single unifying truth;
fragmented society.

6.  The study of signs and symbols (denotative
and connotative)
 Denotation (what it actually is) and connotation
(the associated meaning the audience attaches to
the object)
 Interpretation of meaning lies with the
audience and depends on the experiences,
interests, beliefs and culture they bring with
them; multiple meanings

7. Audience interpretation of media texts:
 Dominant reading ‘hegemonic’
 Reader accepts and reproduces the preferred
meaning of the texts
 Negotiated reading
 Reader broadly accepts the preferred reading but
resists or modifies elements based on own
experiences, interests or beliefs.
 Oppositional reading (‘counter-hegemonic’)
 Reader understands the preferred reading but rejects
it

8.  Panopitcalisation – gaining power through
watching
 We live in a society where we are always
being watched and want to be watched
 We like watching other people

9.  Parody - A literary or artistic work that
imitates the characteristic style of an author
or a work for comic effect or ridicule.
 Pastiche -A text that is made up of element
borrowed from other texts.
 Pastiche differs from parody in using
imitation as a form of flattery rather than
mockery, and from plagiarism in its lack of
deceptive intent.

10.  To reflect and comment on society, attitudes,
social practices, ways of doing things
 Acknowledging the social/culture background
in which the text is produced
 Often making ‘fun’ of that context
 Can make serious comment on the issues in
society
 Talks about current issues
 Often negative

11.  Drawing attention to the fact that it is a
constructed text
 Direct Address to camera
 Seeing the means of construction (cameras,
obtuse editing, jump cuts,)
 Characters drawing attention to plot holes
 Referencing the media itself

12.  Language - Attention is drawn to the construction of
the text
 Genre - Genre conventions are challenged, subvert,
adapted, Hybridity
 Representation - Audience expectations are
subverted/ challenged, New ‘stereotypes’ New
Representations
 Narrative - Break all the rules, Fragmentation, Non
Linear, Open Ended, Multiple Lines of Action
 Audience 1 – like texts that challenge and don’t
comfort.
 Audience 2 Diverse, Fragmented, Active, engaged
(produsers)

13.  the tendency of
people to care too
much about famous
people and less about
the real concerns and
issues in society.