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
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.
4. 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, nothing is real.
Truth no longer exists and we are not interested
in the truth
5.
6. Historical deafness
As mediaization increases so culture finds itself
losing a sense of historical context – we live in the
‘now’; instantaneity
Cultural depthlessness
Meaning is lost and all that is left is surface
representation
7.
8. Decline of meta-narratives (or 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 meta-narratives are
challenged and there is no single unifying truth;
fragmented society.
9.
10. 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.
11.
12. 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
13.
14. Drawing attention to the fact that it is a
constructed text
DirectAddress to camera
Seeing the means of construction (cameras,
obtuse editing, jump cuts,)
Characters drawing attention to plot holes
Referencing the media itself
