Postmodern media can be considered controversial for several reasons: 1) It defies conventions of context and meaning by combining different elements in new ways, drawing from past works but not innovating. 2) Examples like the film Deadpool make intertextual references and jokes that can be seen as disrespectful or mocking of other works and institutions. 3) The film The Neon Demon depicts disturbing elements like necrophilia and cannibalism that some find unethical. 4) In music, sampling from other works without significant changes can be seen as copying, and not respecting genre boundaries may confuse audiences.

1. Explain why the idea of 'postmodern media' might be considered controversial
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
controversial.
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 a controversial postmodern text is because it
uses multiple intertextual references in a way that could be seen as disrespectful towards
other media institutions. The film, 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 as well as his costume because it was computer generated and was not made properly
to the standard for a successful superhero film. He mocks this in the film Deadpool through a
card at the start of the film as an inside joke to the audience. This applies to Barthes symbolic
code. Also, the quote “Don’t make the suit green or animated”, publicly reveals his hate for
the film he was in which is an example of parody. This can be seen as mocking the DC
Entertainment company and degrading them which could be seen as controversial as it is
being pursued in another film through the character which starred in the film he is mocking.
A niche audience must feel this isn’t morally right, whereas the mainstream audience would
just find this funny. He can be seen as going against code of conduct in the film industry as he
is being disrespectful towards the institution he once worked for.
Another intertextual reference is towards the film127 hours. The quote, “Have you ever seen
127 hours? Spoiler alert” and then “Deadpool” cuts his hand off, which is what the film “127
hours” is all about. This is an example of pastiche, and is a controversial part of the film. The
reason for this is because essentially for audience members who haven’t seen the film 127
Hours, Deadpool has ruined the film for audience members, which could have an impact on
127 Hours success which Deadpool doesn’t really have the right to do. Also, for Deadpool to
bring up the idea of 127 Hours, and to essentiallymock the person who had to cut off his hand
in order to save his life as the film was a true story is controversial and he may not have
approved of that.
Furthermore, another controversial element to Deadpool was the way in which the film was
made up of a series of self-referential jokes. Theorist Jameson, argues that post modernism
is nothing but a series of self-referential jokes and this is controversial as he sees these films

2. as trapped in circular references and that there is no depth to anything. 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”. It shows how media institutions have “exhausted” ideas
and are having to come up with new ways in creating films which may take away the nature
of what an actual film should consist of.
The Neon Demon
This film is about on aspiring model Jesse, who moves to Los Angeles to pursue a modelling
career. She is portrayed to be the next big thing in the industry, however three beauty-
obsessed women will take any means necessary to get what she has.
A controversial element of the film is how necrophilia and cannibalismis seen to be accepted
within the film. This highlights Baudrillard’s hyper – reality theory and how they are in their
own type of world. However, this element of postmodernism in films is typically used to
enlighten audiences into things that aren’t typicallypossiblein the real word e.g superheroes.
Whereas, the controversial element to this is that necrophilia and cannibalism is something
that is disturbing to watch for an audience. An even more controversial idea is that, Bandura’s
concept of the social learning theory and that we learn through observation suggests that
audience members may learn things from this film which should be addressed as these are
actions never want to be pursued which suggests that the film could be unethical.
Furthermore, through The Neon Demon being a postmodern film and it using concepts to
enable this, it creates controversy. For example, the story doesn’t conclude in a happy ending.
Images of cannibalismare shown as the final images of an eye ball being thrown up and then
consumed by another girl. It goes to extreme lengths in order to be different. Another
element is there is no clear story in the film even though there is some sort of chronology to
it. The audience are positioned into not really creating a relationship with any of the
characters and investing any feelings with them. This is because the main character turned in
a devilish way and then the other three main characters were trying to compete with Jesse
and resulted in eventually kill her. Killing the main character is controversial, this isn’t
common for films. It results in a sequel being unlikely because of this which is a feature of
most postmodern films however. Even if there was, the next filmwould have little relevance
to the first film due to killing the main character.
Moreover, another controversial element is how the main character is only 16 in the film. For
someone of her age to go through sexual harassment, torture by the three women, told to
get naked by an older man, nearly getting eaten herself is quite worrying for an audience
member. To put them through the thoughts of what if that happened to my child is quite
upsetting for an audience member.
The moral of the story I feel is that the film suggests that natural beauty isn’t common and
doesn’t work in the modern modelling industry. In order to become a model, you must have
plasticsurgery. If you do have work done, then this gives you a senseof more power over girls
that don’t have work done. Meaning girls that go for natural beauty get neglected in the
modelling industry. Portraying the thought to female viewers that in order to succeed in the

3. modelling industry you must have plastic surgery otherwise it won’t work (main character
who doesn’t have plastic surgery gets killed). This is controversial as this message can upset
the audience. If the main character went on to succeed nothing would have been
controversial, but the nature of trying to make films postmodern in recent times results in
these ideas whether audiences agree with them or not it is done in order to try and make
films different.
Chase and Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music production duo composed of Saul Milton
(Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). Producing various different styles of songs from different
genres across three different albums. For example, Jungle/drum ’n’ bass, Dance/electronic,
Hip-hop/rap, Grime, Dubstep and hip hop have been produced.
Chase and Status made a controversial 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 a parody. 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. This is controversial as is it morally correct to mock
someone quite clearly, when the duo may not know the background to the reasons behind
his actions. Are they definitely sure Jeremy Kyle pursues these actions? This is why the nature
of the music video may be controversial.
Postmodern music consists of a lot of sampling, which is essentially using other peoples work
in their own, maybe just slightly changing parts. Is this just copying? This area of postmodern
music can be seen as controversial and Chase and Status have done this multiple times across
their albums for example: London bars, Brand New Machine and No More Idols. An example
of where this occurred was for the Chase and Status song “Funny” which consisted of a direct
sample form the TV programme SpongeBob. I see this as controversial as they have gone and
copied directly another piece of media made from someone else.
Moreover, due to Chase and Status not respecting boundaries between their music, this can
be considered as controversial. Producing music in one album across various different music
genres isn’t common for an artist. They don’t develop a distinct target audience because of
this. As some audience members will like one track as it is in one music genre but then maybe
not the rest as they are different. Chaseand Status do this in order to be different and unique,
but audiences will perceive them as being controversial because of this.

4. 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
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.