post-modernism is a philosophy which means it is a way of seeing the world.

Parody v Pastiche 

pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist

parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony

Bricolage is a useful term to apply to postmodernist texts as it ‘involves the rearrangement and juxtaposition of previously unconnected signs to produce new codes of meaning’ (Barker & Jane, 2016:237).

Similarly, Inter-sexuality is another useful term to use, as it suggests signs only have meaning in reference to other signs and that meaning is therefore a complex process of decoding/encoding with individuals both taking and creating meaning in the process of reading texts. In other words . . .

There is an idea that we live in a fake-news society that

the focus on FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY is characterized and linked to an increase of consumption and the proliferation of new forms of digital technologies. In effect, another key characteristic of postmodernism is the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living (precariously) in fragmented societies.

The loss of Meta-narrative

claimed that Postmodernism is characterized by Pastiche rather than Parody which represents a crisis in historic. Jameson argued that parody implies a moral judgment or a comparison with previous societal norms. Whereas pastiche, such as collage and other forms of juxtaposition, occur without a normative grounding and as such, do not make comment on a specific historical moment. As such, Jameson argues that the postmodern era is characterized by pastiche (not parody) and as such, suffers from a crisis in historicity.

A way of understanding this comes from Baudrillard’s provocative 1991 book The Gulf War Did Not Take Place which suggests that not only was our experience and understanding of this war a ‘mediated reality’, but it was also constructed as a media experience to the extent that reality did not match mediation. Put another way, the media was used to construct and propagate a myth about this conflict. Similarly, we can look at the the Twin towers terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 which were organised as a media event, suggesting perhaps that reality only exists as a mediated experience?

Definitions

Pastiche- an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.

Parody- an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.

Bricolage- something constructed or created from a diverse range of things.

Intertextuality- the relationship between texts, especially literary ones.

Metanarrative- a narrative account that experiments with or explores the idea of storytelling, often by drawing attention to its own artificiality.

Hyperreality- an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality

Simulacrum- an image or representation of someone or something

Conumerist Society –  in which people devote a great deal of time, energy, resources and thought to “consuming”.

Fragmentary Identities -presence of more than one sense of identity within a single human body.

Implosion- an instance of something collapsing violently inwards

Cultural appropriation – the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.

Reflexivity-  refers to circular relationships between cause and effect, especially as embedded in human belief structures. 

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Postmodernism can be understood as a philosophy that is characterised by concepts such as RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE. It’s an approach towards understanding, knowledge, life, being, art, technology, culture, sociology, philosophy, politics and history that is REFERENTIAL – in that it often refers to and often copies other things in order to understand itself.

Music videos: ‘their preoccupation with visual style, and associated with this, their status as key exemplars of ‘postmodern’ texts.’ Shuker

If it the priority is play, then the emphasis is on the surface, in other words, if the main focus is the idea of just connecting one product to another, then the focus is superficial, shallow, lacking depth, so ‘in a postmodern world, surfaces and style become the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture‘ (Strinati: 234). 

There is an argument that postmodern culture is a consumer culture, where the emphasis on style eclipses the emphasis on utility or need. So that ultimately there is no real value to postmodern culture other than the need for consumption. If this is the case, then it is possible to link postmodernist cultural expression with broader shifts in society, specifically around economics and politics.

Jean-Francois Lyotard’s proposition that postmodernism holds an ‘incredulity towards meta-narratives‘ (1979:7) those overarching ideas, attitudes, values and beliefs that have held us together in a shared belief, For example, the belief in religion, science, capitalism, communism, revolution, war, peace and so on. 

SIMULACRUM not just a representation of the real, but the real itself, a grand narrative that is ‘truth‘ in its own right: an understanding of uncertain/certainty that Baudrillard terms the HYPERREAL.

1. Pastiche- an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
2. Parody- is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony
3. Bricolage- something constructed or created from a diverse range of things.
4. Intertextuality- the relationship between texts, especially literary ones.
5. Metanarrative- a narrative about narratives of historical meaning, experience, or knowledge, which offers a society legitimation through the anticipated completion of a (as yet unrealized) master idea.
6. Hyperreality-  is an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced postmodern societies.
7. Simulacrum – an image or representation of someone or something.
8. Conumerist Society- A consumerist society is one in which people devote a great deal of time, energy, resources and thought to “consuming”. 
9. Fragmentary Identities-
10. Implosion- a sudden failure or collapse of an organization or system.
11. cultural appropriation-  is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture by members of another culture. 
12. Reflexivity- Reflexivity generally refers to the examination of one’s own beliefs, judgments and practices 

Postmodernism

• Postmodernism can be understood as a philosophy that is characterised by concepts such as RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE.
• Intertextuality: surface signs, gestures & play: huker notes, two points are frequently made about music videos: ‘their preoccupation with visual style, and associated with this, their status as key exemplars of ‘postmodern’ texts.’ 
• If it the priority is play, then the emphasis is on the surface, in other words, if the main focus is the idea of just connecting one product to another, then the focus is superficial, shallow, lacking depth, so ‘in a postmodern world, surfaces and style become the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture‘
• the focus on FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY is characterised and linked to an increase of consumption and the proliferation of new forms of digital technologies. In effect, another key characteristic of postmodernism is the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living (precariously) in fragmented societies.
• Putting it very simply, the transition from substance to style is linked to a transition from production to consumption.
• The loss of a metanarrative: This links to Jean-Francois Lyotard’s proposition that postmodernism holds an ‘incredulity towards meta-narratives‘ those overarching ideas, attitudes, values and beliefs that have held us together in a shared belief, For example, the belief in religion, science, capitalism, communism, revolution, war, peace and so on.
•  the French intellectual Jean Baudrillard would describe as IMPLOSION which gives rise to what he terms SIMULACRA. The idea that although the media has always been seen as a representation of reality – a simulation, from Baudrillard’s perspective of implosion, it is has become more than a representation or simulation and it has become SIMULACRUM not just a representation of the real, but the real itself, a grand narrative that is ‘truth‘ in its own right: an understanding of uncertain/certainty that Baudrillard terms the HYPERREAL.
•  a hyperreality– Another way to understand this approach is to reflect on the emergence of, often off-shore, leisure and theme parks which are ‘highly commercialised, with many simulated environments more ‘real’ than the original from which they are copied’

def: postmodernism is a way of seeing the world/ideas.(philosophy)

Music videos is a good recognition of postmodernism.

characterised by: re-imagining , pastiche, parody,copy,bricolage.

copy- other peoples work is use to create something.

Postmodernism is fragmentary and complicated, not everyone see’s it in the same way.

pastiche- is a work of art, drama,literature,music or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist.

parody- is a work or performance that imitated another piece of work with irony or a ridicule.( to mock/make fun of) An example of this is ‘The Simpsons’ ‘Rear window’ Simpsons recreated a scene out of the movie, a diliberate copy of the photos hanging on the wall from ‘Rear Window’ are used in the Simpsons.(intertextuality)

intertextuality- deliberately weaving in a link or reference to another text.

Shuker- “their preoccupation with visual style”- no narrative structure of music videos(no conflict, resolution) eg Art of noise, there is no meaning. surface and style over substance.

If the priority is play then the emphasis is on the surface. The focus is shallow, superficial,lacking depth.

The Art Of Noise- experimental musicians from 1980’s who presented themselves through abstract videos.

In the postmodern world surfaces and style becomes the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture.

Postmodernism- frivolous, trite,casual,surface,throw-away.

Music videos are about the visuals rather than the ‘substance’ the music itself.

Slavoj Zizek- talks about kinder egg “do you buy it for the wrapping, chocolate or the toy inside?” if only focusing on the surface we may loose sight on what’s on the inside. Aim for the centre piece ( the toy) and enjoy the surface rather than aiming for less and just hoping for more.

1959-Richard Hoggart- a shift in modern societies, ‘neighbourhood lives’ to know everybody locally, in which everything is near.

John Urry- no longer make and consume we only consume now.’ now cities towns, villages and houses all became high-consuming energy centres.” this has altered the nature of societies and individuals living in them.(Jersey is different as it can be seen as ‘ old fashioned’ as we are a small island and everything is local’

Postmodernism- huge cities/towns/villages have high desires of consumption. Desire to desire- eg coca cola , ‘everything must be enjoyable’.

Key characteristics – the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living in fragmented societies.

Fragmentary consumption= fragmentary identities – Example mobile phones; constantly consuming images, sounds,stories and messages.

Off shoring- 5 large Garbage patches in the world, floating waste islands trapped in ‘gyros’ constant currents keep the waste in one certain place.

off shoring- Illegal things like torture, poor treatment of work staff ect… all this stuff happens secretly and is missed by people as they only look as far as the surface. Eg- apple phones, seen as a luxury, popular needed, however the labour is pushed aside.(the inside)

The loss of a metanarrattive- those overarching ideas, attitudes,values and beliefs tat have held us together are now questioned. No one seemed to agree on what was real and had their own perspectives and stories. Zizek- there is no ‘other’ aka GOD then there is a sudden realisation that we are alone (lacan)

Simulacra- simulations of reality (real but not real). Not just a representation of the real, but the real itself. Hyperreality.

Example- DUBAI- 45 degrees however can go skiing on slopes in the summer. Also dubai built a ‘larger and better’ Taj Mahal, for tourists to visit for cheaper.

Example- DISNEYLAND – all over the world and a new one to be built in London in 2024 for those in britian , making it cheaper to visit rather than flying to America,paris, or any other countries.

Habermas- the decline in public sphere through a range of societal shifts;

• increased globalisation of economic trade
• the transformation from citizens to consumers
• insures in digital communication technologies
• the dominance of a small economic elite over global economic, political and cultural exchange.

Can we trust the media? – An event happens and the way the media portrays it can effect the way the consumers see the event.

Is a way of seeing world – characterized by RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE

Often copies other things and is REFERENTIAL 

Parody vs. Pastiche

Pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist

Parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony

Intertextuality: surface signs, gestures & play

Intertextuality – self conscious inclusion of references to other texts

‘their preoccupation with visual style‘ (Shuker) – good examples of post-modern texts

Bricolage ‘involves the rearrangement and juxtaposition of previously unconnected signs to produce new codes of meaning’ (Barker & Jane, 2016:237)

Surface and Style over Substance

‘in a postmodern world, surfaces and style become the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture‘ (Strinati: 234)

Meaning and interpretation is obtuse, disguised, removed and difficult to apprehend – living in a post-truth world.

Context

In 1959, Hoggart notes the shift on ‘neighborhood lives’, which was ‘an extremely local life, in which everything is remarkably near‘ (1959:46). Urry suggests that people don’t produce anything but only consume.

The focus on FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY is characterised and linked to an increase of consumption and the proliferation of new forms of digital technologies. In effect, another key characteristic of postmodernism is the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living (precariously) in fragmented societies.

The loss of a Metanarrative

Jameson argues that the postmodern era is characterised by pastiche (not parody) and as such, suffers from a crisis in historicity.

Jean Baudrillard

He describes as IMPLOSION which gives rise to what he terms SIMULACRA. The idea that although the media has always been seen as a representation of reality – a simulation, from Baudrillard’s perspective of implosion, it is has become more than a representation or simulation and it has become SIMULACRUM not just a representation of the real, but the real itself, a grand narrative

Simulacrum – simulations of reality

Hyperreality – the simulation is more real than reality.

Habermas

He traces the decline in the public sphere identified already in this process through a range of societal shifts:

• the increased globalisation of economic trade,
• the transformation of citizens into consumers
• the increase in digital communication technologies
• the dominance of a small economic elite over global economic, political and cultural exchange

A way of seeing the world – eg music videos

Characterised by concepts such as RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE.

pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist

parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony

Inter-textuality – Deliberately weaving in example in a text, to directly link to another text

Shuker – ‘their preoccupation with visual style, and associated with this, their status as key exemplars of ‘postmodern’ texts.’

‘in a postmodern world, surfaces and style become the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture‘ (Strinati: 234). surface level, lacking depth

The focus is therefore on image, surface, style. Meaning and interpretation is obtuse, disguised, removed and difficult to apprehend.

kinder and coke man is elite – deshire (slavoj zizek)

Focus on consumption, don’t produce anymore

The loss of a metanarrative – Jameson argues that the postmodern era is characterised by pastiche (not parody) and as such, suffers from a crisis in historicity.

SIMULACRUM not just a representation of the real, but the real itself – hypereality, simulation more real than real

Pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist

Intertextuality surface signs, gestures, and play suggest signs only have meaning in reference to other signs and that meaning is, therefore, a complex process of decoding/encoding with individuals both taking and creating meaning in the process of reading texts. 

Hyperreality is the inability to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality especially when we consider technologically advanced postmodern societies.

Fragmentary Identities are the development of fragmented individuals living in fragmented societies.

Implosion is the societal perspective that the ‘real’ seems to be imploding in on itself to which becomes a process leading to the collapse of boundaries between the real and simulations

Parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony

Bricolage is a collection or collage of different media text which forms one text.

Meta-narrative overarching ideas, attitudes, values and beliefs that have held us together in a shared belief, For example, the belief in religion, science, capitalism, communism, revolution, war, peace and so on

The simulacrum is an image or representation of someone or something

Consumerist society is a society of which people use time, energy, resources and thought to simply “consuming”

cultural appropriation is the inclusion/taking of one element or elements of one culture by others of a different culture

Reflexivity refers to the examination of one’s own beliefs, judgments and practices during the research process and how these may have influenced the research. If positionality refers to what we know and believe then reflexivity is about what we do with this knowledge.

• A way of seeing the world
• understood by terms: RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE
• parody vs pastiche
• pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist
• parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony

Intertextuality

• deliberate references to other texts
• their preoccupation with visual style, and associated with this, their status as key exemplars of ‘postmodern’ texts.’  – Shuker (music videos)
• Surface and style over substance
• The emphasis is on the surface, in other words, if the main focus is the idea of just connecting one product to another, then the focus is superficial, shallow, lacking depth, so ‘in a postmodern world, surfaces and style become the most important defining features of the mass media and popular culture‘ – Strinati
• frivolous, trite, casual, surface, throw-away. It may even be ironic, joking, or literally, ‘just playing’. However, it is always a deliberate copy (of the old).
• become more vulnerable when we only focus on the surface
• Duty to enjoy yourself

The loss of a metanarrative

• postmodernism is surface and style no deep meanings no religion/ higher power
• From a societal perspective the ‘real’ seems to be imploding in on itself, a ‘process leading to the collapse of boundaries between the real and simulations’ (Barker & Emma, 2015:242). A process which the French intellectual Jean Baudrillard would describe as IMPLOSION which gives rise to what he terms SIMULACRA. 
• Simulacra: simulations of reality

Ghost Town by The Specials conveys a specific moment in British social and political history while retaining a contemporary relevance. The cultural critic Dorian Lynskey has described it as ‘’a remarkable pop cultural moment’’ one that “defined an era’’. The video and song are part of a tradition of protest in popular music, in this case reflecting concern about the increased social tensions in the UK at the beginning of the 1980s. The song was number 1 in the UK charts, post-Brixton and during the Handsworth and Toxteth riots.

Postmodernism can be understood as a philosophy that is characterised by concepts such as RE-IMAGINING, PASTICHE, PARODY, COPY, BRICOLAGE. 

DEFINITIONS

Pastiche – A parody but rather than mocking, it celebrates a work of visual art, literature, theatre, or music imitating a style or character of the work of artists.

Bricolage – Creating something new out of different things.

Intertextuality – Shaping a text’s meaning by a different text.

Implosion – A collapse of a system.

Cultural Appropriation – The inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another culture.

Simulacrum – A simulation of reality

Hyperreality – When the simulation is a lot more real than reality.

Metanarrative – Narratives that have historical meaning, experience, or knowledge allowing the completion of an overall master idea.

Parody – A piece of work or performance that copies and ridicules another piece of work or performance.

Consumerist Society – A type of society where people devote a great deal of their life to “consuming”. Implosion- a sudden failure or collapse of an organization or system.

Reflexivity – The evaluation of a person’s own beliefs, judgments and practices.

Implosion – The failure of an organization or system.

PARODY VS PASTICHE

Pastiche is a work of art, drama, literature, music, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist. Parody is a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony.

INTERTEXTUALITY: SURFACE SIGNS, GESTURES & PLAY

Intertextuality suggests signs only have meaning in reference to other signs and that meaning is therefore a complex process of decoding/encoding with individuals both taking and creating meaning in the process of reading texts.

“the concept that the meaning of a text does not reside in the text, but is produced by the reader in relation not only to the text in question, but also the complex network of texts invoked in the reading process.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertextuality#History)

SURFACE AND STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE

The emphasis of style and surface over substance, means that what something looks like becomes more important than anything else, as opposed to what something might mean, or what it could be used for.

In terms of the key principles of art and design the priority is in formal elements: of shape, colour, texture, movement, space, time and so on. As opposed to more discursive principles of: narrative, character, motivation, theme, ideology. Or put simply: STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE. Put another way, are we more interested in the surface of an object than its’ inner meaning?

FRAGMENTARY CONSUMPTION = FRAGMENTARY IDENTITIES

This process of fragmented consumption separating, splitting up and dividing previously homogeneous groups such as, friends, the family, the neighborhood, the local community, the town, the county, the country and importantly, is often linked to the process of fragmented identity construction. 

THE LOSS OF A METANARRATIVE

Fredric Jameson claimed that Postmodernism is characterized by pastiche rather than parody which represents a crisis in historicity. Jameson argued that parody implies a moral judgment or a comparison with previous societal norms. 

The focus on FRAGMENTATION OF IDENTITY is characterised and linked to an increase of consumption and the proliferation of new forms of digital technologies. In effect, another key characteristic of postmodernism is the development of fragmented, alienated individuals living (precariously) in fragmented societies.

As an example, mobile telephony (both hardware and software) now appears to proliferate and connect every aspect of our lives, and generally does so from the perspective of consumption – consuming images, sounds, stories, messages etc – rather than production. We don’t make mobile phones, mobile networks (hardware) or Apps, content and platforms (software).

“Putting it very simply, the transition from substance to style is linked to a transition from production to consumption. ” – Strinati (235)

JEAN BAUDRILLARD

Jean Baudrillard describes as IMPLOSION which gives rise to what he terms SIMULACRA. The idea that although the media has always been seen as a representation of reality – a simulation, from Baudrillard’s perspective of implosion, it is has become more than a representation or simulation and it has become SIMULACRUM not just a representation of the real, but the real itself, a grand narrative

HABERMAS

He traces the decline in the public sphere identified already in this process through a range of societal shifts: the increased globalisation of economic trade, the transformation of citizens into consumers, the increase in digital communication technologies, the dominance of a small economic elite over global economic, political and cultural exchange