‘eXistenZ’ Analysis

Pastiche	The film is a pastiche of itself. At the end, when they supposedly are in the ‘real world’ and out of the simulation. The characters of Ted and Allegra shoot one of the characters. Perhaps this is a reference to the ‘game’ in the film.
Intertextuality	When the infected game pod is set on fire, the camera shots/sequencing follows the structure of a specific western film from the past.
Referential	– When Allegra says “this is a point of higher emotional intensity to get onto the next game level” (She is signposting the function of each scene to the audience) – At the end, the characters analyse how their game character. And speak about points within the film (referencing back to itself)
Hyperreality	A crossover of the ‘game world’, simulation and the ‘real world’. At the end, the characters are seemingly in the ‘real world’ although they act like they are still in the simulation.
Simulation (sometimes termed by Baudrillard as ‘Simulacrum’)	The whole movie is a simulation of ‘the real world’. There are so many layers of game (fragmented and alienating) Baudrillard says that we are copies of the real world.
Consumerist Society	The game is consistently based around buying new things, and the obsession over commodities (buying new additions to the game etc.)
Fragmentary Identities	Each character has a large scope of identities throughout the narrative arc of the film. For example, at points the character of Allegra is very mature although she changes. For example, when she kills one of the characters near the end she is quite giddy and childlike.
Alienation	A sense of paranoia and anxiety/alienation is a common theme throughout the film. At points, they ask if they are still in the ‘game’. An alienation from the truth and what is fake.

‘Memento’ Analysis

• The narrative structure is deliberately playful and confusing.
• It is fragmented – there is a lack of coherency in time and place. The story-world is a place of ‘nothingness’
• There is a clear manipulation of truth and memories. Gives insight into how humans are vulnerable in this post-modern existence. This causes individuals to become alienated from our traditional society.
• Could it be a simulation? Is it real? (Hyper-reality)
• Lack of Metanarrative – Meta (big), Narrative (structure/order) – In terms of post-modernism, there is a lack of structure in our current society, we are moving away from belief, faith in truth and knowledge.
• The events in the films are a pastiche of themselves, the repetition is a copy of previous events (links to postmodernity)