Postmodernism:

• 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 / copies other things)
• RE-IMAGINING= To recreate or form a new conception of by recreation
• PASTICHE=A work of art, drama, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist.
• PARODY= A work or performance that imitates another work or performance with the use of irony and humour.
• COPY
• BRICOLAGE= construction of media with a diverse range of available things ‘involves the rearrangment and juxtaposition of previously unconnected signs to produce new codes of meaning’(Barker & Jane, 2016:237)

Narrative theory:

• Structure: beginning, middle, end- equillibrium -> disruption of equillibrium -> equilibrium restored. (freytags pyramid)
• Propp; characters and their roles, the theory that all characters are reimagined from a set of character templates ~(hero, villian, helper, princess, false hero, father)
• Turner makes clear that the roles aren’t specific to a singular character as one character can fit into more than one of these templates; and it is determined by their functions and SPHERES OF ACTION
• Chatman splits narrative and plot into two main structures; satalights and kernels, kernals being something absoluetly essential to the plot to make sense or for the audience to know. Satalights being something not essential to the plot that can be taken out- yet are important for subtle progression such as character development/ non-essential background context
• Barthes talks about the different type of codes through the narrative. Proairetic code: action, movement, causation Hermenuetic code: reflection, dialogue, character or thematic development Enigma code: the way in which intrigue and ideas are raised – which encourage an audience to want more information. We can relate chatmans Satalight ideaology to hermenuetic code as development.

Postmodernism:

• 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 / copies other things)
• RE-IMAGINING= To recreate or form a new conception of by recreation
• PASTICHE= A work of art, drama, or architecture that imitates the work of a previous artist.
• PARODY= A work or performance that imitates another work or performance with the use of irony and humour.
• COPY
• BRICOLAGE= construction of media with a diverse range of available things ‘involves the rearrangment and juxtaposition of previously unconnected signs to produce new codes of meaning’(Barker & Jane, 2016:237)

Narrative theory:

• Structure: beginning, middle, end- equillibrium -> disruption of equillibrium -> equilibrium restored. (freytags pyramid)
• Propp; characters and their roles, the theory that all characters are reimagined from a set of character templates ~(hero, villian, helper, princess, false hero, father)
• Turner makes clear that the roles aren’t specific to a singular character as one character can fit into more than one of these templates; and it is determined by their functions and SPHERES OF ACTION
• Chatman splits narrative and plot into two main structures; satalights and kernels, kernals being something absoluetly essential to the plot to make sense or for the audience to know. Satalights being something not essential to the plot that can be taken out- yet are important for subtle progression such as character development/ non-essential background context
• Barthes talks about the different type of codes through the narrative. Proairetic code: action, movement, causation Hermenuetic code: reflection, dialogue, character or thematic development Enigma code: the way in which intrigue and ideas are raised – which encourage an audience to want more information. We can relate chatmans Satalight ideaology to hermenuetic code as development.

Linking narrative theory to the presentation of postmodernism

• You can see that the reiteration of historical events through modern media through concepts such as through parodys or pastiche have a strong link to techniques and ideas surrounding narrative structure and theory
• For example, the main goal for both these media forms would be to present a previous event and to educate the audience while keeping it less complicated and entertaining to provide a message that can be more widely taken on and accepted.
• Freytags pyramid- in reference of a historical event being presented via postmodernism, something catastrophically with many levels of details could be simplified to conform to the needs of a wider audience- a hisorical event such as World War One has many levels of depth and things that lead up to it, but a pastiche or

Narrative:

POSTMODERNISM
There is no “whole” “real” “you”, just collections of fragments. “You” as a concept is unstable and “schizophrenic” (disrupted). This is a source of exhilaration as it allows you to be free to construct yourself, however it can be a source of anxiety as well as you do not know who you are on a fundamental level.

NARRATIVE THEORY
Peripeteia – an unexpected reversal of circumstances (the tables have turned)
Anagnorisis – a revelation of the protagonists identity or actions
Catharsis

1. Linear – Happens in a set order
2. Chronological – The story happens in the order that it occurs
3. Sequential
4. Circular structure – The story ends where it begins, a loop where the characters have transformed somehow.
5. Time based
6. Narrative arc
7. Freytag’s Pyramid – The stages of a story, shaped like a pyramid (hence the name). Exposition -> inciting incident -> rising action -> climax – > falling action/denouement -> resolution
8. exposition – telling the story
9. inciting incident – The incident that begins the story
10. rising action – The slow rise of action towards the climax
11. climax – The emotional/action high point of the film
12. falling action – The slow fall of action towards the resolution
13. resolution – The problem is solved and the end of the story
14. denouement – same as falling action & resolution
15. Beginning / middle / end –
16. Equilibrium – Everything is balanced
17. Disruption – An event that disrupts the balance of the equilibrium
18. Transgression – often disequilibrium is caused by societal / moral / ethical transgression (ie challenging Aristotelian virtues)
19. New equilibrium – The return of the equilibrium after the resolution of the story
20. The 3 Unities: Action, Time, Place
21. flashback / flash forward – A time skip that shows the audience information
22. Foreshadowing – Hinting at an event that is going to happen
23. Ellipsis
24. Pathos
25. Empathy
26. diegetic / non-diegetic
27. slow motion
28. In Media Res – starting in mid-action
29. Metanarratives – drawing attention to the process of storytelling – A narrative that references it’s creator/that it is just a narrative.
30. Quest narratives

Post Modern Theory

Many Films and Television Programmes exhibit postmodern traits. Descriptions of the most significant Postmodern themes in Television and Films are below:

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

Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007) was a French sociologist, cultural theorist, author, political commentator. His best known theories involve hyperreality and simulation. Baudrillard described hyperreality as “the generation by models of a real without origin or reality”.

What is Baudrillard theory?

Baudrillard claims that our current society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that human experience is a simulation of reality.

Hyperreality is an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in advanced postmodern societies. Hyperreality is seen as a condition of what is real and what is fiction are blended together so there is no clear distinction to where one ends and the other begins.

What makes a text postmodernism

Criticism of metanarratives – postmodern texts usually try to distance themselves from traditional ways of making meaning, and will break the rules of existing metanarratives such as religion or science

Rejection of high culture – postmodern texts will often use a deliberately ‘trashy’ aesthetic

Breaking rules – postmodern texts often break fundamental rules of making media, for example by ‘breaking the fourth wall’

Intertextuality – postmodern texts often routinely make reference to other texts, cultures and times

Style over substance – surface meanings are seen as more important in a postmodern text than any deeper meaning

Peripeteia – a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances.

Anagnorisis – where a character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or true nature.

Catharsis – the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

1. Bricolage  – Bricolage is a technique or creative mode, where works are constructed from various materials available or on hand, and is often seen as a characteristic of postmodern art practice.
2. Intertextuality – can be a reference or parallel to another literary work, an extended discussion of a work, or the adoption of a style.
3. Referential –
4. Surface and style over substance and content –
5. Metanarrative – theory that tries to give a totalizing, comprehensive account to various historical events, experiences, and social, cultural phenomena based upon the appeal to universal truth or universal values.
6. Hyperreality – something that give a representation of characters that aren’t socially normal or acceptable. eg disney world. exaggerated otherness
7. Simulation (sometimes termed by Baudrillard as ‘Simulacrum’)  – an image or representation of someone or something
8. Consumerist Society – a society in which people often buy new goods, especially goods that they do not need, and in which a high value is placed on owning many things.

Narrative

a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Peripeteia – a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances.

Anagnorisis – where a character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or true nature.

Catharsis – the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

The Three Unities

– Action: a tragedy should have one principal action
– Time: the action in a tragedy should occur over a period of no more than 24 hours.
– Place: a tragedy should exist in a single physical location.

Tripartite Narrative Structure

Equilibrium – a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Disruption – disturbance or problems which interrupt the balance.

New Equilibrium – a new and possibly different state of balance.

Freytag’s Pyramid

first three lines – demonstrate that you know what postmodernism is

postmodernism is a shift in society in terms of culture and people

next few lines – knowledgeable that these two terms come from Jean Baudrillard – define

next half of a side – cherry pick some examples from the csp about what postmodernism is

end line – conclusive sentence on what you think of postmodernism

half a page on simulation / half a page of hyperreality

9 marks – 12 mins

Analyse Figure 1 using the following postmodern ideas:
• simulation
• hyperreality.
[9 marks]

Indicative content
This question assesses the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of
the theoretical framework of media language to analyse media products,
particularly focusing on:
• how the different modes and language associated with different media
forms communicate multiple meanings
• how the combination of elements of media language influence meaning
• how audiences respond to and interpret the above aspects of media
language.
Baudrillard’s ideas and theories on postmodernism:
• simulation
• hyperreality.
In the analysis of the video game cover for Gears of War students are
expected to apply ideas of simulation and hyperreality to analyse the meaning
of the images in the product.
Answers in the higher bands are likely to deal critically with the ideas in the
question whereas answers in the lower bands are likely to only offer
examples from the product. There is no requirement for students to deal with
both ideas equally.
The content below is not prescriptive and all valid points should be
credited. It is not expected that responses will include all of the points listed.
In their analysis of the Gears of War cover, students may discuss:
• the cover is an example of hyperreality constructed through a series of
simulations of armed forces
• the visual codes and construction as they relate to concepts of hyperreality
and simulation (mise-en-scène constructed of exaggerated human/robot
figures, war-torn setting, costumes and weaponry)
• the relationship between the title and the imagery – the dehumanising of
soldiers as gears, a simulation of the real world
• the blurring of the line between fantasy and reality is evident in the
representation of armed forces as machines, drawing on a mix of mediated
images (sci-fi) and reality (implosion)
• the human element of the soldier – foregrounded by the direct address to
the audience – contrasts with the robot-machine construction of the body.
Accept any other valid analytical responses. Answers must link to the focus
of the question.