Theories (2)

Page 1

Postmodernism

the

the social, political and cultural attitudes and images of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries

Identifiable characteristics of postmodern media texts:

intertexuality

bricolage

merging of genres, styles and media

playful and ironic elements

mixtue of 'high' culture and popular culture

fragmentation

diverse representations and viewpoints

intertexuality: when a media text uses elements or references from other media texts

bricolage: the process of creating a media text out of artefacts, styles and signs from other media texts or cultural artefacts

pastiche: a creation of a media text out of elements of, or with reference to, other media texts in a mocking way

hyper-reality: refers to the fact that the distinction between the real world and the media world is disappearing

postmodern texts frequently blur the lines between real life and the reality presented within the text

suggests that artists and audiences are now prepared to accept a media text may not be true to reality and the techniques used to make this departure is from realism.

characteristics of postmodernism:

reality is no longer fixed

rejects all boundaries

accepts ambiguity

Postcolonialism

a perspective which recognises divisions between people (the west and non-west) based on the legacy of colonialism and imperialism

Edward Said (1978)

argues that non-Western cultures are represented through Western eyes and perspectives

can be seen as:

exotic

dangerous

threatening

because of the impact of cultural imperialism

e.g.

e.g.

whenever Islam is represented it is shown through a Western perspective that usually fails to understand the nature and complexity of Islamic belief and culture but instead reduces it to a few stereotypical characteristics

Cultural Imperialism

western cultures are imposed on other cultures

the

the idea that powerful and wealthy countries can exercise economic, cultural and social control over others through control of media industries

Postmodernism

Postcolonialism