Terms for Postmodernism (Exam)

Postmodernism : It is a set of ideas that have replaced Modernism as a way of interpreting society and culture. It’s key characteristic is disbelief in the idea of an ‘objective’ truth –  meaning is subjective and there is no one truth only many truths - individual ways of interpreting the world.

Intertextuality : A deliberate referencing of one (or more) texts within the narrative of another, with the expectation that the audience will be able to recognise and appreciate it’s significance.

Pastiche : A media text made up of pieces from other media texts – particularly the imitation of other styles. Similar to parody but more respectful.

Parody : The imitation of one media text for comic effect, can also be used as satire.

Bricolage : The putting together of cultural signifiers to form new meanings / texts. The mixing together, or recontextualising, of different styles and ideas in fashion, music, art and media to create new meanings.

Self-reflexivity : Texts that deliberately draw attention to their own fictional nature.

Ironic playfulness : The audience have an awareness that something on screen has double meaning. One on the surface and a meaning for those in the know. In postmodern media it uses irony in the knowledge that the audience is active and aware of the ironic reading.

Eclectic borrowing :  Postmodernism ‘borrows’ signs from other media texts in a way that features a wide range of styles, ideas and sources. There is no distinction between high and popular culture. Everything is up for grabs.

Simulacrum : A realistic copy. A copy of a copy that has that no relationship with the thing it was copied from. The media text that is a copy of a copy. The media is full of simulacra.  ‘Busted’ are simulacrum punk rockers.   ( J. Baudrillard)

Hyperreality : A postmodern condition in which the distinction between reality and fiction has disappeared. ‘Big Brother’ in which reality and entertainment are the same, media reality is more real than reality. Disneyworld and Las Vegas are other cultural examples. ( J. Baudrillard)

 

Theorists.

Jean Baudrillard : ( Simulacrum, Hyperreality )

Fredrick Jameson : ( the commodification of culture – economic pressures shape culture not artistic decisions, celebrity culture, Multi-national / consumer capitalism )

Lyotard :  The collapse of Metanarratives.  ( Religion and political systems can no longer explain or organise society.)

Producing an Ancillary Text for Film Trailer

Film Poster:

 

Text and image is very important to the branding of the film, pick a film that is of a similar genre to your trailer and analyse its marketing campaign, look at choice of font, colour and image and what they all connote. (This bit of research is important for both ancillary tasks.)

Do a set of font tests for your short film titles, poster and review page.  These should be consistent across the marketing package.

Research the conventions of film posters.  First look at their history and how they have developed over the last century.  Secondly look at film poster from the genre your film is and come up with a list of conventions that you need to get right.  Choose one cover and do a detailed analysis of it (this can be done with an image of the cover and arrows etc.)

Look at how star image is used – see if you can come up with a set of ‘rules’ for a film poster.  You will have to use these rules when photographing your ‘star’.

Take a film poster and copy it on Photoshop, copying everything you can.

Find out who usually designs film posters, what companies are used, where do they appear?

  Create your poster.

 

Magazine review page:

 

Research the conventions of the review pages of film magazines.  First look at their history and how they have developed over the last century.  Secondly look at film reviews from the genre your film is and come up with a list of conventions that you need to get right.  Choose one film review and do a detailed analysis of it (this can be done with an image of the cover and arrows etc.)

Choose a film review page and copy it on Photoshop, copying everything you can.

Investigate how important the film review is to the promotion of the film.

Do a flat plan of your film review page, work out the layout you want, and plan the type of photos you need to take of your star.

Write the text for your film review and get it checked for spelling and grammar.

Create your film review.

Examples of film posters within my genre. Both posters show the protagonist dominating the poster, with some scenes from the film created, this will also be shown within my poster. the colour schemes are different however show the action within the film. The title of the film also dominates the poster.

 

 

 

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=135695

Taken review.