1. Postmodernism
Lesson 1

2. Definitions
• Postmodernism literally means.doc
You need to learn the 2. The difference
following in relation to at between postmodern
least two areas of the media. media and traditional
media – what
1. Definitions of
difference does
postmodernism in relation to
postmodern culture
media products and media
maker historically?
audiences, and which
definition is the one you want
to work with.

3. 3. Examples of media
products which you think can
be, or have been defined as 5. Debates
postmodern, and the reasons around
for them being analysed in this postmodernism
way. and whether it is
really a useful
4. The impact of theory or not.
postmodern media on
audiences and the
ways in which we think
about texts.

4. The blurring of reality?
• We usually think of the media as being ‘inbetween us’ and
reality. Hence the word MEDIA … mediation.
• Postmodernists argue that the distinction between reality and
the media becomes blurred or even entirely invisible to us.
• Do we have any sense of the difference between real things
and images of them, or real experiences and simulations of
them?
• It can be argued that…Media reality is the new reality.

5. Historical development
• The modern period came before during which artists
experimented with the representation of reality.
• Postmodern comes next: this idea of representation
gets remixed, played around with through pastiche,
parody and intertextual references – where people
make texts deliberately expose their nature as
constructed texts and make no attempt to pretend
they are ‘realist’.
• Discuss…

6. Strinati
• “The mass media…were once thought of as holding
up a mirror to, and thereby reflecting, a wider social
reality. Now that reality is only definable in terms of
the surface reflections of that mirror. It is no longer a
question of distortion since the term implies that
there is a reality, outside the surface simulations of
the media, which can be distorted, and this is
precisely what is at issue.”
• Copy and discuss.

7. Ideas to discuss
• Postmodern media rejects
the idea that any media
product or text is of any
greater value than
another. Anything can be
art… anything can deserve
to reach an audience…

8. We live in a reality defined by images
and representations - a state of
simulacrum. This is a state of
hyperreality

9. What is reality?

10. Introduction to Baudrillard
• Texts seek to explore… to be intertextual and
they break the rules of realism to explore their
own nature as a constructed text. They seek
not to represent reality but to represent
media reality.
• Analysis: 9/11 footage in postmodern terms.
• Analysis: The Matrix in postmodern terms.
• Analysis: Bladerunner in postmodern terms.

11. Baudrillard
• Jean-Francois Lyotard and Jean Baudrillard offer
differing versions of wither postmodernism or
postmodernity.
• What they share is a belief that the idea of truth
needs to be deconstructed so that we can challenge
dominant ideas that people claim as truth, Lyotard
describes these as “grand narratives”.
• In a postmodern world media texts make visible and
challenge ideas about truth and reality removing
illusions, texts

12. Baudrillard said…
• “Truth is what we should rid ourselves of as
fast as possible and pass it on to somebody
else. As with illnessess, it’s the only way to be
cured of it. He hangs on to truth has lost.”
• Critics argue only wealthy westerners can
afford this luxury. Do you agree?

13. Hyperreality
• Baudrillard introduced the notion of hyperreality,
claiming that Disneyland is the best example for
understanding how our reality works in the
postmodern world – a place which is at the same
time as real physical space but also clearly a fictional,
representational world.
• Semiotics : signs
• Simulations replace pure reality. Pure reality is
replaced by hyperreality where any boundary
between the real and the imaginary is eroded.