My Mix-tape Amalgamation

Songlist: Feel Good Summer Tunes
Gradually Building
1 Gabrielle Aplin - Please Don't say You Love Me
2 Vampire Weekend - Run
3 Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
4 Foster the People - Pumped Up kicks
5 Muse - Uprising
6 Thirty seconds to Mars - Up in the Air
7 Florence and the Machine - Spectrum
8 The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
9 Rudimental - Feel the Love
10 Rudimental - Waiting All Night 

Analysing Post-Modern Questions

Subject matter or topic: What are most general terms in the question about?

Aspect or Focus: This is the angle or point of view on the subject matter. What aspect of the subject matter is the question about?

Instruction: The instruction word or phrase.

What is meant by ‘postmodern media’?
Why are some media products described as ‘postmodern’?
Explain how certain kinds of media can be defined as postmodern.
TOPIC = Postmodernism
ASPECT= Media
INSTRUCTION = Define and explain
EXAMPLES;
Media that is based on a copy or referencing

• Scott Pilgrim; Comic books, games (Intertexual reference.)
• Gold Digger: Remix of two other songs. (Everything is a remix.)
• Flight of the conchords: Ref. inception and the matrix.(Intertexual reference.)

Media that uses hyper-reality

• Inglourious basterds: Over-head shots, real strangling
• Ted: CGI and reality, on TV

Media that uses bricolage

• Inglorious basterds: Western music in WW2 film.

Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial
TOPIC = Postmodernism
ASPECT= Media
VIEWPOINT= Controversy
INSTRUCTION = Explain
EXAMPLES;

• Doesn't always respect moral concepts e.g. plan B 'Ill manors.'
• Jameson, stuck in circular reference e.g. Gold digger.
• Hobo with a shotgun: Purposely bad, based on bad trailer and poor acting. (Parody.)
• Gold Digger: Form no attempts to be original. (Everything is a remix.)
• Inglourious basterds: Doesn't follow common rules. (Bricolage, Mixing music and time.)

“Postmodern media blur the boundary between reality and representation.” Discuss this idea with reference to media texts that you have studied.
 TOPIC = Postmodernism
ASPECT= Media texts studied
VIEWPOINT= Hypereality
INSTRUCTION = Discuss and explain
EXAMPLES;

• Ted: CGI and the real world, live on TV but not their, taking human role.
• Inglourious basterds: Over-head shots, real strangling
• Inception: real settings to represent fake world.
• Flight of the Conchords: Reference the Matrix and believe their world is fake.

Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of post-modern media.

TOPIC = Post-modernism
ASPECT= Media 
VIEWPOINT= Not convinced
INSTRUCTION = Discuss and explain
EXAMPLES;

• Jameson: post-modern media is vacuous and stuck in circular reference.
• Kayne West 'Gold Digger': people stop trying to be original and new.
• Just an excuse to create purposely bad work 'Hobo with a Shotgun.'
• Inglourios Basterds: All texts have modernist elements or takes on things e.g. of WW2

 

Why Ted is Post-Modern

The narration at the very beginning of Ted is post-modern as it almost mocks the surreal fake world being depicted, with the sarcastic tone of Patrick Stewart. It is creating a parody of a happy Christmas story. This seems to be done to emphasise that the film is depth-less and has no reality or moral message. The reference to a happy Christmas film also highlights that they too are depth-less  As they are not real either, so Ted doesn't even try to be. 

The character Ted is clearly Post-Modern, as he is a fake CGI bear being depicted as real in a real world that isn't actually real either. This illustrates hyper-reality. The reason for this depiction appears to be to mock the very concept of hyper-reality. A teddy bear is an item associated with children, a tame simple toy. However Ted is presented as a obscene person that ages and grows and is accepted into the real world, with no-one taking any notice. Therefore the film is exaggerating the public's acceptance of hyper-reality and how nowadays it is so prevalent it's not even questioned.
   Ted's character is also formulated from the narration of actor Seth MacFarlane. This actor basically uses his own voice for Ted and  it is also the voice he uses in Family guy. Therefore Ted's character has no real identity of his own it is an extension of another person, this illustrates further hyper-reality as the representation of Ted as having his own personality and characteristics is ridiculous as he can't. This character is also basically a remix of Brian Griffin and with the presents of further family guy voice over Mila Kunis the entire film feels like a real life version of family. These post-modern elements appear to be used as it is believed that audiences like familiarity with in media. 

Intertexual references within the film include that of the frequent reference of Flash and Tom Scarret. Flash appears to be referenced as he also features in films in which he is not real, as his voice was dubbed over after he fell out with the director. Therefore like character Ted, is a character formulated from the compilation of aspects of several people, and bears no truth to reality. He also dwells in a very fake world. Although Ted is filmed in a realistic world, his part in the world is very unrealistic. Therefore these parallels appear to be addressed with his reference. 

Finally the appearance of character Ted on live chat shows and presenting Oscars is the ultimate presentation of hyper-reality. As the line between what the audience is actually viewing and what they perceive they are viewing becomes warped e.g. There is no bear there at all. This use hyper-reality appears to be used to mock the audiences perception of the media as the comparisons made by the public between the media and real world, these comparisons are becoming so common nowadays that the media is now perceived as an ultimate reality and reality doesn't stand up.                                                                                  

Jonathan Kramer - Lady Gaga's 'Judas'

1. is not simply a repudiation of modernism or its continuation, but has aspects of both a break and an extension

Lady Gaga references the bible in a post-modern way, however her re-interpretation could be considered modernist as it is adventuress and pushes boundaries.
2. is, on some level and in some way, ironic 

Gaga casts herself as Mary Magdelene, although her and Judas were never involved.
3. does not respect boundaries between sonorities and procedures of the past and of the present. This song can be considered disrespectful to Christianity.8. considers music not as autonomous but as relevant to cultural, social, and political contexts. This song is very relevant to religion.
9. includes quotations of or references to music of many traditions and cultures

References the bible with story of Judas' betrayal.

Jonathan Kramer Theory - Plan B 'Ill Manors'

8. considers music not as autonomous but as relevant to cultural, social, and political contexts
This videos faces social sensitive issues of the state and culture of urban areas 'Oh look there's a chav. That means Council houses and Violence.
'9. includes quotations of or references to music of many traditions and cultures
The beginning of the song included violins playing, an instrument that would be associated with a more classical style. And definitely not associated with a urban setting. 

Jonathan Kramer - Kanye West 'Gold Digger'

3. does not respect boundaries between sonorities and procedures of the past and of the present
9. includes quotations of or references to music of many traditions and cultures
15. presents multiple meanings and multiple temporalities


This song is a remix of the song 'I got a woman' by Ray Charles, which is in turn a remix of the song 'It must be Jesus' by The Southern Tones. Not only does it use elements of backing track etc. but it also warps the meaning of the song taking it out of context and completely changing the original message.The original song goes from being about the wonderful acts of Jesus, to the kind acts of a girlfriend to the degrading song about a Gold digging girlfriend.This presents a song that could be interpreted with many meanings or simply taken for what it is.

My Bricolage