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