Charlotte Hull

Discuss why some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern
media
Jameson describes postmodernism as having no particular point-that is the point which is
one of the main reasons why some people arent convinced, including Jameson. Whilst he
sees this as a criticism postmodernists would stand by it as the media created by these
individuals both have reason and none, and that is the point. Django Unchained is a
traditional, spaghetti western film yet there are now cowboys referencing the idea of
postmodernism. Similarly, the two main characters become heroes of the story, what is
expected, yet they are black and German-two outsiders. This explains why some people are
not convinced by postmodernism as these aspects and subverted meanings are only
understood by those who can consider more than one meaning of what is portrayed and fully
understand the full description of the characters. In Drives elevator scene the driver is shown
as a lover, a beast, and then a child all within the same scene. This is due to the postmodern
nature that means he is in fact all three characters but each only depending on your position
at the point of the story. Some only focus on the actor and his good-looking morals where he
is shown as a hero, trying to save the women he loves and her family at all costs. But others
understand the postmodern idea of how he immediately he becomes a character who shows
no mercy and stomps a man to his death before showing his vulnerability as he, and his lover
for the first time, realise who he truly is. Some audiences do not like this futuristic concept,
followers of the classicists prefer past guidelines of structures and rules where the character
stays as generically as the hero which, as Parsons identifies, the idea of postmodern media
rejects.
Some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media due to the different layers of
reality represented throughout the present texts. In the Lego movie there are multiple layers
that together build up the final story for example, there is the real world and the Lego world
which show the difference between those in the story and those creating it. However, there
are certain crossover points which add extra layers of reality on top of those already
established. In the Lego world the characters are taught to build in order to save themselves
from the Kragle, an ironic concept for the characters already involved in a built world as they
are encouraged to do what in fact only the creators should be able to. Furthermore in the real
world, the point where the audience understands the story is pretend and make-believe, the
Lego man Emmet moves, questioning whether this is indeed the real world or not. Some
people are not convinced by this are there are too many possibilities where none seems to
provide a definite answer, despite the fact it is all make-believe in the world where the
audience can relate, even that is not as expected. Levi-Strauss idea of postmodern media can
explain this through substitution where aspects of the different realities are substituted into
the others to develop a bricolaged, connected story but, some people are not convinced.
Drives hyper reality elevator scene also portrays this element within postmodern media as
this is used to remind the audience they are watching a film as the lights brighten, the action
slows and the romance takes place. Whilst some audiences see this as an emphasis on their
relationship the Hyper-spectator understands the link to postmodernism showing why only
some are convinced.
Postmodern media uses the futuristic aspect of being uncool to become cool; whilst some do
not understand this aspect and reject the attraction of these features, others embrace them.
For example, Lana Del Rey is a chart-topping pop star yet has the fashion and mise-en-scene
of the 50s pin-up girls. She has a continuous performance style of a slow, mellow tone with
relaxed atmosphere as though she was performing for a small room, even at the biggest
festivals such as Glastonbury which is known for its party environment. Lana Del Reys
character and performances are respected and viewed as cool despite the fact that if you
were to identify her characteristics in the present day she would not be. Its because she is so
uncool that she becomes cool; people admire her for being different and for standing outside
of structures and rules but others, are not convinced.

Charlotte Hull
Django Unchaineds unusual mix of main characters furthers this point as they are the
traditional, noble gun fighter shaping the young rookie into a lethal killing machine yet these
men are German and Black. These characters are normally labelled as uncool and would not
be expected to play these lead roles but through Levi-Strauss idea of transposition the
audience find themselves routing for the pair who together face the real problem of social
evil in the American views of slavery. Whilst some find themselves involved in the futuristic
ideas of equality and fighting for what is right as a result of the postmodern combination of
characters and bricolage of past intertexual references, i.e. the name King from the song His
name was King and Djangos freedom outfit from the blue boy painting, others are not
convinced by this idea. Some are simply focused on the story of the hero trying to rescue his
wife and so are not influenced by the idea of postmodern media which has built up an array of
other reasons why this uncool double act should survive to become cool.
Overall, some people are not convinced by the idea of postmodern media because the past
structures of defined characters and genre characteristics are not existing in a postmodern
text which is a combination of the mixture of tradition and its immediate past as suggested
by Jencks. Also, as the present world is represented in so many different ways some people
reject the postmodern idea in order to focus on one, preventing the futuristic developments of
uncool becoming cool.