Music Video: Postmodernism in music video

POSTMODERNISM IN MUSIC VIDEO

Media Magazine Theory Drop - Postmodernism

 Read ‘The Theory Drop: Postmodernism’ in MM66  (p26).  Answer the following questions:

1) How does the article define postmodernism in the first page of the article?

The article defines postmodernism as a cultural movement that questions and mocks traditional authority, structures and ideas. It also says that postmodernism distrusts all established philosophies and frequently experiments with the medium it is presented in.

2) What did media theorist and Semiotician Roland Barthes suggest in his essay 'The Death of the Author'?

In the Death of the Author, Roland Barthes suggested that the meaning of a text should not b controlled by the author alone. Readers can create their own interpretations , and the author's intentions are more important than anyone elses.

3) What is metatextuality?

Metatextuality is where a text draws attention to the fact that it is a text. It points to the process of its own creation.

4) What is the repeated phrase on the cartoon on postmodernism on page 28?

"postmodernism is a cultural movement that distrusts all established philosophies and frequently experiments with the medium it is presented in"

5) How does postmodernism link to media representations and reality?

Postmodernism links to media representations and reality because it questions whether media shows the truth or simply a version of reality created for audiences. The article explains that in postmodern media, the line between what is real and what is fictional often becomes blurred. Audiences are made aware that media texts are constructed  and edited rather than completely natural or truthful. This can happen through metatextuality , parody, exaggeration or mixing different genres and styles together. Postmodern texts often encourage audiences to question dominant ideas and representations shown in the media instead of accepting them as reality.

Music video CSPs and postmodernism
Now apply postmodern ideas to our music video CSPs by answering the following questions:

1) How does the music video for Ghost Town incorporate elements of postmodernism?

2) What film genres are alluded to in the music video for Ghost Town? Which scenes in particular created these links?

3) How does Old Town Road use postmodern elements in its music video?

4) How does the Old Town Road music video reflect technological convergence and modern digital culture?  

5) What do YOU think Lil Nas X was trying to say about reality and American culture in the music video for Old Town Road?

A/A* extension reading: Medium article

Read this Medium article on the Postmodern Pop Artist. Do any of the ideas in this article apply to Old Town Road or Ghost Town? How? 

Old Town Road relates because it mixes rap and country together, breaking normal music genre rules. It also uses sampling and became popular through TikTok and meme culture, which links to the article’s idea that pop music is part of postmodern daily life. The song also challenges stereotypes around race in country music. Ghost Town also links to the article because it uses music to comment on real social and political issues like unemployment and riots in 1980s Britain. The Specials also mix different genres like ska, reggae and punk, which reflects postmodernism’s rejection of traditional structures and categories.