Music Video case study

Only got a minute/5 minutes explanation of theorists

One Minute Word Doc

Only Got 5 Mins Word Doc

Postmodern Cinema

Film and postmodernity –

What makes films postmodern?

Postmodernist film attempts to subvert the mainstream conventions of narrative structure, characterization and destroys (or, at least, toys with) the audience's suspension of disbelief. Typically, such films also break down the cultural divide between high and low art and often upend typical portrayals of gender, race, class, genre, and time with the goal of creating something different from traditional narrative expression.

What are the conventions of postmodern film?

· 1970s onwards

· Breakdown of barriers between genres and styles

· Breakdown of distinction between binary divides

· Mixing up time, space and narrative

· Emphasis of style over substance

· Hyperreality (more mediated version of reality than reality itself)

· Intertextuality – referencing other media texts

· Parody – mocking something in an original way

· No divide between high and low culture

· Pastiche (self concious effort to imitate work of another artist or period)

· Bricolage (mixing up different genres and styles – e.g zom-com)

· Homage – imitation from a respectful standpoint

What are the landmark examples of postmodern film?

· Blade runner (1982)

· The Matrix (1999)

· Scream (1996)

· Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)

· The Truman Show (1998)

· Cabin in the Woods (2012)

· Pulp Fiction (1994)

What do audiences get out of postmodern film?

· Intertextual references – audience feel smart that they know what the text is on about (shared knowledge/private jokes)

· Reminder that films aren’t reality

· Refreshing

· Audience play a role in postmodern films

What are the criticism of postmodern film?

One of the biggest criticisms that postmodern films could gain from people has got to be the fact that they absolutely destroy any sort of meaning or narrative of a film. I know plenty of people who are have been disgusted by postmodern films in the past, mainly because they feel that they ruin an original story and don’t add anything to the world of cinema and/or its creative genius.

Genre paragraph

Genre paragraph:

“Genre is a way of categorising texts through style and form” – after having read this definition of the genre theory I believe my music video is quite unconventional as it is probably not what the audience would expect from a dance genre song. This is first seen in my music video as my media text does not follow Godwin’s belief that music videos demonstrate certain characteristics, for example in a dance genre music video the audience would typically expect to see some form of clubbing or dancing, however I have not used any of this in my video. As well as this, I decided to follow a complete narrative based style and did not include any form of performance. This is slightly more conventional to this specific genre, although sometimes the artist is seen in the video.

I believe my music video is also unconventional as the present day scenes have been edited to be black and white, and are based on how upset the protagonist is that she and her boyfriend have broken up. The song itself may seem asynchronous as it is very upbeat and happy and contrasts against the sad shots, however one Calvin Harris’ first music videos was quite dark like parts of mine, which can be seen in his video “I’m Not Alone”.