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.