This is a presentation i've done based on postmodern theory and the media. It includes elements which are postmodern and examples of different genres. I've also analysed some film trailers and a timeline.

1. Postmodern Theory and The
Media
By Erika White

2. Postmodernism
 Postmodernism is a theory that allows producers to challenge
conventions forms and ideology. This applies to literature, art,
philosophy, architecture, fiction, and cultural and literary criticism,
among many others.
 “A late 20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and
criticism, which represents a departure from modernism and is
characterized by the self-conscious use of earlier styles and
conventions, a mixing of different artistic styles and media, and a
general distrust of theories.” Oxford Dictionary
 Elements that identify postmodernism in media texts include; meta
narrative, hyper reality and intertextuality. These elements are seen
in postmodern films which is known to challenge the mainstream
conventions of narrative structures and characterization.

3. Postmodern elements
 Meta narrative challenges the main ideologies in society it questions
whether modern progress is for the ‘good’ of society. Meta meaning
‘beyond’ or ‘about’ and a narrative is a story.
 Hyperreality is described in relation to where technology creates realities
which are original or more desirable then the real world. It’s to make
audiences aware of alternative realities that challenge our ideas.
 Most postmodern films are hybrids, which means they use a mixture of
genres.
 Intertextuality (or pastiche) offers updated ideas from old ones. It exists
because any kinds of media can use it, its not just in film. Posters, adverts
etc. all get their ideas from somewhere or use previous ideas as a guideline.
“I steal from every movie ever made” – Quentin Tarantino

4. Examples of postmodernism in the
media

5. Postmodern Director
 Quentin Tarantino makes a lot of postmodern films like Kill Bill, Django
Unchained and Pulp Fiction. He relates to many other films and uses
elements of pastiche, Hyperreality and meta-narrative. For example, in
the trailer for Kill Bill 2
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBenCY-gRgw
 He uses non-linear plots, old cinematic techniques, and builds
characters from a cultural stand point, all these qualities are of a post-modern
filmmaker.
Anime scene in Kill Bill Costume inspiration for
Django Unchained

6. Genre and Postmodern Theory
 Genre is a French word that means ‘type’ or ‘kind’. It refers to the method based on
similarities in the narrative elements from which films are constructed. This allows
producers to meet and challenge the audiences’ expectations.
 The genre theory- It was originally used by the ancient Greeks in theatre, it established
a certain ‘quality control’ over types of play, where deviation was discouraged. This is
a more rigid genre definition whereas you can get more flexible definitions.
 Genres are conventional meaning they follow a structure, e.g. thrillers. The audience
know what type of characters will be in the film and the basic structure of the
narrative. However, postmodern films have a different approach and challenge the
narrative.
 For example, Nick Lacey believes that genre is ‘negotiated’ between producers and
audiences. This has meant that genre has evolved by establishing more ‘sub genres’
and ‘hybrids’.
 Postmodern theory allows producers to challenge genre conventions in a text by
mixing or using a range of generic conventions or Hybrid genres.

7. Dystopia Genre
 Dystopia definition- A futuristic, imagined universe in which everything is
bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.
 Themes of dystopian genre include a narrative set in the aftermath of a
disaster usually caused by humans, e.g. nuclear holocaust, war, plague. The
narrative also relates to societal fears like cold war, technology, medical
advances, environmental change, economic crash etc.
 Dystopia explores Postmodern themes through the challenging narrative
themes; offering a hyperrealism of an uneasy futuristic nightmare and using
pastiche to offer hybrid genres.
 These types of films sometimes include sub genres like science fiction, post-
Apocalyptic and horror.
 In dystopian films the character types are usually a heroic male protagonist
or a ‘pot-modern cowboy’ (a loner pushed into action), groups/tribes who
are animal-like, human survivor group and the helper.

8.  Crime definition- the literary genre that fictionalises crimes, their detection,
criminals and their motives. This genre tends to be fast paced with an air of
mystery.
 Themes of crime films usually involve the solving of a crime, usually a mystery of
murder. It will often revolve around the criminal himself, chronicling his rise and
fall. Some Crime films will have a storyline that follows the criminal's victim, yet
others follow the person in pursuit of the criminal.
 There are many sub genres included within crime films, some examples are; post-noir,
mafia, police/detective, femme fatales, heist etc.
 Examples of crime films includes Silence of the Lambs, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp
Fiction.
Crime Genre

9. Crime Postmodern Film
 I’ve chosen to analyse Kill Bill Vol.1 trailer as it includes many postmodern
elements.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot6C1ZKyiME
 Kill Bill (2003) is about as close to a cinematic cultural appreciation as a film can
get. This film has a fragmented narrative structure meaning that it has a
beginning, middle and end but not necessarily in that order and that’s exactly
what Tarantino does.
 The characters in the trailer involve an anti-hero and antagonist which is
common for a crime film.
 Tarantino uses a logo used by the Shaw Brothers in 1970’s, this fits well into his
Hong Kong/Japanese theme. His other main inspiration for making Kill Bill was
Lady Snowblood which is a Japanese film made in 1973.
Scene from Lady
Snowblood compared to
scene from Kill Bill

10. Kill Bill Vol.1 Trailer
These are the antagonists in the trailer, you
can tell because they’re wearing black
costumes; this is stereotypical of any film.
This shot in the trailer
shows hyper reality which
tells the audience that this
is a postmodern film.
Uma Thurman plays the main
character, the audience know this
because throughout the trailer the
camera focuses of her. In this shot
she’s facing directly at the camera.
This shows postmodernism because
she’s breaking the 4thwall.
In this trailer the main character is
dressed in a brightly coloured, all in
one suit. Tarantino copied this from
Bruce Lee’s film. This is called
bricolage, when a costume or prop is
copied from a previous film.

11. British Crime Film (The Italian Job,
2003) Trailer
This is at the beginning of the
trailer, it sets the scene and is
stereotypical of Venice. It links
perfectly with the title of the
film; The Italian Job.
This editing technique looks as
the camera is from the point of
view of a gun. It also suggests
to the audience that this
character is the antagonist.
This is pastiche as it’s copying from
the original Italian Job film. It also
shows that this is a British crime
film because of the iconic Mini and
hectic car chase.
There’s a shot of gold and
money in the trailer which
shows a theme of
corruption.

12. Crime Timeline
The Godfather, 1990
Theme includes American
Gangsters/mafia
Genre: Crime and Drama
Memento, 2000
Theme incudes more
mystery and modern
crime
Genre: Mystery, Crime
and Thriller
The Shawshank
Redemption, 1994
Theme includes
imprisonment and murder
Genre: Crime and Drama
Gangs of New York, 2002
Theme includes corruption and
revenge
Genre: Crime, Drama and
History
As time goes on Crime films
becomes a broader genre and
expand to many other sub
genres
Kill Bill, 2003
Theme includes revenge,
postmodernism and
violence
Genre: Action and Crime
American Gangster, 2007
Theme includes gangsters, mafia
and corruption
Genre: Crime, Biography and
Drama
Sin City, 2005
Theme includes
corruption and dark
tones
Genre: Crime and Thriller

13. Crime Timeline Analysis
 By looking back on the crime timeline, you can see the varied sub genres
that occur over time. From the beginning it’s clear to see that in the 1990’s
crime films were very much focused on gangsters and mafias. This shows
how society was seen in those times. However, as it gets into the 21st
century, crime films become more creative in their narrative and begin to
include different sub genres. For example, in Memento (2000) it includes
elements of mystery and even thriller. Most storylines of modern day crime
films don’t revolve around the old crime dramas. It’s based more on
overblown violence and weapons.
 The characters in crime films have changed over the years. At the beginning
of crime films it involved the ‘tough guys’ (i.e. gangsters), then it began to
change to the private eye. So detectives or the police force. But now in
modern crime films the narrative is emphasised around the good guys
winning and crime solving.