Postmodernism and The Media

YouTube - The Future of TV?

David Gauntlett argues that:

Web 1.0 - The Media where like Gods distributing content to the people.
Web 2.0 - Users produce content and distribute it on social networks to other users to view.

Baudrillard's, Strinati's and McDougall's ideas of postmodernism fit into the idea of Web 1.0. The "Media is Reality" (McDougall), Media Saturated Society (Strinati) and "Hyperreality"(Baudrillard). But Web 2.0 is a push back against this idea of the media's control; individuals create content and thereby reclaim the meaning. YouTube fits firmly in the Web 2.0 category.

This BBC documentary by "The Culture Show" explores the idea of users generating content, the audience and the future of YouTube.

 Click here to watch YouTube - The Future of TV?

[A2] Postmodernism - A Brief Review

A clear and succinct overview of the 'theory' of post modernism (and postmodern media) including key ideas, Lyotard, Baudrillard and remixing (via. Hollyfield Media)

Visit Hollyfield Media's YouTube page to find more videos on media theories, including semiotics, structuralism and Marxism.

From Structuralism to Postmodernism

As promised here is your homework... it is in many parts...

First, I want to discuss audience theory in more detail next week. Please read through and make notes on the audience theories covered in the 'Audience' presentation in this post: http://chalfontmediablog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/a2-series-of-student-made-presentations.html

Then read the section on audience in the document, embedded in this post: http://chalfontmediablog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/a2-more-media-theory-courtesy-latymer.html

Second, read through this quotation from Jameson again, and respond to the questions that follow:

"Jameson characterizes postmodern society with four elements: (1) superficiality and lack of depth; (2) the waning of emotion or affect; (3) a loss of historicity; and (4) new technologies. A consequence of this is that people are unable to make sense of an increasingly complex society."

• What are the implications of this?

• How does this support/develop the arguments and ideas that we have encountered with Strinati and Baudrillard?

Third, consider the following statements. Do they accurately reflect the ideas we encountered within each paradigm?

• Structuralism: The 'Media' has the power to control

• Post-structuralism: The 'Media' does not have control

• Postmodernism: The 'Media' is control

A2: Assignment No 2

The Matrix is real but it is not a product of mainstream media. It is self-made, constructed by the public, and proliferated by social networks. We are (knowingly) constructing personalised prisons for our minds; our realities essentially giant filter bubbles, made up of ideologies we accept. We are turning ourselves into thoughtless, marketing machines, exploited by the highest bidder.

To what extent do you agree with the sentiments above?

Make explicit reference to:

• The Matrix
• Baudrillard's theory of hyperreality
• Strinati's theories about media saturation and superficiality
• The ideas you encountered in the Boyd, Turkle, Handel, Rosen, Boder, Sunstein, and Keegan articles, including digital identity and the public sphere
• The ideas put across in Eli Pariser's TED talk
• Twitter discussion about friendship, digital self and instant gratification
• Video's about digital identity and digital self
• Notes from lessons and other discussions
• Any other research/reading that you have completed

A2: The Matrix, Social Networks & Self-made Prisons

The Matrix is real but it's not a product of mainstream media. It's self-made, constructed by the public, proliferated by social networks. We are (knowingly) constructing personalised prisons for our minds; our realities essentially giant filter bubbles, made up of ideologies we accept. We are turning ourselves into thoughtless, marketing machines, exploited by the highest bidder.

Sounds scary doesn't it!? However, the more you think about it, the more 'real' it becomes...

During the first week back I want to make a more congruous link between the work we did on 'digital self' and Baudrillard's theories of "hyperreality" explored in 'The Matrix'. 

We'll be looking at, analysing, evlauating and debating the following material. If you've got your essay out of the way, then you may want to get a head start...

Sherry Turkle: Aspect of The Self

Danah Boyd: Incantations for Muggles: The Role of Ubiquitous Web 2.0 Technologies in Everyday Life

Steven Handel: The Dark Sides of Our Digital Self

Christine Rosen: Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism

Pieter Boder: Habermas' heritage: The future of the public sphere in the network society

Cass Sunstein: The Daily We - Is the Internet really a blessing for democracy?

Helen Keegan: The Paradox of Openness: The High Costs of Giving Online

---

Thanks go to Catherine Cronin for sharing the material for her 'Social Media Classroom' online.

Some useful videos...

Still got questions about what you have to do in the exam? Then, watch this...

Modernism / Postmodernism explained...

Baudrillard...

And just because...

A2: 2011 UK Riots: A Hyperreal Event?

Christmas Homework: Part 1:

Based on your understanding of Baudrillard's theory of Hyperreality, complete the following essay. You must refer to the David Buckingham article: "There's a riot going on" featured in Media Magazine - December 2011. However, you may also wish to refer to the 9/11 and Saddam Statue examples as well as 'The Matrix' and 'Blade Runner' to support your arguments.

"The 2011 UK Riots can only be understood as a hyperreal event." To what extent do you agree with this statement?

The word count is 800. Please read over your targets from your previous assessment before completing this one.

Christmas Homework: Part 2:

Complete the following research (you might want to do this before you write the essay):

• What is the 'effects model'?
• What is the agenda setting model'?
• What is the 'uses and gratifications' theory?
• What is 'selective exposure'?
• What is 'selective perception'?

Bonus Material: Here are David Buckingham' slides that accompanied a presentation he gave at the Media Magazine conference. They make a useful accompaniment to the article.

Baudrillard In Practice

Below are several videos, which are useful in illustrating Baudrillard's argument about the hyperreality in which we reside. The first 3 video's are parts 1, 2 and 3 of the real time news reporting from the BBC as the September 11 attacks occurred. Remember even this does not represent reality or truth. The mediation and 'framing' of the story as it happens, alters the viewers perception and understanding of events.

 

There are another nine parts to this footage as BBC World News continued to report on events throughout the day. It is also worth considering the effect of this "live" coverage and how much of it is recycled, as well as the conjecture presented on the part of the BBC and the reporters.

The fourth video is the BBC News at 10PM. Watch to see how a dramatic and ling winded event is compressed to fit the needs of the evening news audience. Also, consider how certain aspects of the reporting have changed, including the speculation about who is behind the attacks, etc.

 

Critical Perspectives: Postmodern Media

Follow the link below to access an electronic version of 'Postmodernism and the Media: An Introduction' document you were given today.

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1rS88GITwxzmRjwg0wpqRqyI4PfrM_ltVDRfSShH6fyI


You will be able to access all of the links to videos, articles and key documents.

Regards,
Mr. M.

A2: Postmodernism

As you continue to develop your understanding of critical theory you should probably check this site out to revise the work we did on Postmodernsim back when you started the course. 

http://nmc.loyola.edu/intro/postmod/default.htm

If you want to go the extra mile, find the suggested reading material at the bottom of the page to develop a fuller understanding.