#PostmodernMedia #FilterBubble

From this Rolling Stone article on the late Roger Ailes:

What most of us are buying when we tune in to this or that channel or read this or that newspaper is a reassuring take on the changes in the world that most frighten us. We buy the version of the world that pleases us and live in little bubbles where we get to nurse resentments all day long and no one ever tells us we're wrong about anything. 

~ Taibbi, Matt - 2017.

 Sounds familiar... keep revising!

Mr. M.

HyperNormalisation and Fake News

Ex-student George Turner emailed me and suggested that we would find the programme: HyperNormalisation by Adam Curtis, both relevant and interesting. Having watched the first 30 minutes, so far, I am inclined to agree.

Please watch the programme on BBC iPlayer and make notes. It is quite long, so you might want to break it up into sections. This Wikipedia article has a good synopsis of the different chapters.

In reading about the show and watching it, it also got me thinking about Fake News and misinformation. Please read through the following articles and make notes. This will add to your understanding of hyperreality and provide you with a current and evolving case study for your essays.

• Fake News (Wikipedia)
• What is Fake News? (The Guardian)
• Wikipedia bans Daily Mail (The Guardian)

Under the Influence: Barry Jenkins on Wong Kar-Wai

It is always interesting to see how one director influences another...

In this video, Barry Jenkins discusses the influence that Wong Kar-Wai had on his work.

Here is a side by side comparison of shots from 'Moonlight' and various Wong Kar-Wai films.

Wong Kar-Wai is one of my favourite directors. Every film student must watch 'In the Mood for Love'. It is a masterpiece of cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound and editing working in unison to make a true work of art.

Both videos were found via: FilmSchoolRejects, which is a fantastic site that regularly shares interesting articles and videos about film. Consider following them on Twitter or Facebook.

'Bring on the female superheroes!' - TED Talk by Christopher Bell

As we are taking our first tentative steps into 'Postmodern Media' please listen to this passionate TED Talk by Christopher Bell, Ph.D in which he asks 'where is all the female superhero stuff?'.

Consider the questions he raises about the way in which 'the media' exacts control over public perception and how easily women are 'erased' from the narrative.

He also uses some key terms including 'media saturation' (which we began discussing yesterday - see Dominic Striate quotes in the introductory doc) and 'public pedagogy' which we will be discussing regularly throughout the course.

A2 Revision: Intertextuality

Another nicely timed video that is useful for revision. In this case, The NerdWriter discusses 'intertextuality' and there are some great examples in the video. Watch, make notes and enjoy.

There are more great film and media related videos on his Tumblr; go check 'em out!

Everything is a Remix: The Force Awakens

This is a fab caveat to your Ferguson/Matrix/Blade Runner case study, brining it bang up to date. Check out his original post for more info and links.

This post by Austin Kleon also posits some useful thoughts and additional links/resources (scroll down!).

A2: 'Star Wars Is A Postmodern Masterpiece'

Detailed article by Forrest Wickman, exploring the postmodern make-up of Star Wars.

It will further your understanding of pastiche and bricolage. If you know the original trilogy well it could also serve as an additional case study.

'May the force be with you, always.' ;-)

Everything is a Remix - Remastered (2015)

Kirby Ferguson has remastered his seminal series 'Everything is a Remix' as one single video. This continues to be the starting point for our study into Postmodern Media.

Please watch and make detailed notes. We will begin our study of Postmodern Media on Thursday 1st October.

'From 'Clueless' To 'Fancy' - Pop Music Videos Inspired By TV & Film'

The relationship between film and music videos has a long history, not least due to the fact that many film directors started their careers making music videos.

The influence works both ways though and ex-media student Jess Mockler shared the following link to a post about music videos that have been inspired by films: http://www.capitalfm.com/photos/music-videos-inspired-by-film/

Click through and take a look. This is a good intro into one of the many facets of postmodern media - remember 'everything is a remix'!

Virtual Reality - The Next Big Thing?

This Fast Co.Design article, following Facebook's acquisition of Oculus VR, asks whether virtual reality could be the next big thing?

With reference to classic Sci-Fi texts including The Lawnmower Man and The Matrix, the article considers the potential convergence of wearable technologies, social media and virtual reality.

#CyberPunk #FTW!

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Postmodernism: Design in a Nutshell

Found this a bit too late for the class of 2013 but adding it here for use with the class of 2014.

Postmodernism in a nut shell, part of a series of short videos made by the Open University. This one on Modernism is useful too. 

[A2] The End is Nigh!

So the journey is almost over. Here be some links, videos and tidbits of advice as you finish preparing yourself for your 'critical perspectives' exam...

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Where to begin? This video gives a clear overview of the exam structure, in particular what you need to focus on in Q1a and Q1b:

1a (Looking inwardly)

• The chief examiner on responding to Q1a.
• Here I am responding to Q1a - def. worth a read!

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1b (Applying theory)

• The chief examiner on responding to Q1b.
• Example response to 1a and 1b.
• Revising key theoretical concepts.
• The chief examiner on doing exam answers.

And in response to Josh's tweet, if Media Language comes up focus on that theory: semiotics, mediation, camera, editing, sound, mise-en-scene. Do not get tripped up and discuss post-structuralism or postmodernism. Focus on how you used your knowledge of media language to 'mediate' and 'construct' your media text.

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#POMO or WTF!?

Don't forget that *postmodernism* is a cultural concept and *postmodern media* refers specifically to media texts.

To offer a full, detailed, conceptual response you must show how other areas of theory are directly connected to postmodern media, including: 'structuralism', 'post-structuralism', 'genre theory' and 'audience theories'.

And it is also an era, and a response...

Baudrillard (as if you need this!?)

And the best answers will make cogent links between historical examples like 'The Matrix' and present/future examples like 'Digital Identity'.

Finally, the chief examiner on answering the #POMO question.

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Well done to those of you who emailed me essays or essay plans. Remember, I am here and here, if you need me. And good luck!

[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.

Did you know 4.0

A2 Easter Homework

Respond to the following #pomo question

• Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial

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Delve into the resources related to Q1a and Q1b.

Work on your evaluation.

You know where I am if you need me! :-)

AS/A2 Snow Day Work!

School is closed on Monday 21st January.

Please work on the following tasks...

Year 12

1. Continue working on your research/prep for your Magazine Industry presentations.

2. Take the opportunity to update your coursework blog.

Year 13

1. Read this article about the Coen Brothers: Coughlin, P., 2003, Joel and Ethan Coen, Senses of Cinema, Issue 26: http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/coens/

2. Take the opportunity to update your coursework blog.

A2: Reminder (Slides and Search)

Just a brief reminder, that all of the slides used during lessons are available online. They include key quotations, concepts and on slide 14 a list of the case studies we have covered and will be covering during the module.

Also, don't forget you can search the blog to find all content related to the unit. Try searching: postmodern or postmodernism.

Media and expression: theses in tweetform

An interesting list from Nicholas Carr. One or two should definitely resonate... how many do you agree/disagree with?

1. The complexity of the medium is inversely proportional to the eloquence of the message.
2. Hypertext is a more conservative medium than text.
3. The simpler the medium, the greater the experimentation it inspires.
4. Twitter is a more ruminative medium than Facebook.
5. The introduction of digital tools has never improved the quality of an art form.
6. The returns on interactivity quickly turn negative.
7. In the material world, doing is knowing; in media, the opposite is often true.
8. Facebook’s profitability is directly tied to the shallowness of its members: hence its strategy.
9. Increasing the intelligence of a network tends to decrease the intelligence of those connected to it.
10. The one new art form produced by the computer – the videogame – is the computer’s prisoner.
11. Personal correspondence grows less interesting as the speed of its delivery quickens.
12. Programmers are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.
13. The album cover turned out to be indispensable to popular music.
14. The pursuit of followers on Twitter is an occupation of the bourgeoisie.
15. Abundance of information breeds delusions of knowledge among the unwary.
16. No great work of literature could have been written in hypertext.
17. Recent history proves that the philistine is ideally suited to the role of cultural impresario online.
18. Television became more interesting when people started paying for it.
19. Instagram shows us what a world without art looks like.
20. Online conversation is to oral conversation as a mask is to a face.

Take a look through the 'Keyhole'...

Guy Maddin's latest film, 'Keyhole', looks as avant-garde as ever... in Cinema's from 14th September.