Postmodernism in music video

Media Magazine Theory Drop - Postmodernism

Create a new blog post called 'Postmodernism in music video: blog tasks'. Read ‘The Theory Drop: Postmodernism’ in MM66  (p26). You'll find our Media Magazine archive here - remember you'll need your Greenford Google login to access. Answer the following questions:

1) How does the article define postmodernism in the first page of the article?

It defines it as a cultural movement after now using the example of postmodernism is the irreverent

teenager, then modernism is the parent having the mid-life crisis.

2) What did media theorist and Semiotician Roland Barthes suggest in his essay 'The Death of the Author'?

In his essay, he challenged tradition when he said that a writer’s opinions, intentions or interpretation of their own work are no more valid than anyone else’s.

3) What is metatextuality?

When a text is able to draw the audiences attention back to the fact it is a text. This could be dialogue or words seen through a movie.

4) What is the repeated phrase on the cartoon on postmodernism on page 28?

The repeated phrase is 'Postmodernism is a cultural movement'.

5) How does postmodernism link to media representations and reality?

It links to how people start to question reality and what it means to be a ‘real’ person with media representation. How we star to see ideas of sci-fi slowly become real through these shows as something that is happening now or even in the future.

Music video CSPs and postmodernism

Now apply postmodern ideas to our music video CSPs by answering the following questions:

1) How does the music video for Ghost Town incorporate elements of postmodernism?

The music video incorporates elements of postmodernism through the hybrid mix of music video forms where it references different narratives within their journey. It uses bricolage by having a postmodern take on The Road movie for an audience who is quite familiar with it.

2) What film genres are alluded to in the music video for Ghost Town? Which scenes in particular created these links?

There are links to genres like hammer horror, social realism and crime. We can see this through the dim lit streets of London that portray a eerie feel to the city. Driving around the car with music that reinforces this.

3) How does Old Town Road use postmodern elements in its music video?

We can also see the concept of style over substance where Lil Nas X is seen to wear a more feminine outfit that reinforces the Yeehaw movement where it was a way to portray black cowboys. It is reinforced within the costumes and dance moves that reference traditional white cowboys.

4) How does the Old Town Road music video reflect technological convergence and modern digital culture?  

Through the music video their are hints towards digital culture through the common TikTok dance moves where they are seen on social platforms

5) What do YOU think Lil Nas X was trying to say about reality and American culture in the music video for Old Town Road?

I believe he was mainly trying to point out racism as a key topic within his music video especially with the cowboy theme. In past American culture they use to build on the idea of white representation ignoring the fact that black cowboys did exist. Lil Nas X may be trying to re claim past representations through modern day forms, for example the Yeehaw movement on how black cowboys are dressing and even the white picket fence street where only blacks live.