Music Video: Postmodernism in music video

Postmodernism in music video: Blog tasks

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?

The article defines postmodernism as a cultural movement that questions authority, traditional structures and accepted truths, explaining that postmodernism “distrusts all established philosophies and frequently experiments with the medium it is presented in".

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

Barthes suggests that a writer’s opinions, intentions or interpretation of their own work are no more valid than anyone else’s interpretation and that readers are free and should even be encouraged to interpret a text however they choose.

3) What is metatextuality?

Metatextuality is inter-textual discourse that draws attention to the fact that it is a text and points to the process of its own creation to comment on itself or other forms of media.

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

The repeated phrase is "Postmodernism is a cultural movement that distrusts all established philosophies and frequently experiments with the medium it is presented in".

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

Postmodernism links to media representations and reality by arguing that media only gives audiences a partial, mediated version of reality and as audiences become more aware of this, they begin to question reality and what is presented to them.

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 postmodernism through the use of a stylised representation of Britain, identified through low-key lighting and cinematography, eerie urban settings and surreal editing in order to create a sense of social collapse through a convoluted bold narrative, reflecting a rejection of traditional structures also making audiences question whether they are viewing a piece of exaggerated fiction or someones reality.

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

Ghost Town links to German Expressionism and film noir through dark lighting and surreal scenes of the band driving through deserted streets that represent a collapse and inherent deterioration of a corrupt society.

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

Old Town Road utilises postmodern elements by mixing tenets of multiple genres, western and hip hop, combining settings, language, fashion and music to reflect the hybridity of the modern yee haw agenda, a key feature of postmodernism.

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

Old Town Road reflects technological convergence and modern digital culture as the song gained traction and rapid support through TikTok and internet memes as the music video includes modern  humour, references and remixs online culture, showing in how the music and social media industries are now deeply intertwined and work together in a modern era.

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 Lil Nas X was trying to show that American culture is based off exploitation of Black culture and talent through stereotypes and the erasure of identity, he challenges traditional ideas about who belongs in western and pop culture, carving out a space for his individual and unique intersectional identity.