An Introduction to Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a complex reaction to paradigm of high modernism, that explored ideas of cultural unity and artistic divide, specifically between high and low forms of art. Postmodernism seeks to break this divide, re-evaluating culture entirely, as well as concepts like ‘subjectivity, meaning, gender, power, discourse, pleasure and language’; in a post-capitalist world, where the dominant economic force is not manufacturing but consumerism, the line between official and popular culture is blurred, as we gain our understanding of the world through media. The postmodernist desires contradiction, fragmentation, and instability in a world no longer moved by war or revolution, and implements this through pastiche: the fusion of different times, periods, and styles of art.

Film Movement Research

Relevance to Comparative Essay

Postmodernism seems an interesting lens through which to approach the comparative piece. I find the concepts of high and low art interesting, as I feel I myself used to categorise things in such a manner, and would be intrigued to explore how blending forms of art could lead to new innovations and interpretations. Additionally, the original Blade Runner is one of my favourite films, and its diegesis and mise-en-scene are fascinating due to its unique fusion of Eastern and Western, as well as science fiction and neo-noir, influences. I imagine I would separate the films through time, analysing a modernist piece, and then study how the postmodern piece strives to ascend beyond it.