Jean Baudrillard

Jean Baudrillard’s Theory of Postmodernism

Postmodernism: The idea of postmodern culture, where there are boundaries between the real world and the world which the media have influenced and changed. These two things make it difficult to distinguish what is real and what has been simulated. The media portray images and text in a way that makes them look real – texts can be altered and interpreted differently to represent a hyper reality. Therefore, making the text unrecognisable from the original after it has been recreated. Immediately, the effect of this can be that viewers expect unrealistic things because information is false or exaggerated.

Stranger Things

-       - The long form television drama ‘Stranger Things’ can apply Baudrillard’s theory of postmodernism through references to a well-known board game called dungeons and dragons. The director uses this product to present the 80s time period the LFTV drama was set in, which conforms to the hyperreality theme highlighted.

-       - Hyperreality is demonstrated when Stranger things use significant effects that give the theme of supernatural – when they present the characters, such as Eleven and eerie scenes like lightbulbs switching. ­

     - Stranger things can present hyperreality, this is because the TV drama’s representations are based on other media representations and stereotypes from the 80s time period. For example, how Stranger Things represent an American town during this time period, based on media texts that have been created – with images of what houses looked like, including the internal decoration. However, the main location that the LFTV drama was filmed in is fictional (of Hawkins).

Deutschland 83

-       - Deutschland 83 uses a real-life event known to German culture, being the cold war, which gives the sense of reality. However, the long form television drama uses actors representing characters to show what people in Germany were going through during the 1980s – making it seem real, with the references to history that were real. For instance, the costumes, hair, music and attitudes of people. It is hyperreality for the reason that the box set isn’t completely factual – it puts the viewer in their position, what it felt like and what could have happened during this time period.

News

-       - The postmodernism theory can be applied to newspapers with the content and how they represent it. For instance, illustrations of celebrities and the luxurious and glamorous lifestyle they live. This can be exaggerated to make readers look-up to them and why they became famous. When in actual fact it has been exaggerated. Therefore, creating hyperreality. A newspaper known for exaggerating through large, bold title and limited text explaining the article is The Sun, because their target audience is aimed at a less-educated audience. They know that this type of content will attract them.

-       - Appearances can be altered to fit what the media is trying to portray – therefore differences between real and hyperreality are demonstrated in newspapers. 

-    - Newspapers often warp reality by consistently reinforcing previews views through the media. For instance, presenting men as the ‘stronger gender’, objectifying women, or a specific religious group being labelled a ‘bad person’ for their belief – none of which is real, but views have been stated and portrayed within the media.