Explain how certain types of media can be defined as

postmodern.

Postmodernism is the reaction to modernism, an action interested with the past,

the present and the future all at the same time- whilst challenging traditional
genre boundaries. Certain types of media such as film and music can be defined
as postmodern due to the challenging of genre boundaries, the bricolage,
pastiche, parody or homage elements and also due to the intertextual references
within them. Deadpool, produced by Marvel Entertainment, is considered a
deeply postmodern film due to the crude humour, the lack of morality and the
rejection of grand narratives. Similarly; The Weeknd whom rose to fame in 2010
is an extremely postmodern artist due to his racy lyrics, his intertextual
references, the mixing up of genres and the attitude his persona indulges upon
his fans. This therefore highlights that both film and music can be defined as
postmodern for an array of reasons.
Deadpool is considered a postmodern film as elements of postmodernism are
used within the actual storyline of the film. Ryan Reynolds plays the character of
Deadpool, who acts as the (anti)heroic figure after he gains superhero powers-
whilst getting his aesthetics destroyed in the process. Although Deadpool
features many elements of the anti-hero, his main principle is, a heroic act- as
his aim is to save the girl, just as stereotypical superhero films do. Deadpool
features many elements of postmodernism because of the continuous fourthwall
breaks, the levels of gore and violence and the gross humour, which is not
typically explored within a superhero, nor a superhero film. George Ritzer
believed that postmodernism refers to the mixing up of time and space and the
blur between representation and reality, a convention heavily incorporated
within this film through flashbacks and fourth-wall breaks. Not only this; the
flashbacks used throughout the film highlight it as a postmodern text as Anne
Friedberg argued that postmodernism mixes up time and space. Deadpool
portrays this through the flashbacks used throughout the film which gives the
distortion of time, demonstrating further that it is a postmodern text. Deadpool
heavily incorporates these elements within the film; highlighting that films can
be considered as postmodern.
The weeknd is a postmodern artist due to his large array of songs, albums,
videos and genres. The Weeknd mixes genres of pop, house music, alternative
and hip hop; whilst still incorporating his main genre of alternative R&B. The
Weeknds music is a demonstration of his postmodernism; but he is also a
simulacrum. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, is a
Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. In late 2010, Tesfaye
anonymously uploaded several songs to YouTube under the name "The Weeknd".
The persona used by The Weeknd is carefree, he has women, drugs and money
all at his disposal. The star image (Goodwins theory) of his character was built
from the anonymous posts to YouTube; creating a mystery about his character
which he has developed further within his persona through the rejections of
interviews. The Weeknd is also self-reflexive as the persona he has built for his
character works due to his own self-consciousness, but also due to his knowledge
of what succeeds within the music industry which may make him, as Cohen
would argue, a hyper-spectator within his own career. Moreover; the music

Angel Dewing-Hall
videos, the lyrics and the songs released by The Weeknd highlights how
postmodern he is as an artist as his racy lyrics, his promiscuous videos and the
mixing up of genres demonstrate that The Weeknd is, a postmodern artist.
Not only this; Deadpool is postmodern due to the vast levels of intertextual
references within the film. The film makes multiple references to other
characters within Marvel, particularly X-men. Ryan Reynolds refers to himself and
his silky smooth acting skills, whilst still in role as the character of Deadpool.
Deadpool also refers to the juxtaposition between David Beckhams
attractiveness and his unappealing voice and he also makes rude jokes about
Wolverine and Rosie ODonell. Cohen would argue that this attracts a larger
audience as a hyper-spectator would recognise these intertextual references as
they would have a broad knowledge of the film industry and in particular, the
superhero genre. This would therefore humour a hyper-spectator as the
intertextual references would be clear. The extensive amount of intertextual
references within the film demonstrate how postmodern Deadpool is.
Similarly; The Weeknd has intertextual references throughout many of his songs.
Particularly; his new song Party Monster. It is inferred that he is referring to
Angelina Jolie and Selena Gomez- Angelina, lips like Angelina, Like Selena, ass
shaped like Selena and with his new relationship with celebrity Selena Gomez,
this reference appears highly likely. Kramers theory would suggest that The
references to artists and other celebrities within a similar age range/ music style
appeals to a larger audience and also attracts a hyper-spectator as their
advanced knowledge within genre would attract them to the references that are,
in fact, mainly aimed at them. Not only this; intertextuality appears throughout
his work due to the influence Michael Jackson has had upon his career- Jackson,
being one of The Weeknds biggest influences, both vocally and performance
wise, is apparent with his high range vocal styling and certain dance moves,
specifically in the music video for I Cant Feel My Face. Similarly; the influence
Michael Jackson has had With the likes of songs such as Dirty Diana and his
iconic dance moves upon The Weeknds work highlights an attraction from a
larger audience as the unique artist that was Michael Jackson, is being honoured
through the work of The Weeknd whom is said to incorporate both the old and
the new- once again demonstrating Cohens hyper-spectator elements. The
intertextual references within The Weeknds work demonstrates that music can
also be regarded as postmodern.
Deadpool is also considered a postmodern film due to the elements of bricolage
within it. It features elements of bricolage addition with the extra genres
incorporated within a superhero film- elements of comedy, violence and romance
have all been added. It also includes elements of gross humour and crude
language and fourthwall breaks which are all uncommon within traditional
superhero films. Not only this; he is self-reflexive as he refers to himself which is
another example of addition within the film. He also uses elements of bricolage
deletion as he removes the heroic aspects of a traditional superhero film as he is
more of an antihero, he doesnt have a grand, modern house like the Marvel
superhero bases nor does he have the stereotypical good looks of a superhero.
He substitutes a superhero base for a flat he shares with a blind lady; he uses
taxis instead of futuristic aircraft. Also, he substitutes the original audience of a
superhero film (children), with an adult audience because of the humour used
within the film. Cohens idea of a hyper-spectator is further demonstrated here

Angel Dewing-Hall
as viewers who are well-informed upon the genre would notice the different
elements added, or the elements subtracted from a stereotypical superhero film
and would be able to see the contradictions Deadpool explores in regards to
traditional superhero films. Lastly; Deadpool uses elements of bricolage through
transposition. Deadpool links to the Greek myth of Orpheus who goes to the
underworld to get his wife back from the devil, on the journey he experiences
hellish things in order to save her. Much like Orpheus; Deadpool goes through
extremely traumatic experiences, firstly to gain a longer life together, and
secondly, to save her from the villain who ruined his life. The vast use of
bricolage within Deadpool therefore makes it an extremely postmodern film.
The Weeknd also uses bricolage in regards to the use of genres within his
albums. The Weeknd uses bricolage substitution as he substitutes his main genre
of alternative R&B. for pop, house music or alternative music. The mixing up of
genres demonstrates postmodernism as he doesnt fit traditional genre
boundaries. Also; The Weeknd uses bricolage in regards to his star image. His
hair is his trade mark and so bricolage addition is used as he adds this to his
music; allowing the audience to consume his image as well as his songs, making
his look unique and his image instantly recognisable. Bricolage deletion is used
as The Weeknds persona gives him a carefree attitude which appears without
boundaries. His references to drugs, sex and alcohol is rare within mainstream
music and his graphic descriptions within his music demonstrate that he does
not have any boundaries- making him extremely postmodern and thus;
highlighting that music can be considered as a postmodern text.
Moreover; Deadpool is postmodern due to the use of parodies. Deadpool makes
humour out of superheroes, asking for his superhero suit to not be green which
acts as a clear reference to the Green Lantern. He jokes about superhero
landings and how his allies want him to join them and become the X-men. Also;
he makes a parody out of villains and the stereotype of British villains and it
could also be argued that he humours love and romance due to the arguments
he has with his girlfriend about who has the more messed up life. Deadpool also
uses elements of pastiche as at the beginning of the film he has the superhero
good looks and the stereotype of the Damsel in distress who is in need of being
saved. Deadpool is also postmodern because of the use of homage. At the end of
the film, after the credential sequence, the scene features Deadpool in an
extremely similar way to the end credits of Ferris Buellers Day Off. This therefore
highlights that Deadpool features many aspects of postmodernism, thus;
showing that film can be regarded as postmodern.
Similarly; The Weekend uses homage and pastiche within many of his songs. He
has said that his high flying vocal styling was inspired by singers like Aster
Aweke, whom he claimed to be one of his biggest inspirations and therefore his
songs and his vocal technique is a pastiche to her own music. Also; The Weeknd
has said that Michael Jackson was another of his biggest inspirations and the
lyrics for Dirty Dianna a song he covered on his original trilogy album was what
inspired him to be a singer. Jackson also uses a high pitch vocal range and so
between The Weeknd learning how to song write from Michael Jackson; he also
was inspired by the way he sang which could act as a pastiche to his music. The
Weeknd is also postmodern because of his use of homage. Specifically, in the
video for I Cant Feel My Face, The Weeknd uses dance moves that are
extremely similar to Michael Jacksons trade mark dance moves. This therefore

Angel Dewing-Hall
demonstrates that The Weeknd features many aspects of postmodernism within
his work-highlighting further that music can be viewed as postmodern.
Jacques Derrida viewed Deadpool as a film without meaning of intention,
Deadpool doesnt believe in religion or God/s and he doesnt believe in morality.
Deadpools life appears to be without meaning or purpose, there is no fixed point
of reference or end, but instead; randomness and meaninglessness. Derrida
believes that the films story is one of whatever the reader would prefer. He is
characterised more than anti-belief, but as non-belief, that is withholding or
suspending religious or moral beliefs. Although Derrida used these elements in a
way to criticise Deadpool, it also demonstrates how postmodern it is, due to the
irreligiousness and the lack of morality that the film displays- aspects used as
criticism; however, they are the rejected grand narratives that make a film
postmodern.
Jacques Derrida also had an opinion within postmodern music and believed that
a text is made up with several genres. The Weeknd highlights this idea with the
use of multiple genres within an album and more specifically; within a single
song. Fiske supported this idea and believed that we make sense of it by turning
it into another text. This further demonstrates The Weeknd as postmodern as
none of his songs sound the same nor fit the same genre. For example; The
Weeknds latest hit, Starboy, is extremely different from the likes of Angel or
Tell Your Friends, or Acquainted which all appear within different albums. The
controversial genres demonstrate The Weeknds influence within postmodern
music.
Fredrick Jameson is another postmodernism critic who would find Deadpool
extremely distasteful due to the continuous fourthwall breaks, the crude, self-
referential jokes and the notions of the actors deliberately breaking the storyline
to remind the audience that they are watching a film; which ruins the fantasy
would the audience may want to be a part of. Although, like Derrida, Jameson
would criticise Deadpool for these things; they are the aspects of the film that
make it postmodern and therefore demonstrate that Deadpool is, in fact, a
postmodern film.
Kramers theory upon postmodern music is greatly reflected within The Weeknds
work. Firstly; Kramer focuses on break and extension. The Weeknd appears to do
this as he adds something new and different, both as an artist and as a singer.
The Weeknds persona is unique within his field of work; as is his star image.
Similarly; his racy lyrics are new as many artists do not have the confidence or
the lack of care to produce songs with such outrageous lyrics within them
specifically his last two albums; Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy. The
Weeknd also challenges Kramers idea of low and high styles. His wide range
of genres mean that his music appeals to both mainstream and unconventional
audiences and therefore both high and low styles will have the ability to
appreciate some elements of his music, as none of it is the same. Because of
this vast range of music and genres; he avoids totalising forms- he cannot get
labelled nor lose his air of mystery. Also he embraces pluralism and eclectism as
his songs have multiple meanings, which vary depending on the individual
listener which leads onto Fiskes idea of locating the meaning within listeners-
the meaning of his songs come within and therefore The Weekend also fits this

Angel Dewing-Hall
aspect of Fiskes theory. This therefore demonstrates that The Weeknd is, in fact,
a postmodern artist.
The future of postmodernism is being directed to more mash-ups of genres; CGI
actors and real actors- which are all aspects that have been used in the past.
Deadpool mashes up the genres of; superhero, sci-fi, romance, comedy and
violence all at once. Not only this; Star Wars and Gladiator have previously used
CGI to bring back characters/actors from the dead. The future of postmodern
music is being directed into holographic stage performances; which, again, has
already been done in the past by Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. Also;
postmodern music will lose albums and appear only as EPs and downloads
aspects which are already being achieved by artists such as Kanye West whom
only sold hard copies of his album on black Friday, mainly on playlists with other
artists within the same genre as people do not listen to full albums in the same
way anymore. This demonstrates that the future of postmodernism is already
being achieved in the present day, yet we may possibly see it in the future on a
larger scale.
Therefore; both Deadpool and The Weeknd highlight that both film and music can
be defined as postmodern. Due to the use of bricolage, the intertextual
references, the breaking of boundaries and the unexpected language and
messages within the songs and the crude language within the film; both The
weeknd and Deadpool demonstrate that both film, music and other forms of
media can, in fact, be defined as postmodern.

Angel Dewing-Hall