Research 1 Francesca chambers

Post-modernism in film is about challenging normal conventional film making. This is often done by: Challenging metanarratives – this means challenging main ideas in society. The use of intertextuality – this is a form of copying old films and ideas in a clever slightly individual way or updating old ideas. This could be done to pay homage to a film that a post modern director idolises or got inspiration from. Hyper reality – this makes the audience aware they are watching a film rather than feeling like they are in the film. This encourages the audience to think more about what is happening in the film.

Challenging metanarratives Pulp Fiction, Sin City and Jackie Brown all challenge metanarratives by having a strong female criminal protagonist. This is different to conventional films where women are normally week obedient sex objects. A metanarrative is like a stereotype created by a society. Post modern film makers like to challenge these stereotypes in odder to make people think deeper about whether they are really correct. Challenging metanarratives can also help to create a more interesting story line that is different to the convectional Hollywood films. The view that women are weak and need men is a metanarrative that is put across often in conventional film making so to challenge this would be having a strong female lead in film.

Pastiche Quentin Tarantino has used pastiche hear in kill bill putting his strong fighting female character in the same jump suit as martial arts actor Burse lee probably as clever tribute to him and his films. Another concept used in post modern film making that links to pastiche is intertextuality. This means getting script ideas from other scripts. An example of this would be Quentin Tarenrino’s Django Unchained. It is clear to see he has got ideas from the original film but he has moulded it into a new story. Pastiche is mimicking and copying from others work in an ironic, clever, and normally respectful way but never mocking as that would make it parody. Quentin Tarantino has been described as the king of pastiche and even said ‘I steel from every movie ever made’ insinuating that his movies are made up of many different little movies. When pastiche is used in a film it can make the viewer feel more involved if they recognise where the pastiche has been taken from, like a shared secret between the viewer and the film maker.

Hyper reality Hyper reality is used in post modern film to create things that could not happen in real life to enhance certain points in the film for effect. This reminds the viewer they are watching a film and will also force them to think deeper about the story line, what is real and what is not? Hyper reality is used throughout the film Human Traffic, the idea of the film is quite a life like night out but the audience are reminded that it is a film by the constant narration of events from the character ‘jip’ and the weird little imaged scenarios that happen through. When watching a conventional Hollywood film audiences are sucked into the film as if it is real life and carried along by a easy story line not really having to think much. In postmodern films conventions such as the use of hyper reality can be used to make a more complex and interesting story line. Thoughts, feelings, emotions and dreams can be represented through thought bubbles, freeze frames, character narration and montages as there is no focus on having to make the film as life like as possible. The link shows a part in Human Traffic where one of the characters images a new national anthem. This is hyper reality because we know it is not really happening but it is shown in the film to help the story line. In this clip when the character Renton gets sucked into the carpet it makes the audience aware they are watching a film as this would not happen in real life. The screen is also surrounded by a carpet as if we are looking out of it through his eyes making the audience even more aware of the film. Also the use of a montage to show a whole day adds to the hyper reality. The use of hyper reality in Train Spotting is to help the audience understand a feeling they probably do not. We know that you do not really sink into the floor when you over dose on heroin but it helps to give a better understanding to anyone who has not expiraced this.

Bibliography All images taken from google images – Slide 3 – images from Pulp Fiction, Sin City and Jackie Brown – This website was also briefly used for some understanding. Slide 4 – images from Kill Bill and Bruce Lee Slide 5 – images from Train Spotting and Human Traffic. Links taken from YouTube.