Music Video: Postmodernism in music video

​MEDIA MAGAZINE THEORY DROP - POSTMODERNISM 

1.) The article defines postmodernism as stemming from a movement in the early twentith century and "it can be characterised by a loss of belief in the things where we once placed out trust in (e.g. god, society, etc).

2.) Media theorist Roland Barthes suggests in his essay “The Death of the Author” suggests that postmodernism is when readers are free to take the media text in whatever way they seem fit. 

3.) Metatextuality is when the media text drags attention to the media text being an actual text, sort of like an intertextual reference.

4.) The repeated phrase on the cartoon on postmodernism is "postmodernism is a cultural movement".

5.) Postmodernism links to media representation and reality due to people relying on postmodern medias for an understanding of reality and representations (eg hyperreality). 

MUSIC VIDEO CSP’S AND POSTMODERNISM 

1.) Postmodern ideals within “Ghost Town”manifest through its genre bricolage and hybridity, mixing two genres (new wave and reggae) in order to create a new genre of “two tone”/“ska”

2.) The “Ghost Town” music video uses intertextuality references to film genres like hammer horror through its continuously low-key lighting and gloomy expressions and dark clothing. It also presents characteristics of German neo-expressionism through the scene of the cars shadows being casted upon a brick wall.

3.) Postmodern ideals within “Old Town Road” manifest through its genre hybridity, mixing rap, a fairly modern music genre, and country which has a traditional western heritage. Postmodernism also presents itself through the use of intertextuality using celebrity names like Chris Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.  

4.) Old Town Road reflects technological convergence and modern digital culture by its popularisation through modern platforms like TikTok where the song initially gained popularity due to audiences using the song to participate in a trend/meme.

5.) My interpretation of the music video is that there is and always will be an oppressed and belittled group within America which completely rejects the ideals of the “American dream” of where anyone can be anything when certain demographics of people are held at a stop point before success and cannot achieve greatness due to these societal restrictions. I think that the outlaws and the black community are linked together since they are both two groups who are commonly deemed as outcasted and “othered” which just emphasises on how these groups will always be restricted if liberation and equality does not raise up within the worlds society.