Post-modernism

It is impossible to objectively define what is real. Therefore, there is no such thing as reality

Jean Baudrillard - Theory of Postmodernism

Baudrillard suggested that the media was the key institution in post-modern society because the media is where signs and symbols circulate.

Simulation is a copy or imitation that substitutes for reality

Hyperreality is where it is "more real than real", something fake and artificial becomes the definition of real. Where a representation is more real than the thing being represented

Postmodernism is a tendency in the arts that criticises existing theoretical structures, metanarratives, ways of thinking and the nature of reality itself

Meta-narratives

• a narrative is a way of telling a story
• a meta-narrative is a 'big story' that explains how we should live our lives and how to make sense of the world
• some examples of meta-narratives include:
• religion
• politics
• science

Meta-narrative: Success comes through hard work

• 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration (hard-work)

What are some of the issues with the meta-narratives we have studied?

• religions can be laden with hypocrisy and lead to violent conflict (e.g Israel-Palestine
• politicians lie and are influenced by crude ideological vendettas that have no basis in reality (e.g covid pandemic)
• science is often contested by other metanarratives, and can be influenced by other interests (e.g see climate change denialism)
• hard work is no guarantee of success, and in fact the biggest indicator of financial success and intergenerational wealth

• the pre-modern age - art is in the hands of a few privileged and cultured elite
• the modern age - introduction of modern art forms (such as cinemas and radio) fracture existing metanarratives such as religion
• the post-modern age - mass media dominates the world (satellite television, 24-hour news, pop music videos, etc)
• we continually take things out of context in our post-modern world

A representation is constructed by a producer using media language, for ideological purposes

How are postmodern elements encoded in San Junipero?

• inability to differentiate between reality and hyperreality
• we are unaware towards the beginning where we don't know its not a real place
• 33 minutes into the episode it is explicit that San Junipero is not a real place
• anxiety
• end of life/death and its inevitability
• frustration at modern life
• distrust of conventional systems of power

The world is a confusing place that is impossible to understand

A simulacra is a representation of something that never even existed in the first place

How does the opening sequence construct a hyperreal simulacra?

• the scene constructs a hyperreal and even idealised version of a club, completely lacking bouncers and security
• the establishing shot constructs a perfect nightclub
• patrons are drinking alcohol
• every individual is both young and hegemonically attractive as each individual is able to construct their own avatar
• a completely unified sense of community is constructed, where no one is excluded
• people are behaving appropriately, the club is adequately popularity

Cinderella storyline?

Yorkie's reality is in San Junipero, but San Junipero is Kelly's hyper-reality