Analyze the key characteristics of postmodern media?
Jean Baudrillard stated that post modernist texts is a copy of a copy in where there is reality, Heightened reality and hyper reality, with each one being more surreal than the other. A Documentary like 'Hailstorm' ( 2022 ) available on Netflix is an example of heightened reality as it includes aspects that are real such as natural environment, sounds and real life locations but at the same time includes artificial editing that creates different meaning in the form of music, narration and camera angles. While audiences would still be able to tell the difference on what's real or not. Their perception of the film changes depending on what the Producers show. The cooking show 'Hell's Kitchen' ( 2023 ) is a TV Series that haves chefs battle each other in a cooking contest. This series in considered as a Hyper Reality as audiences would struggle to grasp on what exactly is real in the film and what isn't. This is because, while the series show the contestants cooking, The amount of drama and problems that occur is far too many for it to be true to life. The show is completely scripted with problems made intentionally for audience engagement. But audiences can't figure that out since its not mentioned or obvious that everything was scripted. Though Audiences typically prefer the hyper reality.
"The media condition the way we think" To what extent do you agree with this statement?
I agree with this statement as according to the Post Colonial theory by Paul Gilroy, The Eurocentric views of Europeans is often associated and shown in the media to show themselves who are in power as sophisticated and strong and the 'Others' as uncivilized and weak. This is done likely to influence people in believing that Europe is a land full of civilized , bright minded people living in beautiful locations and the 'Others' are people who isn't are evil, weak and should be avoided. An example of this, is the movies James Bond ( 2021) . The film portrays the main character 'Bond' as this all powerful spy, capable of anything and everything. His attire is very formal and sophisticated as well as His choice of words. He practically represents what the producers what Europeans to be. Meanwhile the 'Others' typically women is often sexualized and is shown as objects of Bonds interest, They don't get a lot of screen time and when they do, they would only serve to help Bond in his quest. For the audience, this can condition the way they think. If they are only exposed to content like James Bond all time, They would start the believe the ideas that Europeans are better than the rest of the world. And for minorities, They might have a double consciousness where they start doubting whether the representation the media shows about them is real or not. According to the Cultivation theory, If someone already has an existing believe that
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