Reading the streets

This is a video that myself and my group members created regarding media in the beaches neighbourhood. The video has some slides with text while the actual images are pictures taken while walking around the neighbourhood. We talk about the different types of infrastructure and how they are affecting media, as well as advertisements in the beaches for specific companies and festivities.  Here is the video we created:

The Simpsons 138th episode

Watch the Simpsons 138th episode and name three key features. Explain how this episode is a good example of three key features of post-modernism.
The three examples of post-modernism features in this episode I have chosen to evaluate are Parody and Satire, intertextuality and self-awareness.
 Parody and satire: An example of parody in the episode is when Homer starts to sing the Flintstones theme song. Another example is a parody of the Marilyn Monroe's famous Happy Birthday song to John. F. Kennedy, as well as the scene where Peter Pan appears to be flying through the window

Intertextuality: Some examples of intertexuality  in this episode are the Richard Simmons robot and the end of a few scenes where they would ask a trivia question similar to game shows. As well at whole episode is made to look like a talk show, therefore they keep making references to other talk shows. At the beginning when the cash register says "NRA4EVER" it is making a reference to the National Rifle Association ,which is based in the United States.

Self-awareness: This episode is self-aware because it talks about how the t.v show first started off and how it has evolved and changed over the years it has been on the air.



     

This is the link to the 138th episode of The Simpsons : http://seekcartoon.com/watch/26164-the-simpsons-season-7-episode-10-the-simpsons-138th-episode-spectacular.html#.U008B6hdVIF 

The Sweet Hereafter

1) Name three key features of postmodernism that are apparent throughout the film and explain. Refer to the post that includes the key features of post modernism.

Three key postmodern features are fragmented subjectivity, rejection of universality and mom-linearity. These are just three of the postmodern texts that are shown in this film, however many more are shown throughout the film. 

Fragmented Subjectivity: Fragmented subjectivity occurs when the different views of the bus crash are shown to us through different character. Each character has a different point of view of what happened in the bus crash, therefore they have very differing opinions of exactly what happened.

Intertextuality: Intertextuality occurs throughout this movie because it is based off the book The Sweet Hereafter. The movie is said to be very true to the book, as well some of the script is very similar to the actual dialogue in the book. Therefore I would consider this to be intertextuality. 

Non-linearity: Non-linearity occurs when the time shifts from the present to the past and is continuously going back and forth. When the lawyer is trying to figure out who was responsible for the bus crash the film is in the present moment, however when the characters are remembering scenes before, during and just after the crash it all takes place in the past. 

  

Out of the Mouths of Babes: New Rob Ford Video

1) How can the following video be considered post Modern refer to the key features of postmodernism? 

This video can be considered as postmodern because it has the postmodern features of currency, self-awareness, intertextuality and parody and satire are prevalent tones/modes of expression. 

Currency: This medium talks about the current issue of the mayoral campaign and the Rob Ford scandals. 
Self-awareness: This medium has a specific audience, that being Torontonian's who can vote. It is trying to show Toronto how ridiculous the current mayor is.  It is trying to convince people to go out and vote for who they believe to be a better mayor for Toronto.
Intertextuality: This video borrows the lines from the Rob Ford video to make it into this parody. They take the exact words Rob Ford says and get actors to act them out in a different situation to prove the directors point. 
Parody and satire are prevalent tones/modes of expression: The video's main purpose is to make fun of Rob Ford and to make a parody of his ridiculousness. The tone of the video is completely serious, however anyone who has heard of the Rob Ford crack scandal knows this is a parody.  






Here is the link to the video and the article talking about the video: 
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/02/rob-ford-attack-video-puts-the-mayors-words-into-the-mouth-of-a-child-who-did-not-do-the-crack/

Postmodernism and the mayoral campaign

1) What key features of postmodernism does this Media Text exhibit? Name two key features and explain?

 Two major features of postmodernism in this video are currency and  self-awareness. The feature of currency means it is a postmodern text that reflects and examines present situations, which clearly what this piece of media is doing. It also means the medium explores themes like technology which is to be incorporated into their medium. This video uses Atari as their type of technology which is effectively incorporated into their medium. The feature of self-awareness means the postmodern text knows it has an audience. This video has a specific audience they are trying to target this video towards. This is obvious as the video is clearly not being marketed towards children. Children cannot vote therefore the audience of this video would be adults.

2) Who is the target audience of the Media texts?

The target audience for this media text are peoples from ages 30+. I think 30+ is the age group because the video is made to look like Atari. Atari was the first gaming device of it's time and was a huge hit in the 1980's. A lot of people who are younger than 30 would probably have not used Atari before therefore this video is aimed at 30+ citizens of Toronto.

3) What is the overall message?

The overall message is to vote for Olivia Chow to be the new mayor of Toronto. The video criticizing the other candidates who are running in the mayoral campaign to become Toronto's new mayor. 


    












Here is the link to the "Help Save Toronto!" video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiSMvwmf9rw&feature=youtu.be

Postmodernism

A postmodern medium I have found is the T.V show  Modern Family. One aspect of postmodernism that Modern Family has is fragmented subjectivity. The definition of fragmented subjectivity is: A postmodern text that embodies multiple perspectives. Its meaning shifts, depending upon the location and identity of the subject. Modern Family  has many different characters with large but different personalities. These characters are in all episodes and are normally affected by the varying situations that has occur in each episode. They all give their varying perspectives of a situation as the perspective shifts from family to family. Therefore fragmented subjectivity is a postmodern aspect of Modern Family. 

    

My meme

1) Where did you get the picture for your Meme?

I got the photo of my meme from Google.

2) Who is your target audience for your Meme?

The target audience of my meme is Canadians, who have had to brave the very cold winter we have encountered thus far.

3) What is the appeal of your Meme?

My meme is appealing because it is funny and relates to a current issue that Canada is having....that issue being the freezing cold weather. The picture I believe captures the essence of how most Canadians are feeling at this moment because I believe most of us are very done with these freezing temperatures as spring started last week. My meme is reaction of what I believe to be what most Canadians are thinking.

4) How did you choose you text and font to emphasize the meaning of your Meme?

I chose a bold white font to resemble snow and cold (hence the winter we have had). The colour and font are also used to pass on the message of my meme, as well as the emphasize the text I have written across the top of the image I have found.