Postmodernism A theory that allows producers to challenge conventions through different media sources.

Postmodernism in FilmPostmodern texts can be identified through their use of the following elements:

1. Challenging Metanarratives - using things such as a Non-linear narrative, anti-narratives or unconventional characters such as female leads or an Anti-hero. For example Kill Bill uses a female anti-hero which is an unconventional main character as they are generally male. Hybrid Genres are also examples of Challenging Metanarratives as they are a combination of 2 or more different genres of film such as Action/Adventure and Rom-Com.

2. Hyperreality to make an audience aware that they are watching a film, either by breaking the 4th wall (meta-reference) or using techniques such as bullet time or freeze frames. For example in The Matrix, Bullet Time is used when the main character is being shot at, and also the fight scene in Sherlock Holmes.

3. Intertextuality (Pastiche) to copy ideas, either in a parody or by paying homage to a film. This is a technique that is frequently used by Quentin Tarantino in his films such as Pulp Fiction.

Postmodern Techniques as used in Tarantino’s “Kill Bill”

Tarantino is Challenging Metanarratives by using a Female Anti-hero

By using a yellow jumpsuit, Tarantino references the Bruce Lee film “Game of Death”. This technique is called Bricolage.

Another technique used to show Hyperreality in Kill Bill is the Anime scenes. This is a ‘High Art’ Style and makes the audience aware that the world they are watching is artificial.

The soundtrack in Kill Bill uses Spaghetti Western music and this is part of the film that references the different films that Tarantino uses for inspiration.

Tarantino pays homage to Hitchcock through the use of Film-Noir back projection as previously seen in Psycho. Also the main character is talking directly into the camera and this therefore breaks the 4th wall and makes the audience aware that they are watching as film. This technique is called Meta-referencing.

Texts that use Pastiche

These TV programs are Satirical as they critique the world through comedy and they use humour to address different real-life situations.

Austin Powers is a Parody of James Bond. It uses similar situations to the real James Bond films however uses humour and comedic set-ups to differentiate itself.

Jackie Brown is a film that pays homage to Blaxploitation films in particular Foxy Brown.

Texts that use HyperrealityThe Matrix uses techniques such as Bullet Time to make the audience aware that they are watching a film by slowing down the sequence with the main character being shot at by the agents.

Kick Ass uses a Comic Book stylisation during the fight scenes by using words such as “POW”. This allows the audience to be aware that they are watching a film about a comic book geek turned vigilante.