Postmodern film analysis

Scott Pilgrim
(due 4/05/16)

TASK
Select two of the three films studied
and create TWO revision
PowerPoints. These MUST answer the
questions on the slides which follow.
Include screen grabs where
appropriate
NOT ALL QUESTIONS WILL BE
RELEVANT

Questions

How is this episode postmodern (pomo features)

How can you apply/relate Baurillard theory

How can you apply/relate Focault theory

How does it differ or challenge other media (could compare to other

current media or traditional media)

How is it similar to other media? (could be other platforms)

What type of audience is this episode made for? What sort of

impact does Charlie Brooker want on this audience? Why?

What types of technology and media are explored in black mirror?

How is this film postmodern?

(pomo features)
Intertextuality = Dystopian narrative = https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXsvtHiA3I8
Hybridisation = Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Flattening of Affect = Scott has to fight 7 people and
takes a lot of hard work in order to actually date the
girl he is fighting for. Also the movie has little
storyline and is just full of references.
Artificialness = Shows the overall importance of
video games in peoples life. Movie aimed at young
teen, but has adult references.

How can you apply Baurillards

theory?
(hyperreality)
- Hyper reality of their artificial world Scott Pilgrim, both the film, and
the character, operate in a bizarre hyper-reality; one where soundeffects float across the screen in written text, and where people can
be thrown into buildings only to dust themselves off and go about
their business. The story is seeped in the visual and aural culture of
video games. Enemies, when dispatched, burst into piles of coins to
be collected, a digitised Vs. appears on-screen before fights kick
off, and people casually fling fireballs at one another and yet none
of the characters blink an eye. This sort of thing is normal in the
world of Scott Pilgrim. Thats just how it is.

How can you apply Foucaults

theory?
(panopticanisation & voyeurism)

External audience = We are watching someone live a video game.

Internal audience = People see the fights that Scott partakes in as

normal as the world is a big video game

Voyeurism = Scott tries to Get with Ramona as he always stares at

her and lusts for her

Scopopphilia = Scotts lack of depth creates a void in the film that

allows the viewer to step in and fill. If Scott is meant to be the
viewers eyes and ears for participation in the films action then we
have no need to know anything significant about him, because the
viewer is already acutely aware of the significance of their own life
experiences. However, Scotts friends, and even his enemies each
possess interesting back stories and quirks that make them unique
and fun to watch because they play a key role in creating the
experience of the film. Scott is bland because he is meant to be
replaced by the viewers own image of self, while other characters
are strong, well developed, and interesting in order to strengthen
the imaginary world of the film that viewers seek to place
themselves in.

How does it differ or challenge

other media? (could compare to other current media
or traditional media)

Traditional Hollywood Narratives = Usually with common films the

character and storyline development is the most important thing,
however SP vs TW challenges this as it focuss more on references
to other movies or mainly video games. Scotts lack of depth
creates a void in the film that allows the viewer to step in and fill.
If Scott is meant to be the viewers eyes and ears for participation
in the films action then we have no need to know anything
significant about him, because the viewer is already acutely aware
of the significance of their own life experiences.

Current action films = Django Unchained (Only for the amount of

references, not for story or genre)

How is it similar to other media?

(similar to current media or traditional media)

Genre films - Could relate to a more niche audience, mainly

for people who play an excessive amount of classic video
games and adult who played these games a kid.

Narrative structure - Seems to follow the conventional

narrative structure with the general set of characters Scott
Pilgrim vs. the World is split into 4 genres: Fantasy,
Romance, Comedy, Action

What types of technology and

media are explored in your
chosen film?
Media themes
The profiling within the film adds to the general
theme of video games/comics. Rating: awesome
adds to the humour, this makes the genre more
obvious. The sound effects used while Scott and his
friends are talking are like video game coin
collecting, this continues the theme of video
games/comic books.