Riptide As A Postmodernist Expression Flashcards
(17 cards)
Baudrillard quote
In a world with more and more information, there is less and less meaning
Build up to why its a post modernist expression:
Advances in technology, for example through digitally convergent media such as the internet, means that people today have far more access to information than previous generations. However, with the more information we consume, the more confused we get.
Polysemic Interpretations of Riptide
• Meaning: The video is deliberately confusing and open to multiple interpretations.
• Evaluation: This openness allows viewers to bring their personal experiences and perspectives, making the video engaging and thought-provoking. • Context: The video’s abstract nature mirrors the non-linear, somewhat surreal lyrics of the song, which are also open to various interpretations.
Voyeurism and Scopophilia
• Theme: The video revolves around voyeurism and scopophilia, positioning the audience as the watcher of women.
• Evaluation: This theme challenges the viewer’s complicity in objectifying women, possibly encouraging reflection on media consumption. • Context: The use of these themes can be linked to the broader societal critique of the male gaze in media.
Hyperreal Representations of Women
• Representation: Women in the video are shown as perfect and unattainable, reflecting societal beauty ideals.
• Evaluation: This hyperreal representation critiques the unrealistic beauty standards often imposed by the media. However, it could also be interpreted as reinforcing these stereotypes. • Context: The video’s portrayal of perfect women can be seen as a comment on the superficiality and objectification prevalent in the media, specifically in the music industry.
Supernatural and Horror Themes
• Theme: Tarot cards, graveyards, and dark imagery create a supernatural and horror-like atmosphere.
• Evaluation: This use of genre conventions adds an unsettling, eerie layer to the video, which contrasts with the light, upbeat tone of the music. • Context: The contrast between horror elements and the jaunty tune highlights the video’s subversion of expectations, making it more engaging and unpredictable.
Contrapuntal Sound and Visual Juxtaposition
• Contradiction: The cheerful, catchy tune contrasts with the disturbing visuals of women being tortured or trapped.
• Evaluation: The juxtaposition creates cognitive dissonance for the viewer, forcing them to confront the dissonance between the music’s upbeat tone and the unsettling imagery. • Context: This use of contrapuntal sound is a well-established technique in media to create a deeper emotional response and challenge audience interpretations.
Themes of Torture, Degradation, and Death
• Red Colour: The colour red symbolizes death and degradation in the video.
• Evaluation: The use of red as a semiotic code for death intensifies the disturbing themes and makes the narrative more intense and evocative. • Context: These themes tap into societal fears around violence and control, potentially questioning how women are depicted and treated in both real life and media.
Binary Opposition: Perfection vs. Horror
(Levi-Strauss)
• Opposition: The video constructs a binary opposition between perfect women and the abject horror of their abuse.
• Evaluation: This stark contrast pushes the audience to reflect on the unrealistic nature of beauty and the destructive impact of societal expectations. • Context: The use of binary opposition can be seen as a commentary on how media often uses women’s beauty for enjoyment, while simultaneously treating them as disposable objects.
Abjection and Disgust
• Theory: The concept of abjection (disgust) is explored with images of blood, sweat, and other uncomfortable visuals.
• Evaluation: The abject elements provoke discomfort and disgust, challenging the viewer to confront what society typically hides or avoids showing. • Context: The use of abjection in the video could be a direct response to the sanitization of women’s bodies in mainstream media, pushing the boundaries of what is considered “acceptable.”
Stereotypical Representations of Women
• Representation: The video’s portrayal of women follows the stereotype of the “beach babe,” showcasing hourglass figures and blonde hair.
• Evaluation: This portrayal might be a critique of the over-simplified and stereotypical representations of women in the media, though it could also reinforce those very stereotypes. • Context: The aesthetic of the video could be a nod to the superficial nature of the music industry, where image often takes precedence over talent.
Witchcraft and Supernatural Symbolism
• MES: The inclusion of tarot cards, pendulums, and other witchcraft references.
• Evaluation: This imagery adds a layer of mysticism to the video, suggesting that the women’s victimization is connected to something beyond the ordinary, like fate or the supernatural. • Context: These symbols often appear in horror media to heighten tension and create a sense of danger. Their use here reinforces the sinister undercurrent of the video’s themes.
Feminist Reading of Riptide
Critical View: Some may argue that the music video presents a feminist critique by questioning the objectification of women and their victimization.
• Evaluation: While the video may be seen as critiquing objectification, the overwhelming focus on female suffering and vulnerability may still be problematic from a feminist perspective. • Context: The video invites viewers to consider the role of women in media and whether the exploitation of their image serves a higher purpose, or if it simply perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
Evaluation of the Video’s Ambiguity
Ambiguity: The video’s abstract nature allows for diverse interpretations but may leave viewers confused.
• Evaluation: The ambiguity invites active engagement and personal interpretation, but it risks alienating audiences who prefer clearer narrative structures. • Context: The trend of ambiguous music videos can be linked to a broader trend in modern music videos, where artists seek to evoke emotion and thought over simply telling a direct story.
Subversion of Narrative Expectations
Subversion: The video deliberately subverts audience expectations by providing unsettling visuals with upbeat music.
• Evaluation: This subversion plays with the audience’s emotions and forces them to reconcile the dissonance between the visuals and the song’s tone. • Context: This is a common technique in postmodern media, where creators seek to break away from traditional storytelling and offer more complex, layered experiences.
How does this make Riptide a post modernist expression?
The music video for “Riptide” by Vance Joy can be considered a postmodern expression based on its embrace of ambiguity, fragmented narratives, and contradictions that reject traditional storytelling and offer multiple interpretations.
Postmodernism, as a cultural and artistic movement, challenges grand narratives, embraces complexity, and often disrupts conventional structures to create an experience that invites active engagement from the viewer.
Therefore, not aligning with strict representations of gender.
