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Tutor Unit Name Date Word Count UCA Rochester Content: Introduction p.3 Body p.4 Conclusion Bibliography Illustrations

 Scream DVD Cover (1996)

 Introduction

Scream (1964) is an example of contemporary visual culture. This essay will discuss ways in which theories of postmodernity might be used to interpret its meaning, making reference to key concepts encountered in the theoretical ideas emerged in the second half in the twentieth century. In analyzing the film Scream, one might suggest that the concepts most prevalent are, pastiche, intertextuality and parody, these being the focus of this essay. The sources used for this essay include: Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction by C Butler (1945); The Portable Postmodernist by A Berger (2003); Postmodern Culture by Hal Foster (1987); The Politics Of Postmodernism by Lainda Hutcheon (1989). These will be used to explore and explain why and how Scream (1996) relates to postmodernism.

 Body

One could broadly define postmodernism, which came about in the 1980s, in a single question, Postmodernism: does it exist at all and, if so, what does it mean? (H Foster, 1987) Postmodernism is not widely understood or accepted and very few people can say with any assurance what the term actually mean or involves. This has aroused many debates on what postmodernism is due to the many theorys that has plagued the art world. It has been argued that postmodernity focuses on the relative truths of each person and the interpretation of reality. (M. Khan, 2000) Some state that postmodernity is simply a phenomenon and that it is highly political, (L. Hutcheon, 1989) and that it is some kind of reaction to, or departure from modernity.(D Harvey, 1990) Scream (1996) is a film littered with postmodernity in its construct in both plot and text. Throughout the film the three main topics of this essay, pastiche, intertectuality and parody, are weaved into every minuet of the film, both seen and unseen. To understand how postmodernity effects Scream (1996) one must also look at the core of horror thrillers. Pastiche in its simplest form is a work of mimicry that imitates the style of another. (A. Berger, 2003 ) Parody is very similar in some regards to pastiche but has ulterior motives, it is a work that mimics in an absurd or ridiculous way to make fun of or in light of anothers work. (A. Berger, 2003). An example of this is Police Academy (1984) which was a spoof on police movies of that time. Intertexuality is the more complex and harder to recognize as a defining concepts within the three aforementioned characteristics of postmodernism. One must be aware or have some knowledge of the genre in question, which in this case is horror, in order to spot the use of intertextuality, as it refers to

 the linkage across texts or discourse events where one text refers to another.(J. Christensen, 2000)

Plan Images of films Describe image/ relation to texts Explain how this is using intertextuality Images from film Describe image/ its use of parody and pastiche Conclusion

 Bibliography Arthur Asa Berger, The portable postmodernist, Walnut Creek : Alta Mira Press, 2003. Christopher Butler, Postmodernism : a very short introduction Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002. David Harvey, The Condition Of Postmodernity, Malden, MA: Blackweell, 1990 Hal Foster, Postmodern Culture, Pluto Press Ltd, 1987 Jorgen Riber Christensen, Postmodernism-A Brief Description, 2002 [online]
at: http://www.hum.aau.dk/~riber/PostmodernismBrief.htm

Linda Hutcheon, The Politics Of Postmodernism, Routledge New York, 1989 M. A. Muqtedar Khan, Postmodernity And The Crisis Of Truth, 2000 Illustrations Scream DVD Cover, (1996) [online image] at: http://www.theartofmovieposters.com/ForSale/Images/HORROR/1996_SCREA M_A.JPG