Postmodernity in Media Studies
Postmodernism is defined as a move on from Modernism. Charles Jenks states that the change developed primarily in architecture at 15:30 on the 15th of March 1972 when a modernist housing estate is Missouri was detonated to rubble. They realised that Modernisms rational approach towards order and progress and failed to see that architecture MUST have a human scale. This move to Postmodernism enveloped all aspects of life including art, philosophy and media. Postmodernism brought a new period of design which replaced order with disorder, a playful, and ironic take on life and almost reminiscent of a time when things were simple. It was suspicious of the grand narrative and designs that aim to encompass all life which in itself is an all-encompassing idea which it openly accepts and embraces as paradoxical.
Postmodernity in video games can be seen as a much more ambiguous subject as it is not so much the story we should view as postmodern like other media platforms but how the user plays the game. The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise by Rockstar games is at the forefront of the postmodern movement in video games. Grand Theft Auto IV Vice City was one of the first games developed to have a true virtual reality. Along with other games in the franchise the player is immersed into a convincing intricate world, but the reality it represents is stuff of films and other media. One way in which this is done is through its vast in game intertextuality. With game settings of New York and Miami GTA references the forefront in the 1900’s gangster films and movements. In the theory of Dominic Stratini postmodernism is the breakdown of the distinction between art and pop culture, another key aspect of the GTA series with many well known actors/actresses providing voice overs for characters or appearing through the in game radio. Using situated literary practices the amount of fan generated content through; walkthroughs, blogs, fan art and most importantly macchina demonstrates a
Postmodernity in video games can be seen as a much more ambiguous subject as it is not so much the story we should view as postmodern like other media platforms but how the user plays the game. The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise by Rockstar games is at the forefront of the postmodern movement in video games. Grand Theft Auto IV Vice City was one of the first games developed to have a true virtual reality. Along with other games in the franchise the player is immersed into a convincing intricate world, but the reality it represents is stuff of films and other media. One way in which this is done is through its vast in game intertextuality. With game settings of New York and Miami GTA references the forefront in the 1900’s gangster films and movements. In the theory of Dominic Stratini postmodernism is the breakdown of the distinction between art and pop culture, another key aspect of the GTA series with many well known actors/actresses providing voice overs for characters or appearing through the in game radio. Using situated literary practices the amount of fan generated content through; walkthroughs, blogs, fan art and most importantly macchina demonstrates a