Tag: postmodernism

This time on Rose is screaming into the void: Supernatural is Postmodern AF and also probably Deconstructionist

A. There is no grand narrative. While there is a story, the show actively rejects the notion of fate multiple times and what happens in any given season has less to do with a grand end goal and more to do with whatever happens in the present. 
B. The show is not only intertextual but self-referential.
C. The audience is represented onscreen and made a part of the action.
D. They nearly killed The Author. (God)
E. They actually killed The Author. (Kripke)
F. American Ideals are often dismembered (Individualism, American Dream, Nostalgia) and from their remains, we find new and different meaning. 
G. The show explores alternate realities and timelines, asking questions like “who are we if we are not the people we always thought we were?” “what role do we play in our own realities?” and “what is important to us?” 
H. Some episodes are not completely linear. (Stuck in the Middle)
I. Questions of meaning are brought up explicitly but never answered. (”What gives a story meaning?”) 
J. The show plays with form and genre both in the change from urban legend serial to apocalypse and episode presentation (Opening of Changing Channels, Monster Movie being completely in black and white, the cold open of A Very Supernatural Christmas, Stuck in the Middle as a Tarantino homage, etc.)

@unforth-ninawaters replied to your post

As someone who kinda hates post modernism…its still an important artistic and intellectual movement that has been critical in advancing our approach to history and culture

Absolutely. Love it or leave but postmodernism has been absolutely crucial to our developments of critical theory, the way we study history, feminism, culture, and philosophy. Like, it’s just the nature of the way we begin to understand and relate to the world after something as massive and earth shattering as WW2. It has flaws, sure, and it’s not of interest to everyone all the time, but that doesn’t mean it’s just a load of crap. 

I’m pretty sure this BS comes from the misinterpretation that postmodernism is “meaningless” and means “nothing matters and I can do what I want with everything”. Which it doesn’t but no one picks up a book anymore or does the slightest bit of research before trying to argue concepts.