The Office: A postmodern take on documentaries

 For this week I watched a video on how The Office is an example of postmodernism popular culture. The video discusses how the show's style of a mockumentary as well as the current pop culture references within the show are what make it a postmodern example. The mockumentary style is a style that is hyper aware of the documentary style of filming, as the video explains with the classic cuts to a solo headshot interview and the one camera following everybody around to capture what the characters are doing as if it were a documentary despite it being a scripted show. She explains that what makes the mockumentary postmodern is that it is a “rearticulation of a documentary. It copies the style of a documentary… chronicling a real story, the mockumentary takes these ideas and adds ironic and humorous effects.” She then goes on to add that in show references to current popular culture things like Battlestar Galactica and another NBC show airing on the network at the same time The Apprentice are more ways in which the show is hyper aware of itself and uses these current pop culture references for humorous effect.

From this video I learned how a mockumentary setup is an example of a postmodern example and what about it makes it an example. How taking the documentary style of shooting a show and adding that ironic and humorous twist is what makes it postmodern. It’s also really cool to see how the mockumentary style became such a popular style of show during the mid 2000’s with The Office and Modern Family, two of the most popular shows were cut in the same style, one being in an office setting and the other the other being in a family home setting. It goes to show just how popular of a format that it is that two of the most popular television shows running at the same time are shot the same way, just with different personal settings. 

Within the show, as I kind of touched on earlier, they are hyper aware of their pop culture status and make intertextual references throughout the show with other references to pop culture items. For example one episode is about Michael being the Willy Wonka of paper and gives away three “golden tickets” to give away free paper for a year to the lucky recipients. Of course with the shows ironic and humorous twist on things, it all goes horribly wrong and we as the audience get a laugh out of the that, already knowing the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which is what makes The Office an example of postmodern popular culture.

Postmodernism as Explained by a Drunk Man and Jordan Peele

The video was broken up into two parts: “Repeating History,” and “The Good, the Modern, and the Postmodern.” These two parts give us a quick history on the thought that led up to Modernism. The narrator is at a party talking to a woman who misuses the term “Postmodernism.” The rest of the video is meant to act as if the narrator spends the entire party, and even the morning after, explaining in layman's terms what Postmodernism is.

“Part 1: Repeating History” includes a background of Classicism in the Greco-Roman world, which would, in the 18th century, develop a counter ideology called Neoclassicism, which focused on empirical research- Science and logic were used to explain the world. The next counterculture in line was Romanticism, which challenged the Neoclassical thought that facts are more important than emotion. Romanticism would focus on the value of emotionality and personal experience. This would become a point of contention, and the two schools of thought were at odds with each other.

“Part 2: The Good, the Modern, and the Postmodern” Introduces Modernism, explaining that in the context of WWI and technology being made to kill people, creating the Lost Generation and also had brought out names such as Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud. Social, Economic, and Political beliefs were questioned. Then, Postmodernism comes in as the “rebellious child” as an inverse to the structural thought of Modernism.

The narrator continues to provide differences among Modernism and Postmodernism, bringing back to the progression of technology. Modernist thought praised progress in that technology is the way that humanity improves, whereas Postmodern thought believe that progress may not necessarily be a good thing.One of the last comparisons made in the video was the difference in categorical preference between Modernists and Postmodernists. Modernists love genres, clear cut lines, and nicely fitting things into categories, whereas Postmodernists value what makes something different and unique.

The idea within the video in which categorizing vs. celebrating uniqueness can be directly related to popular culture. Take, for instance, Jordan Peele’s horror/thriller films that have come out in recently. The creation of both Us (2019) and Get Out (2017) in itself is a great example of postmodernism in contrast with modernism. Jordan Peele is known for co starring in the comedy sketch series Key & Peele. His comedic reputation had not failed to be seen within his horror films. If Jordan Peele were to be creating movies and understanding himself as a filmmaker in Modernist thought, he would stick to purely comedy and stay within that genre. This is not the direction in which Peele had decided to go in, however. He, in following with postmodernist thought, genre-bent horror and comedy in Us (2019). Even Get Out (2017), a thriller with little humor involved steers away from the understanding of what kind of filmmaker Peele would be in comparison to his past.

Postmodernism & The Office

 The Office and Postmodernism

For this week’s blog post, I decided to watch the video titled, The Office & Postmodernism. The Office is a fly-on-the-wall mockumentary parody about modern American office culture. The Office (US Version) airs in March of 2005 and instantly became a massive hit. The office looks at the lives of the works at Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company located in Scranton Pennsylvania. The show is centered around Regional Manager, Michael Scott, played by the Emmy award winner, Steve Carell, is a single, middle-aged man who serves as an extremely boastful tour guide for the mockumentary. While at first glance, one might not notice the similarities between postmodernism, and the Office – it quickly becomes apparent after taking a closer look. For example, The Office utilizes three different styles of postmodernism, the style of filming, the use of intertextual references, and its presence on the internet. This is formally known as re-articulation, which is defined as the bringing of elements of traditional documentaries, such as single camera set up, and the feeling that a real story is being told. A Mockumentary, which is the style in which The Office utilizes, takes these ideas and elements and provides ironic humor. This is done by the practice of hyperawareness, which is frequently utilized throughout the show in different forms. The Office's use of intertextual references is one of the key elements of its postmodernism. The Office frequently makes references to different popular culture references from other TV shows and films, such as Battlestar Galactica, The Apprentice, and Lord of The Rings. These references are used to provide humor, as well as to push the story forward. These intertextual references are emblematic of the hyper-consciousness of postmodern popular culture, and as such creates an ironic knowingness in the audience as the views know what they’re referring to. Finally, The Office's presence on the internet through their website is a perfect example of postmodernism. In addition to the content created on the TV show, the creators developed a website that provides additional content for the audience. On their website, they have blogs supposedly written by the characters on the show, as well as games, videos and episode guides. It also offers online-only videos such as web-episodes and music videos that add an additional layer of content for the show. As a fan of The Office, I never realized the use of postmodernism throughout the film. While this concept is widely popular nowadays, the idea of watching an episode, then going online to experience even more content is a prime example of postmodernism. Overall, the office illustrates postmodernism with its use of intertextual popular culture references, mockumentary style, and their vast variety of Office related content available online. 

Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lzrZtEedgw&t=0s&list=PL8YtsooGljrlPkr7Ija54C6TtpCElse9j&index=16

Postmodernism

The video is about how the television show The Office illustrates postmodernism. Starting with a brief history about the documentary genre of film and how “mockumentaries” are a rearticulation, via the single camera filming, the talking head interviews, and a general concept that a real story is being told. “Mockumentaries" take the idea of a documentary and puts an ironic and humorous spin on the style. They are hyperaware of the confines of documentaries and contain intertextual references of other popular culture, which is characteristic of postmodernism. The hyperawareness produces conditions of an ironic knowingness with the audience as viewers notice and recognize the references  within the show’s world. Postmodernism is portrayed through the show’s website, which is a commodification of the show. There is relentless commodification on the website, including character blogs, music videos, pictures, games, an episode guide and more content that adds to the complexity of the show. There is even a fake website for the company that is not just realistic, but it is regularly updated to keep up with character development on the show. Different things on the website in relation to watching the show, allows for niche interests to be met. The Office embodies postmodernism with intertextual popular culture references, mockumentary style, and the large range of media related to the show on it’s website.

The idea that postmodernism being the simultaneity of competing forms of rearticulation - the already said is being constantly recirculated in different perspectives, made me think of attending AfroPunk this past summer. From their Facebook, "AFROPUNK is an influential community of young, gifted people of all backgrounds who speak through music, art, film, comedy, fashion and more. Originating with the 2003 documentary that highlighted a Black presence in the American punk scene, it is a platform for the alternative and experimental. Remaining at the core of its mission are the punk principles of DIY aesthetics, radical thought and social non-conformity. AFROPUNK is a voice for the unwritten, unwelcome and unheard-of." AfroPunk is a music festival, at its core, but it celebrates blackness as a culture. The website for the event is based by a blog featuring different posts about artists, musicians, authors, notable events, and more. The Instagram has pictures of attendees, showcasing their fashion, art, and self-expression. It also has the festival's lineups for the different locations in Paris, Atlanta, Brooklyn, London, and Johannesburg. There is also an App, a Twitter, and a YouTube. All with the same information, for the most part. Each social media platform offers interaction surrounding the event and its ideals. The redundancy in content is postmodernism and the identity taken on is gained from the exposure to this part of popular culture

POSTMODERNISM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjcrdBvGNqw&index=4&t=0s&list=PL8YtsooGljrlPkr7Ija54C6TtpCElse9j

I chose to use the video “Postmodernism in Advertising Explained” to write my post about. This video goes in depth about how postmodernism is shown in modern day advertisements, with two prime examples. The video refers to two advertisements, one for mend cologne, and another for clothing. In both, the symbol being portrayed is unclear to the viewer if they are unaware of what the advertisement is for. In other words, the cologne advertisement could be a reference to many different things, as it features tan well toned men covered in oil feeding grapes to each other. Is this a grape ad? Is this a gym ad? Upon first glance it is very unclear as to how the advertisement is trying to capture the viewer’s attention. An example I found in a similar situation is an advertisement I found for Levis jeans. Although there are jeans in the photo, it is very confusing as the person holding the jeans is a mermaid. In other words, someone who does not necessarily wear jeans (the mermaid) is promoting a pair of pants. In my opinion, this is to attract viewers in an effort that is different than other jean companies. People who appeal to the idea of mermaids may buy the jeans as they correlate the jeans and the mermaid in their mind. Although this attracts the viewers as it is different than “normal”, it’s still a weird approach when there are so many different advertisements constantly appearing in places we look on a day to day basis such as social media, the news, search engines, emails, promotional mail and so on.

Postmodernism video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjcrdBvGNqw&list=PL8YtsooGljrlPkr7Ija54C6TtpCElse9j&t=0s&index=4


In the YouTube video "Postmodernism in Advertising Explained," postmodernism is defined as "The state society is in now." This video explains how postmodernism is tied into advertisements such as Dolce and Gabbana or Chanel advertisements. While these companies try to portray a certain modern age by selling products or services, customers are left confused by what the company is actually selling or producing. Some of these companies have unclear advertisements which is why advertising as a whole is highly related to postmodernism.  In many ways this relates to the current modern age where digital advertising and social media throw so many advertisements and promotions at consumer that it is very difficult for us to digest all of them. This leads to uncertainty and ambiguity and only promotes more confusion among consumers. Although this type of advertising may be making us more efficient because we learn how to digest the information faster it does not necessarily lead to us learning more about the products or services being offered.

Postmodernism

For this week's blog post on postmodernism I watched the above video; mostly I chose it because it seemed like it would be entertaining and funny, and also I love swearing. It also seemed like it was made by people who were about my age, and I thought I might be able to identify better with a perspective from my same age group.

Basically, the video begins by first realizing that a huge amount of people today are using the term "postmodern" without really understanding what the word means. I can agree with that, as it's one of those terms heavily thrown around during political debates and art gallery viewings. The host takes us back through some major periods in history to help us try to define whether or not that "postmodernism" is just the next era on the timeline, or if it's just a grouping of ideas or personalities.

Beginning with the "Classical" era, where humans were just emerging from pagan freedom into organized countries with religions and laws. Those societies embraced their relationship with nature and the world around them. Moving on comes next the "Neo-classical" era ("neo" meaning "new) in the 18th century where humans had made advances in science and writing and many other areas, but found themselves lacking a philosophical system. Many people romanticized the Greco-Roman period and tried to emulate it, one of the most famous examples being the United States' democratic governmental system based on Greek history of law. This period was later referred to as "The Enlightenment" which was basically the overall marriage of scientific breakthroughs, but with a soft spot in one's heart for nature and art.

Some of the best examples of these eras are seen in the art and architecture of the time (image source, and cool architecture resource)

After some time we begin to see the separation of the two things further and further until you have just the science lovers and just the art lovers, and the two do not mix well. The counter-culture to the Enlightenment was known as "Romanticism" and there was much argument over which areas of culture to focus on. Just as it seemed that Romanticism might win out and scientific advances would be thrown out the window - "Modernism" comes to the scene just after the shock of World War I. As the video put it: up until the war, most technology was used to help and benefit people, but now a great deal of it had been invented to hurt and kill others - there are men returning home from the conflict and not knowing how to process what they've been through. What follows these times is a boom of psychological and philosophical thinkers who try to make sense of the current world. Freud, Marx, Nietzsche, each had contrasting reasons for why they believed everything existed as it currently did. Their ideas gave rise to the average human to think more deeply about their socioeconomic standing, their religious attachments, and the political systems around them.

Post-modernism enters to "shake things up" where people had gotten too complacent with the madness or organizational systems around them. The video refers to post-modernism as the "rebellious child" of Modernism. Where Modernism likes to organize things into neat categories and structures based on similarity, the ideas of post-Modernism focus on the differences between things and people. They like to blur the lines, to abhor fact, and try to prove that there is no one way of thinking, or living, or being.

The example I think of when I try to define postmodernism is the punk movement. Not necessarily the punk music movement, though of course the fashion and ideals started with this new form of music. I think of the typical kid with a mohawk, studded jacket, baggy ripped jeans, chains, tattoos and eyeliner. Even aside from the look, it's the attitude they share that matters the most when it comes to this argument. I was once a part of this genre of people growing up (shocking I know!) who used to shop at Hot Topic and wear crazy stuff because I did not want to "fit in" with everyone else in society because I felt I was different than most around me.

(image source, and cool history of punk fashion)

The attitude of punk and sub-genres of punk (goth, emo, scene, hipster, whatever) is generally of "I don't accept what everyone tells me to be true - I find my own truth in my experiences." There's the whole, "You can tell me what to do, what to wear, where to work, etc" where people openly defy mainstream society. In turn, mainstream society sees punks as abnormal (the term "punk" itself meaning "degenerate" or even "criminal"), and is either afraid of them, or is angry with them for trying to go against the grain whereas most of them never saw a reason to be any other way than "normal." I, however, think it's a very important movement to question what is around you, especially where we live in a world of advertising and fake news.

The Office is postmodern, from tv to online

I watched the video Postmodernism and The Office which talks about how the office is a good example of postmodernism by being a mockumentary, making popular culture references and having its online presence authentic as if it were a real entity.

First off the format of the office mocks that of a documentary, from the shaky one camera shots that follow the character around, to the close up interviews, the way the office is shot reflects the style of many documentaries. Other such things that do this would be Reno 911 or Borat, which both satire their subjects, providing a social commentary along with comedy.

The office makes many popular culture references throughout the show, from the characters referencing their knowledge on Battlestar Galactica or The Lord of the Rings, or even mentioning that they caught the last episode of the Apprentice, the characters try to prove that they are real people by being relatable and like most people, they discuss tv, movies and other pop culture things.

And lastly the Office website. This internet masterpiece includes blog sites for each of the characters along with photos and episode guides. There even is a mock website for the Dunder Miflin paper company that was updated along with the progression of the show. This site is a delight to viewers who wish to experience the office in other forms of media as well.

The Office is very postmodern in that it is a work of fiction that pulls from real life to give itself an authentic feel. With its website and the documentary format it attempts to establish itself as a pseudo real identity never giving up its guise of authenticity. This proves for a very entertaining and unique take upon life in the office and makes a great postmodern show. Quite a few other shows or films also attempt to create something that seems real to make a point, for example District 9 is an allegory about racism and apartheid but uses Aliens as the persecuted race to make its point. It is also another mockumentray but it comes with an important message.

Postmodernism and Our Sense of Reality

Facts, according to Postmodernism: Social and Cultural Ideals, are not absolute but something to be interpreted. Our sense of reality has changed as we can manufacture our identities in order to present to the world what we want others to see, though personality tests purportedly allow us to find out who we really are. Attaching meaning to things is impossible as there are no absolutes. One image that floated by during the video caught my eye. It was of art installation outside Marfa, Texas which I visited on a road trip a couple years ago. Along a desolate highway in the middle of the desert there is a Prada “store”.

 If somebody that wasn’t expecting to see this they would question reality and whether or not the “store” was real. It is immaculately kept with shoes displayed in the windows so it seems plausible that you could actually shop there. It is, in fact, just an obscure art installation. Others ways in which reality can be distorted is through technology. Instagram and other social media sites allow users to create a personality for themselves which may or may not represent reality. Photo filters have the ability to make a somewhat sunny day seems brighter than it is. Setting up the perfectly cropped shot also distorts reality as, Chompoo Baritone, shows in her The Truth Behind Instagram Series.

Module 10 Example: Postmodernism...It's Complicated!

PROMPT

This week's video tackled the subject of postmodernism and it did so on the same week in which we tackled radio.  One could argue that a device like the radio could be seen as being a bit postmodern in that, for the first time in history, people could have these ominous and strange noises enter into their houses from far away and thus, the world is made smaller and stranger--information exchange took on new and potentially more ambiguous forms (what are the "airwaves" over which news traveled?).  

Anyways, postmodernism is a tricky subject and much has been written about it.  The video for this week addresses some of its attributes but I'd like students to get some more substantive understanding of postmodernism.  So to that end, for this week's prompt, students will select 1 video from this playlist to watch and learn about postmodernism.  Your blog post should consist of:

1. Linking/embedding the video that you watched into the blog post.
2. Providing a substantial explanation of what the video is about (1 paragraph).
3. A discussion of what you learned about postmodernism and popular culture (1 paragraph).
4.  Identifying some idea within the video that you then can identify or apply within popular culture  (1 paragraph).

(Keep in mind, with #4--if the video is "Postmodernism and Pulp Fiction" or the like, you need to identify something different than Pulp Fiction.)

If you have trouble understanding the specific video that you choose, I recommend first re-watching it.  If that doesn't help, then try another video. However, avoid posting to the blog a post that says you didn't understand the video.  This is why I included many different videos on the playlist.

 
Relevant Labels/Tags:  postmodernism, [specific popular culture you are identifying], [if your video addresses a specific form or aspect of postmodernism]

EXAMPLE

This video focuses mostly on the where postmodernism comes from and its response to modernism.  Postmodernism comes from a place of criticizing the modern world and modernism and its inability to actually solve the problems of the world and rather only amplifies them (more death, war, disease, etc).  Postmodernists move away from the focus on conquering a rational world and admit to a highly irrational world and draw attention to the ways in which traditional knowledge and structures have only reinforced the elites, rather than empowered everyone.  Thus, with any concept of "progress", postmodernists identify the ways in which such progress is still perpetuating inequalities and marginalizing people. 

In applying it to popular culture, I think of the many commercials out there that seemingly have no real connection to their product.  For instance, in the video below, we have Paris Hilton somehow washing and making love to an expensive car all while eating a Carls Jr burger.  The connections are incoherent as one generally doesn't associate food with lovemaking, car washing, or driving, but somehow the creators of this advertisement that this message would be worth the $100,000s it cost to make. It suggests that we are not by any means rational people and that we find nothing wrong with the irrational suggestion here and throughout the advertising world that encourages us to get excited about things that have little connection.