Postmodern dictionary.

Simulacra - A sign that has no relation to reality. You can be shown a picture of something but the real thing is never as good, or looks as the picture does.

This is an advert for Paris Glam Shine Reflexion. This lip gloss is shown as extremely glossy and 'sparkley'.



In Inglorious Bastards the blonde lady who owns the cinema comes across a young, pretty intelligent women, who runs a cinema and is helping the Germans out by letting them use her cinema. however...
Simulation - This is the actual reality of something.
This is how a Big Mac actually looks, however it is not advertised this way.

When relating to Inglorious Bastards the blonde lady is out to seek revenge. She is evil and kills hundreds of people in her theatre, as well as burning down her property.


Addition - When something is added into a film. For example in Kick Ass comedy is added into this film, where usually comedy doesn't occur in superhero films. e.g. Batman.
Deletion - When something is taken out of the film. For example Kick Ass is not out to seek revenge, he doesn't have any powers, he doesn't find a superhero.
Substitution - When an element is swapped. For example the superhero powers which are usually compulsary in most superhero films dont occur throughout any of Kick Ass.
Transposition - When something is added in which doesn't belong in there. For example the mafia are featured in Kick Ass.

Pastiche - An imitation of an existing style. Often it is done in a light hearted way but often it takes the form of a 'satire'.

For example the story of Kick Ass follows a similar one to Superman. This is as a pastiche as it isn't mocking Superman, it is simply following its story line.

Satire - An attempt to mock or ridicule topical issues. This can often mean that its humour or purpose is fleeting as it relies on the audience knowing the issues that are being set up.

Grand Narratives - This is a big explanation as to why things happen. An example being that scientists believe in the Big Bang theory, and that we developed from apes etc.
Micro Narratives - Smaller explanations as to why things happen. In the film Kick Ass it consists of many small story lines.

Paradox - Something which contradicts itself. Post modernism is a paradox as it says theyre is no such thing as structure or design, so by saying their is no point it is therefore making a point.

Pluralism - Belief that their is no one answer to anything. There are two types...
Normative pluralism - Calim that no narrative, expressions etc are any better than any others.
The second type (no name) - Different views are excepted, without denying that something is better than anything else.

Hyper reality - This is when the representation of the place supercedes the reality. For example London is presented in a far more glamourous way that it really is.