postmodernism and television

POSTMODERNISM AND TELEVISION
BY R SPILSBURY

Critically examine the implications of the postmodern era on television viewing for its audiences.

Postmodernism can be defined as having two meanings, firstly as a type of society (coming after the modern). Driven by the new age (information), encompassing the entire world diversifying through many sub-groups and sub-cultures. Secondly it can be used as a way of knowing the world, by its nature allows society to question the “truth” and the very perception of “reality”. At its core is the belief that there are no standards by which to judge multi-cultural societies, art, fashion etc, or even core beliefs or values. The postmodernist view on knowledge is a relativist ideology; the rejection of universal standards of judgement, by this is meant that everyone can determine the standards that are envisaged. Nothing else compares to the cultural phenomenon that is television, arguably the ‘...