To what extent would you say that contemporary television news broadcasting is postmodern?
It can be seen that contemporary televesion news is postmodern as it involves inertextuality, bricolage and metanarrative, and Baudrillard's simulacra and hyper reality.
Firstly, it is said that intertextuality and bricolage is a concept of postmodernism and it could be signified in the news. Intertexuality can be signified with news reports where footage from other reports from different news channels such as Al Jazeera or other footage can be used again but with more information, as signified with the Libya conflict, where previous footage is used to show current events. The audience therefore can gaining meaning and see development in the event and follow the event as it is happening, as signified with the Royal Wedding. Therefore, the news would be postmodern as audiences can understand current events whether they've watched the intertextual reference or not.
The element bricolage is also signified in the television news, as some reports do have a mixture of news and documentary , for example sound bridging, voice overs, expert interviews, accounts from witnesses and events that link to the story. Also, metanarrative is also seen in the news as it provides a range of narratives (reports and stories) that help shape our society and culture.
Jean Baudrillard's theory on simulacrum and hyperreality theories which suggests that reality is "the simulation of something which never really existed"shows how the news simulates events around the world , so audiences think the event we are experiencing isnt real as no one in the "actual event" is watching it from the comfort of our home. For example the war we are experiencing is a simulation in our own cultural context.
Overall, the television news broadcasting is post modern as it contains hyperreality, intertextuality, bricolage of which a postmodern text is derived from. The repetion of previpous events may inform audiences and make them view the current event . Also news broadcasting can be postmodern as it mixes elements of documentary and news and can be seen to be a simualtion, as audiences are convinced that the war is ultimately devastating and results in poverty, but to an extent this may not entirely be true.
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