Jameson would look at this piece and say that it is an example of the end of Modernism because it destroys the notion of the traditional Mona Lisa and puts her painting in to the context of today’s world because of the popularity of the televeision show, The Simpsons. This painting signals the coming of the future, the coming of the end, as stated in Jameson’s essay, what may be constituted as the definition of Post Modernism. He states that it is this idea of premonitions of the future that will be either catastrophic or redemptive. In this case, it is catastrophic because the photo destroys the aura behind the traditional Mona Lisa and everything that she represented. It is postmodern.
Jameson also goes on to describe Postmodernism as a sort of revolt, social or political defiance against what was once considered even the highest of modernism from before the 1950s and 60s. The picture of the Simpsonized Mona Lisa goes on to defy all of the social paradigms associated with the piece from the age of its conception. Jameson would label this as a defiance of the social structure adhering to the idea of Mona Lisa, placing it into the realm of what he considers Postmodernism.
Jameson’s view spoken about in the first half of his essay focuses more on the historical side of Postmodern whereas his second half of the essay brings up the idea of Postmodernism being directly related to Capitalism. In the photo, there is a picture of a Simpsonized Mona Lisa. The Simpsons is a television show meant to entertain viewers and make money for its producers and the writers involved. The television industry itself thrives on the idea of profit and capitalism.
Postmodernism is therefore based on Capitalism, at least in our society, because this photograph is meant to attract more people to watching the show. It was created for an audience to attract attention for the sole reason that it breaks the socially accepted standard of the traditional Mona Lisa piece. It causes controversy, much like capitalism, and therefore spurs a profit, while at the same time defying social conventions supporting the idea that the work is postmodern in Jameson's eyes.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Blog 6 How would Freud describe Jack Bauer's Masculinity?
Freud would probably describe Jack Bauer’s masculinity as an aspect that controls the show. Jack Bauer is a counter-terrorist agent who has a wife and a teenage daughter that he can’t seem to keep an eye on.
Jack Bauer’s masculinity is very apparent in the opening moments of the pilot show where the opening scenes involve Jack playing a board game with his daughter, an activity that would be categorized as gender neutral. Freud would bring up this point because Jack’s masculinity is shown when he chooses to play a board game and not do his daughter’s hair, an activity that would normally be reserved for the mother in the family.
Freud would also describe Jack’s masculinity as repressive because he is assumed to be the head of the family. According to Frued’s theory, there is a point in a male’s life when he stops looking to his mother for comfort and de-familiarizes himself from her and attempts to establish a relationship with the father. He sees that his mother does not have a penis but the father does and this makes him dominant and independent and the son wants to relate to that. Therefore, the male attempts to be the dominiant male for the rest of his life and Jack plays his part well in his family and in the real world, commanding his team. Jack subconsciously exudes these repressive masculine tendencies in his actions because he goes to work whenever he is needed and answers to no one. His wife appears in the pilot to be a stay at home mother. In this case, Jack Bauer’s masculinity overpowers her ability to become a dominant figure in the family. In the pilot, her relationship is secondary in the daughter’s eyes when stacked up to Jack’s.
Jack’s has repressed masculinity because he puts his job above all else in his life. For example, Jack’s sexuality with his wife and the affair with his co-worker is repressed because he needs to protect the country. Jack’s masculine authority in both relationships however is still apparent through his actions and language in both the house and the office. For example, Jack never kisses his wife though he does control the conversation when it comes to talking about a solution to the conflict between his wife and their daughter. Another example appears in the office when Jack hushes his lieutenant when she brings up the affair.
Freud’s theories and their studies were conducted in an age seeming so long ago, though I think they still apply to the family in 24 regardless of the subject matter. Jack is a very masculine character that has repressed childhood memories that shape his actions and his demeanor. Freud idea of the repressive feelings and memories can easily be applied to Jack Bauer.
Jack Bauer’s masculinity is very apparent in the opening moments of the pilot show where the opening scenes involve Jack playing a board game with his daughter, an activity that would be categorized as gender neutral. Freud would bring up this point because Jack’s masculinity is shown when he chooses to play a board game and not do his daughter’s hair, an activity that would normally be reserved for the mother in the family.
Freud would also describe Jack’s masculinity as repressive because he is assumed to be the head of the family. According to Frued’s theory, there is a point in a male’s life when he stops looking to his mother for comfort and de-familiarizes himself from her and attempts to establish a relationship with the father. He sees that his mother does not have a penis but the father does and this makes him dominant and independent and the son wants to relate to that. Therefore, the male attempts to be the dominiant male for the rest of his life and Jack plays his part well in his family and in the real world, commanding his team. Jack subconsciously exudes these repressive masculine tendencies in his actions because he goes to work whenever he is needed and answers to no one. His wife appears in the pilot to be a stay at home mother. In this case, Jack Bauer’s masculinity overpowers her ability to become a dominant figure in the family. In the pilot, her relationship is secondary in the daughter’s eyes when stacked up to Jack’s.
Jack’s has repressed masculinity because he puts his job above all else in his life. For example, Jack’s sexuality with his wife and the affair with his co-worker is repressed because he needs to protect the country. Jack’s masculine authority in both relationships however is still apparent through his actions and language in both the house and the office. For example, Jack never kisses his wife though he does control the conversation when it comes to talking about a solution to the conflict between his wife and their daughter. Another example appears in the office when Jack hushes his lieutenant when she brings up the affair.
Freud’s theories and their studies were conducted in an age seeming so long ago, though I think they still apply to the family in 24 regardless of the subject matter. Jack is a very masculine character that has repressed childhood memories that shape his actions and his demeanor. Freud idea of the repressive feelings and memories can easily be applied to Jack Bauer.
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