2. The video for ‘All The Small Things’ by Blink-182 is post-modern for multiple reasons, as too are many other videos. The
first, and probably largest reason for this video being post-modern is the fact that the video uses pastiche throughout and
is very much a parody of other music videos from the time of its creation. The music video mimics key scenes from other
pop singers and boy bands’ videos from the time. For example the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Britney
Spears, Ricky Martin and Westlife. This would therefore imply that the music video is postmodern due to the idea of
pastiche but also because of the fact that the video masks the original content, and people will then remember this video
and not the original video.
Moreover, the video is also post-modern because of the fact that it is very ironic. This is because the video is very pop-
based and is directed in the way that a music video for a pop artist would be. However, in reality we know that Blink-182
are a rock trio and not a boy band. Although, in this video they are portrayed to be a pop band by adhering to all the
common perceptions and conventions that we expect to see in a pop video. This irony is then another factor that makes
the video post-modern as they are treating this big event in a light-hearted manner.
Finally, the video uses intertextuality consistently throughout, and this is yet again another reason for the video
being post-modern. The video references other videos for the entire running time, and the videos plot is based solely on
the scenes of other music videos. This then reflects how the video is very post-modern as it uses things from the past and
audiences pragmatical understanding in order to make their own video understandable and enjoyable.
All The Small Things- Blink 182
3. The first reasoning for Lady Gaga being post-modern comes from Jean Baudrillards idea of hyperreality
where he states that we cannot separate the images that we are shown from what is the reality. In
relation to Lady Gaga, her name is a clear symbol of hyperreality as it allows her to have two
personalities as she is never referred to as Stefani Germanotta. This also allows her to keep her different
lives separate; ultimately allowing her to control her image and get away with wearing outrageous
outfits as this is the hyperreality presented to us for Lady Gaga. Furthermore, with the creation of a
hyper-real version of herself, she is able to keep attention away from the reality of her everyday life.
Intertextual referencing is another key aspect into the bravado of Lady Gaga and this factor is used
in almost everyone of her videos. In relation to the ‘Telephone’ video, Gaga calls Beyonce ‘Honey Bee’
which is indirectly a reference to ‘Honey Bunny’ who is a character in Quintin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction’.
Furthermore, the label of ‘Pussy Wagon’ on the car they drive is taken from ‘Kill Bill’ where the same
thing is used. These intertextual reference give the audience something to relate to, but also makes the
original content and boosts her image.
To conclude, bricolage is another major influence on Lady Gaga’s persona and it could also be
argued that the way she dresses alone is a bricolage due to the fact that it is so outrageous and creates a
totally different image. Bricolage could also be denoted in her video ‘Paparazzi’ where she uses the
iconic signifier of a cup and saucer and continues to style herself around that item. This has then become
an iconic signifier of Lady Gaga, therefore highlighting a new image of an item has lead it to have a
different meaning.
