MM
2. Intertextuality
and progressive reaction to the modernist but to be an active and aware participant ready
An author’s borrowing and
movement; thus there are qualities that can to follow whatever twist and turn the text decides
transformation of a prior text
be shared by each. Postmodernism, after all, to take. It acts as a media puzzle waiting to be
The Boosh openly borrows, mimics and adopts
embraces playful imitation so modernism can pieced together by the individual decoder who
the traits of a multitude of styles, clichés and
be evident as an intentional ironic reference. gains much satisfaction from it.
conventions that the knowing audience can
The mere definition of each movement can be
directly relate to. Take the Tundra Rap: all the
a subjective playground for analytical minds
9. Hyper-conscious
conventions of a trashy music video with Howard
but they can be best illustrated as two spheres
Aware of itself
and Vince rapping direct to camera, cutting
interlocking where similarities meet.
This hyper-consciousness allows the text
to the beat, erratic camera techniques and all
So, even though a postmodern text can be
to dissolve that fourth wall and highlight the
complemented by the generic lyrical gems that
constructed from already tried-and-tested genres,
awareness of the medium it is playing with. This
make rap so distinguishable. A single character
techniques and stock characters, it can still be as
allows JD in Scrubs (E4) directly to reference
like the Spirit of Jazz can also reference a
forward thinking as a modernist text (Pulp Fiction
the soundtrack which is intended to be diegetic
multitude of other people like Papa Lazarou from
being a prime example).
or Peter Griffin in Family Guy (BBC3) playfully
The League of Gentlemen, The Black and White
Postmodernism acts against reason,
to reference the fact that the programme was
Minstrel Show (BBC, 1950s) or even Slash from
orthodoxy and logic to bring us a text that is
cancelled twice by HBO before they realised that
Guns and Roses. Parallels are regularly made
rich with surrealism and unpredictability. The
it was one of the biggest selling DVDs of all time.
between The Boosh, Monty Python, Spaced,
Boosh exhibits this at every given opportunity
The Boosh team cleverly use this at the
The Goodies and The League of Gentlemen with
to articulate their idiosyncratic humour: a talking
beginning of each episode with Vince and
their individual brands of surrealist humour and
gorilla, a Mexican jazz-fusion guitarist with a door
Howard standing in front of stage curtains
sporadic happenings. It is this recognition and
in his afro, a man made of cheese. You learn to
introducing the show with direct references as to
familiarity that appeals to the active audience.
accept the fact that there is no justification or
what to look out for. Their live show also uses this
reasoning behind actions or characters. They exist
technique, much to the audience’s delight, when
3. Parody
because they can exist; it is a celebration of the
they break in and out of ‘scripted lines’ to address
A humorous or satirical imitation of a
medium of television that allows The Boosh to
the audience providing us with a postmodern
text
pick and choose from a long history of tried and
mix of stand-up, improvisational and theatrical
The epitome of a film devoted to parody
tested formulas. These familiar formulas ironically
styles.
would be a spoof like Scary Movie (2000) or Not
combine to create something that is an original
The Mighty Boosh provides us with
Another Teen Movie (2001). This works on the
breath of fresh air.
an effective framework for postmodern
basis that the knowing audience will recognise
deconstruction and is bursting with its
an imitation of style, character, scenario and/or
6. Nostalgic characteristics from the music, costumes,
technique and enjoy the process of recognition
Celebrates the past and bathes in its characters, design, mise-en-scène and dialogue. It
and familiarisation. Commonly associated with
glory provides its active audience with a contemporary
politics, satire can be described as parody
Whereas modernism looks forward to push variety show that is all knowing, highly aware
with teeth; compared to parody with its playful
the medium into the next phase, postmodernism and above all, a celebration of the medium of
mimicking, satire has more of a statement to
looks back, borrowing from others to construct a television.
make by ridiculing and criticising individuals or
text rich with references.
Richard Smith is a Film, Media & English Teacher at Herne Bay
issues as evident in 2D TV (ITV) or the political
satire Spitting Image (ITV, 1984-1996).
7. Narcissistic
High School, Kent. He is also a doing an MA in Education.
The Boosh is scattered with parodies from
Fascination with oneself; excessive self-
the generic (see Mutants for a take on the Sci-Fi,
love; vanity
Glossary
Horror genres), musical (see hard rock parodied
Postmodernism is obsessed with itself, acting
Eclecticism: A wide range of influences,
in Bollo’s Monkey Hell) or textual (see ‘The
like a child in a sweet shop, jumping from shelf
contributions and techniques.
Nightmare of Milky Joe’ for a take on Castaway).
to shelf snatching what it can, gobbling the
It is this soft imitation which gives the audience
goodies and charging towards the next jar. This
Intertextuality: An author’s borrowing and
a frame for reference evoking familiarity and
narcissism is predominantly evident in the
transformation of a prior text.
appreciation.
character of Vince Noir who has a fascination Parody: A satirical imitation of a text.
with his appearance and a burning passion to
Bricolage: A technique where works are
4. Bricolage
become a front man (his idol being Mick Jagger).
constructed from various materials available.
A technique where works are
His vanity and rebel status reflects a spirit of the
constructed from various materials
movement that echoes in the words of Al Gore:
Acts against modernism: Postmodernism
available
It’s the combination of narcissism and
embodies scepticism towards the ideas and
One criticism of postmodernism is the fact that
nihilism (total rejection of established
ideals of the modern era, especially the ideas
it represents a decline in originality, an era where
laws and institutions) that really defines
of progress, objectivity, reason, certainty,
we can bring nothing new to the cooking pot
postmodernism.
personal identity and grand narrative.
but simply recycle old formulas. The Boosh can
Nostalgic: Celebrates the past and its glory.
be viewed as a bricolage of many already tried-
8. An active audience
Narcissistic: Fascination with oneself;
and-tested formulas but does this make it less
The assertion that meaning and
excessive self-love; vanity.
original? A musician won’t play a note that no
experience can only be created by
one else has played before but it is the way the
the individual, and cannot be made
An active audience: The assertion that
notes are played and the order they are played in
objective by an author or narrator; an
meaning and experience can only be created
that makes it a unique musical piece.
assumption of an intelligent and active
by the individual, and cannot be made
audience
objective by an author or narrator. Assumes an
intelligent and active audience.
5. Acts against modernism
With a text packed full of treats its aim is to
Postmodernism embodies scepticism
recognise that the audience are an all-knowing
Hyper-conscious: Aware of itself.
towards the ideas and ideals of the
media-saturated entity. Why attempt to create
modern era, especially the ideas of
something never seen before when you can give Images courtesy of © BBC
progress, objectivity, reason, certainty,
the knowing nod to an audience at every twist
personal identity and grand narrative
and turn within the postmodern playground?
Postmodernism is best viewed as a gradual
In this unpredictable, surreal and unreasoning
postmodernist world, the audience has no choice
english and media centre | February 2008 | MediaMagazine 9
MM23S&G13.02.08.indd 9 14/2/08 12:30:13
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