|
Writen for the course “Sociology of Media and the Arts” |
The central question of this paper is “how do the symbolic, cultural, social and economic capitals interplay in the production and the theme of Project Runway; and how are they represented in the show itself?”
This analysis is based mainly on Bourdieu’s theory of cultural production by using his own characteristic theoretical vocabulary of capital and field.
In this paper I take the cartoon “Drawn Together” as a case study and argue that there is a new kind of ‘cultural capital’ that is now required in order to understand postmodern productions such as this one: one that involves extensive knowledge of popular culture and hegemonic discourses involving stereotypes within society. As a case study, this cartoon can demonstrate how the understanding of popular culture and hegemonic discourses is central to the understanding of postmodern gags.
|
Writen for the course “Television in Society” during the academic year 2011-2012 |
This study focuses on internet-memes and proposes a shift of stances in which to understand the phenomenon – from one based on memetics to one based on everyday-creativity and the aesthetics of postmodernism. In order to substantiate this shift, the following question is addressed: In which ways are internet-memes creative and not simply memetic? A selection of internet-memes is then analyzed in their semiotic and discourse attributes with focus on their aesthetic characteristics. The study concludes that through agency and sociability, the composition of internet-memes entails much more than simple imitation. It involves using familiar ideas and previous knowledge in order to make creative unfamiliar combinations; appropriating, remixing and then recontextualizing different elements into novel, amusing, unexpected, and often humorous ways, thus creating something original out of something that has been copied. In sum, internet-memes are a result of individuals playing creatively with memetic elements within the aesthetics of postmodernism.
|
Master Thesis Download the PDF here |
Juliana Brunello 