Postmodernism and Consumer Society

In Fredric Jameson's essay Postmodernism and Consumer Society, Jameson discusses the notion of the postmodern aesthetic in terms of the re-exploration of older styles, particularly that associated with low or consumer culture.

He explores postmodern aesthetics as an 'erosion of the older distinction between high culture and so-called mass or popular culture' [p.112].  This applies to my use of consumer grade tape machines in my project and how I will be using them to create a commentary on the 'death' of analogue and mono recording. It will evoke a feeling of a time passed, a previous event that is now redundant.


Also, Jameson describes the use of older styles and form as 'Pastiche' [p.195]. His explanation of the term is that it is 

'the imitation of a peculiar or unique style, the wearing of a stylistic mask, speech in a dead language: but it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without parody's ulterior motive, without the satirical impulse...pastiche is blank parody'[p.195]

I feel that my piece is in fitting with Jameson's pastiche theory because, again, it uses older styles, that of magnetic tape and mono recording, but not in a way to mock or make a joke out of older technology in contrast with the new. Instead I am honouring and admiring the technology, for all it's Lo-Fi stylistic qualities.