Date of Award

Fall 2023

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Media & Communication; College of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Lisa Holderman

Abstract

Recent societal changes have pushed artwork and media away from postmodernism as a dominant cultural philosophy. In its place has risen a new theoretical approach, titled Metamodernism, which attempts to discover the meaning behind present day art and media’s strengthening affective qualities, and provide a possible label for this new post-postmodernist state. This is not only an important attempt at understanding the society we live in today but also its broader impact on how we communicate through media. This paper explores the rise of Metamodernism as a theoretical approach within media studies and philosophy, including the term’s inception and growing popularity. After establishing the theoretical background, it explores its applications within film specifically, establishing a framework for the classification of film and television as “Metamodernist” before examining Metamodernism within the context of Barbie, Oppenheimer, and the Barbenheimer social phenomenon using an established set of Metamodernist criteria. This background and ultimate application of the term allows us to see how our current society is impacting our media and vice versa, as well as the broader impact of this new Metamodernist era.

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Hopeful Oscillation: Metamodernism, Barbenheimer, and Our New Cultural Undercurrent

Recent societal changes have pushed artwork and media away from postmodernism as a dominant cultural philosophy. In its place has risen a new theoretical approach, titled Metamodernism, which attempts to discover the meaning behind present day art and media’s strengthening affective qualities, and provide a possible label for this new post-postmodernist state. This is not only an important attempt at understanding the society we live in today but also its broader impact on how we communicate through media. This paper explores the rise of Metamodernism as a theoretical approach within media studies and philosophy, including the term’s inception and growing popularity. After establishing the theoretical background, it explores its applications within film specifically, establishing a framework for the classification of film and television as “Metamodernist” before examining Metamodernism within the context of Barbie, Oppenheimer, and the Barbenheimer social phenomenon using an established set of Metamodernist criteria. This background and ultimate application of the term allows us to see how our current society is impacting our media and vice versa, as well as the broader impact of this new Metamodernist era.