Jim Jarmusch: Modern or postmodern?

[tinet.ie]

I'm a Communications student from Ireland currently preparing to write a
thesis on Jim Jarmusch. (I am particularly focusing in particular on the
films "Stranger than Paradise", "Down By Law" and "Mystery Train".) My main
point of interest is the overlap between modernism and postmodernism as they
pertain to these films. If anyone could provide me with any information in
this regard it would be very much appreciated. Alternatively if anyone could
locate any existing similar analyses (i.e. the co-existence of modernism/
postmodernism) of other contemporary filmmakers, that would also prove very
useful.

many thanks,

Colin Lawlor

P.S. feel free to e-mail me direct :
cjla...@tinet.ie or
cjla...@studentmail.dit.ie or
colin...@hotmail.com

[John Harkness]

I interviewed Susan Sontag some years ago and asked her what she thought the
difference was between modernism and postmodernism, and she said that
postmodernism was simply modernism with a sense of the marketplace.

I don't think either word really applies to Jarmusch, whose work is in many ways
quite conventional if minimalist -- Stranger Than Paradise and Down By Law have
perfect three act structures, There's not a great deal of difference between
Night On Earth and -- what's the title of the Memphis hotel room movie? -- and
other omnibus films, past and present.

Dead Man is modernist in its referentiality, though not particularly new or
interesting.

John

[GrapeApe]

I see no obvious post-modernism in Jarmuschs work, which I think would be
harkening back quite obviously in its references. I really don't think of his
work as referencing other films that much. Doesn't mean its not worth hunting
for them. (hey he did a film with people talking in a car, doesnt that remind
you of Wild Strawberries?)

I think you might be able to call Tarentinos work postmodern, as his films wear
their influence on their sleeve. You have nods to several earlier genres, use
of macguffin AS macguffin, emphasis on dialog that may not have been seen since
the MPAA ratings came into being, without making modern audiences think the
films are too wordy.

[Jeff Williams]

In article <19990306201251...@ng-fa1.aol.com>,

grap...@aol.com (GrapeApe) wrote:
> I think you might be able to call Tarentinos work postmodern, as his films
wear
> their influence on their sleeve. You have nods to several earlier genres, use
> of macguffin AS macguffin, emphasis on dialog that may not have been seen
since
> the MPAA ratings came into being, without making modern audiences think the
> films are too wordy.

Well, *most* modern audiences anyway... not me.

Anyway I agree that I wouldn't call Jarmusch post-modern...

// Jeff Williams
// bassc...@my-dejanews.com
// http://www.geocities.com/soho/2024
// Not a Tarantino fan.

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