Postmodern TV:

Gogglebox
L.O: To identify the pomo features of
Gogglebox
Starter: Why is this show
appealing? Do you like it?
What is implied by this opening image?
 Why is it pomo?
As you watch make notes for the feature I
give you.
Recycling culture
Challenging originality
Self awareness
Fragmentation of meaning
 Why is it pomo?
Were watching people watching tv this is pomo in
itself- holding up a mirror
Recycling culture: Its a real-life version of TV drama
The Royle Family, which Goggleboxs producers have
described as an inspiration.
Challenging originality - Culture eats itself as there
is no longer anything new to produce or distribute.
Postmodern media rejects the idea that any media
text is of any greater value than another. All
judgements of value are merely taste. Anything can
be art, anything can deserve to reach an audience.
 Rejects conventions of TV programmes and an
organising principle: No narrative, just people watching
TV, the programme is dependent on peoples reactions.
Differing reactions fragmentation of meaning
Voyeurism, insights into relationships, making private
realities public collapsing the spheres of private and
public
Hyperreality. The programme has an element of
hyperreality but this is not what it is interesting about it
and should not be part of your analysis of it.
They know theyre being filmed so it cant be entirely
genuine reactions some self modification inevitable?
The observer's paradox (phenomena where the
observation of an event or experiment is influenced by
the presence of the observer/investigator)?
Self-aware and were aware of construct their reactions
to tv have become our tv. Were aware of editing
decisions that must have been made.
 What do the critics say?
Culture asymptotically approaches reality in
these works; it cannot fully replicate it. There
is no such thing as an undistorted lens Cecily
Long Flamingo Mumbai.
We are all, every single one of us, like Greek
god Narcissus. We just love our own
reflection. (The Radio Times 07 March 2014)
 What do the critics say?
Farah Ramzan Golant, the boss of production giant
All3Media, whose subsidiary Studio Lambert created
Gogglebox, believes there is a simple explanation for
its appeal. Everyone loves watching TV and talking
about TV, she says. But the show isnt really about
TV. The show is about peoples lives, their
relationships, their living rooms and the way children
and parents talk about TV. (The Evening Standard:
18 December 2013)
Ramzan Golant goes so far as to claim that its a
cultural phenomenon as we get to see people react
to events such as the death of Nelson Mandela. Its
near real-time because youre watching what
happened in the seven days before, she says.
 Why do audiences like it?
We relate to and identify with the people.
Bonding experience within families and on a broader national scale.
Diverse range of people positive representations brings Britain together.
Bringing TV viewing back to a communal experience after viewing became a
more disparate experience due to the proliferation of viewing devices and
cordcutting from schedules. - Uses and gratifications socialbut faux social
as were not really watching with them.
Viewing the viewer, it reframes cultural observation as an act of participation.
Hashtagging joining in, becoming critic and creator. Others can watch you
watching them watching tv. Arguably part of the reason Gogglebox struck a
chord is that it replicates the way millions of people have begun talking about
their favourite shows on social media and has brought that conversation back
to the big screen in the Twitter era, when anyone can be a television critic.
The programme simultaneously draws together the audience while reflecting
the diversity and difference of the participants and the viewers.
Comical and enjoyable to see our reactions mirrored back at us. Reflecting our
lives.