Post-class Dec. 2

One of the most interesting topics discussed in class today was how Jameson defined the difference between a pastiche and a parody. It was brought up that a parody “mocks an original” and is associated with a sense of humor. Jameson further expands the idea of a “parody” to include a mockery with substance, something that is created to honor or show respect to the original piece of work, something not necessarily with a negative connotation in the least. However, when Jameson describes a pastiche, he uses strongly negative words, including associating a pastiche with an “empty” or “bankrupt” recreation. A pastiche lacks important political and historical meaning.

In class, the Victoria’s Secret fashion show was brought up as an example of a pastiche of the human body. Unlike the vestiges from Ancient Greece celebrating the beauty of humanity, the Victoria’s Secret extravaganza exploits the body in order to make a profit and sell lingerie. Although I understand how Jameson can find recreations like this “empty” in the sense that they do not place a value upon thought, creation, and representation like many classic remnants of artworks do, I think these representations are valuable in a different mindset as well. They denounce what Jameson describes as the current dominate form of culture- that which is postmodern. Culture and art in Jameson’s postmodern sense idealizes the virtues of capitalism. The works are made for the purpose of profit, no longer expression. This is not to say this form of art and culture is less worthy of production than the intellectual works, but it does show the shift of values of the culture of our time. Although the works are pastiche and lack, as Jameson suggests, historical and political impact in the intellectual sense, they are meaningful in the capitalist society and thus are a huge part of our current culture.