Penny Lane- Benjamin Late

Today we live in a culture of mass production and reproduction. This influx of copies and merchandise makes distinguishing the original/authentic version of anything almost impossible. “The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of the authenticity. According to Benjamin, we must be in the presence of the first in its original condition to have an ‘authentic’ experience. His statements on the topic focused almost entirely on art, but the idea translates to many other aspects of the modern world. Fashion, music, movies, and texts are almost always inspired by an outside source, whether it be another artist, plot, or time-period. We frequently see forms of reproduction in the media, blending various styles and ideas to create a new adaptation from the past. Lyotard stated: “Eclecticism is the degree zero of contemporary general culture.” Post modernity is almost oppositional to the idea of modernity. Modernity was founded in the enlightenment when art, music, literature, and architecture were all inspired by new ideas from freethinkers. Post-modernity is simply a rethinking or combination of old ideas. Bricolage is an eclectic style defined by Lyotard as a Post-Modern method of artificial creation. This technique takes mismatched sources and juxtaposes them to deliver a new sentiment. Nothing is new, just recycled or imitated. The Daily Show has used this Post-Modern technique to reevaluate American media and politics. When news sources are isolated in delivery, it is difficult to pick out the hypocrisy from the mix. John Stewart relies on simple comparison to make his points. The footage is not altered, but it exposes what goes unnoticed by an inconsistent viewer. He shows us the ironic truth that lies beneath the surface of our media coverage, redefining perspective through enlightened humor.
The following link is a D.S. review of the past week:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/fri-december-4-2009/recap---week-of-11-30-09