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Modernity, Intermediality, and the Uncanny: Exploring the Strange and Unfamiliar in the Age of Digitalization

Colt Simmons

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Published in The Cinema Of Manoel De Oliveira: Modernity Intermediality And The Uncanny

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: The Intermedial Landscape of Modernity

Modernity is an era characterized by rapid technological advancements and profound societal transformations. It has witnessed the emergence of new forms of media and communication, from the printing press to the internet, that have profoundly impacted our perceptions, experiences, and ways of life. This technological evolution has led to an interconnected and intermedial cultural landscape, where different media forms intermingle and interact to produce new and often uncanny experiences.

The Cinema of Manoel de Oliveira: Modernity, Intermediality and the Uncanny

by Hajnal Király

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3762 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	156 pages

Intermediality: Blurring the Boundaries of Meaning

Intermediality refers to the interplay and interpenetration of different media forms. It occurs when elements, techniques, or aesthetics from one medium are incorporated into another, creating a hybrid or複合 media experience. For example, the use of cinematic techniques in video games, or the incorporation of interactive elements into literature and film, blurs the boundaries between traditional media forms and creates new possibilities for expression.

Intermediality often results in the creation of novel and unconventional forms of storytelling and artistic expression. It challenges established genres and conventions, opening up new avenues for creative exploration. In this process, the boundaries between different art forms become fluid, allowing for the emergence of hybrid works that defy easy categorization.

The Uncanny in Intermediality

The concept of the uncanny, as theorized by Sigmund Freud, describes a feeling of strangeness and disorientation that is both familiar and unfamiliar. It is often evoked in situations where the boundary between the familiar and the foreign or the known and the unknown becomes blurred. Intermediality has the potential to produce uncanny experiences, as it disrupts our expectations and challenges our understanding of what is real or authentic.

When different media forms are combined, they can create unexpected and unfamiliar contexts, leading to a sense of the uncanny. For example, the use of virtual reality to simulate real-life experiences can blur the line between reality and simulation, creating a disorienting and uncanny effect. Similarly, the juxtaposition of digital and physical elements in augmented reality can disrupt our sense of spatial boundaries and evoke feelings of the uncanny.

The Impact of Intermediality on Identity and Experience

Intermediality has significant implications for our understanding of identity and experience in modern society. The constant interaction and blending of different media forms through digitalization are shaping how we perceive and construct our identities. Social media platforms and online communities, for example, allow individuals to curate a multi-faceted and intermedial representation of themselves, blurring the boundaries between physical and virtual selves.

Furthermore, intermediality has the power to alter our perception of time and space. The instantaneous transmission of information and the ability to access vast amounts of content from around the world have broken down traditional barriers of distance and time. This has led to a sense of immediacy and interconnectedness, but it can also result in a feeling of fragmentation and disorientation as we navigate an increasingly complex and intermedial world.

: Intermediality as a Catalyst for Uncanny Experiences in Modernity

Intermediality is a defining characteristic of modern culture and society. It has led to a blending of different media forms and the emergence of new hybrid forms of expression. This intermedial landscape has the potential to produce uncanny experiences that disrupt our expectations and challenge our understanding of what is real or authentic. As technology continues to advance and media forms continue to evolve, the uncanny will likely remain a significant aspect of our experiences in the digital age.

Intermediality, with its capacity to produce uncanny experiences, offers new opportunities for artistic exploration and creative expression. It has the power to challenge our perceptions, expand our imaginations, and ultimately transform our understanding of the world around us.

The Cinema of Manoel de Oliveira: Modernity, Intermediality and the Uncanny

by Hajnal Király

4.3 out of 5