Debating the Binary: Realism vs. Postmodernism in the National Creator Awards 2024

Abstract

This paper investigates vlogs through the literary criticism debate of Realism, a movement that seeks to depict reality as it is, versus Postmodernism, which challenges traditional narrative structures and embraces intertextuality. The analysis explores whether a clear distinction between these two movements exists or if a hybrid perspective is possible. Given the increasing production and consumption of vlogs established through the National Creator Awards, the central premise is that vlogs embody aesthetics from Realism or Postmodernism, thereby affecting the public interest. However, the perspectives on aesthetics differ significantly between the two. The methodology involves a systematic conceptual analysis that evaluates vlogs by critically examining relevant literature from the two schools of thought—postmodernism and realism—regarding usage contexts and relevant interrelations. Through the analysis, the paper concludes that vlogs challenge the traditional binary framework of Realism versus Postmodernism, occupying a hybrid space. This hybrid space fosters an open-minded public interest in vlogs, encouraging audiences to be flexible and adaptable in their understanding and appreciation of them, thereby reflecting the evolving nature of media in the digital age.