Se7en and Postmodernism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOSsUF0WARM
07:40-11:00

The above chosen clip highlights what I believe to be the most imperative and defining aspect of postmodernism; that of Jameson’s ideology of the death of individuality as a result of constant commodification of imagery. Thus, as a consequence, the self is restricted to existing as a mere copy of a corporatised copy, in which autonomy is measured through the success of commodities rather than authentic self-hood.

My scene selection from Se7en exemplifies this notion of pre-judgment in a postmodern society through John Doe’s reasoning behind his murders. He stated that his killings were a result of the sinful society in which we inhabit, thus in turn; each sin acts as a portrayal of each cornerstone of postmodern civilization – creating a crumbling social foundation. The first was a representation of ‘greed’, ‘“An obese man, a disgusting man who could barely stand up”’ in correlation to the lawyer who, ‘“…dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets.”’Thus, both men exhibit a personification of two aspects of modern society, which, according to Doe were ruining the authenticity and nature of civilization. This aspect is furthered when he explains why he killed the model; a depiction of ‘pride’, ‘“[she was] a woman, so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside”. Therefore, the model acts as a perfect exemplification of postmodernism – she became so obsessed with her self-image that she chose death over a life in which she would be othered as a result of her appearance. The death of the prostitute therefore, acts as another representation of a world of desire and falsity, in which even the act of sexual intercourse has to be simulated. The real has died to make way for the simulacrum.

The notion of imagery triumphing reality can be further addressed when noting Detective David Mills’ response to Doe’s accusation of a sinful society, he stated, “You’re no messiah, you’re a movie of the week, you’re a fucking t-shirt at best”. The analogy of a t-shirt therefore, directly correlates to the notion of sign value and the thought of Doe as a pure image, something to be worn and then discarded. This aspect of postmodernism prevails throughout the film, using signs and images to provoke a new outlook on society. Doe’s murders therefore, use postmodernism as a device to relate the imagery of the murders with the seven sins. Postmodernism becomes personified.