Perspectives - 5 Ways that Inception is Postmodern

1. The viewer doesn't know the truth since there are so many layers of the dream. Are they still dreaming or are they in reality again? This is evident at the end of the film when Cobb spins his totem. We never see if it stops spinning or not. It it keeps spinning it means he's still in a dream, but if it stops then its reality. The film ends before anyone finds out.

2. There is also Intertexuality in the film. Most obvious is the Penrose stairs, used by architects as a way to create a continuous loop for their target. Penrose stairs are an optical illusion, impossible to create for real architects, but possible in the dream world.

3. The film uses techniques from multiples genres, most notably sci-fi. The Dream Machine our protagonists use is something we could only hope to create in real life, but in this film it is made a reality. The use of multiple genres is Pastiche.

4. The dream world and Limbo in Inception are both Simulacrums. They are imitations of reality, and Limbo is furthest from reality. The lower you get in the dream worlds, the more you believe it it reality. Cobb and Mal believe that when they are in Limbo, they are still in reality.

5. The plot is Linear, and uses the concept of the dream world going slower than reality (1 hour in the dream world is 5 minutes in reality). This keeps the film linear without having to resort to back and forths to tell the story. The more dream levels they go into, the slower time goes in the subsequent levels and in reality. Even though in the film it is shown as happening at the same time.

Collaboration - Linear Storytelling - Inception

(Inception Poster, 2010)

Exposition - Cobb and Arthur are extractors. They use experimental tech to steal information from peoples subconscious. After an unsuccessful mission to extract information from Saito, a Japanese businessman, the same target reveals it was a set up for a job.

Inciting Incident - Saito tells them about the job, and tells them that if they succeed, Cobb will be granted immunity for his precious crimes, which means he will be able to see his children again. They accept the job to enter a man named Fishers subconscious to plant an idea in his brain, known as Inception.

Plot Point 1 - Cobb finds a new architect since he can't build anymore. He is concerned his subconscious in the form of his wife Mal will attack his friends if he builds. Ariadne, the new architect, is attacked while learning about the tech and leaves, but Cobb says she will be back.

(Inception, 2010)

Obstacles - Team gets fully assembled and Saitos job goes under way. In the first dream layer they are attacked by fishers trained subconscious. Saito gets shot and if he dies he could call into Limbo. In the second layer, Cobb convinces Fisher that he is his dream defense and persuades him to join the team to battle his subconscious. They enter a third dream to gain access to Fishers emotional attachments.

Plot Point 2 - Fisher is killed by Cobbs subconscious Mal. SO Cobb and Ariadne go into Limbo on purpose to rescue him. Cobb confronts Mal and fisher and Ariadne leave limbo while Cobb goes to rescue Saito.

Climax - Fisher back in the dream ventures into the vault in his mind to confront his father and find peace. The missions succeeds and Cobb finds Saito and reenters reality with him.

Resolution - Everyone awakens from the dreams and Saito grants passage back to his home. CObb goes to see his children.

Bibliography:

Images:

Inception Poster. (2010). [image] Available at: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ShRC1YMrL.jpg [Accessed 22 Oct. 2018].

 Inception. (2010). [DVD] Directed by C. Nolan. United States: Syncopy.