Perspectives: Reasons Why 'Inception' is Postmodern

Inception- Directed by Christopher Nolan in 2010

Reasons why Inception is postmodern:

1. There is magic realism in Inception, as the viewer doesn't know what the truth is because of the multiple levels of dreams. Especially at the end, the viewer doesn't know if he is now in reality or if he is still dreaming when he finally makes it back to his children.

   

   Ending when he finally makes it back to his children
   

2. There is intertextuality in the film- there is mention and use of the penrose staircase which is an impossible staircase architecturally, but is able to be used in the dreams because of the idea that anything is possible in a dream.

   

   Penrose staircase
   

3. Inception uses techniques from multiple different genres including Sci-fi, action and neo noir. It has elements of neo noir because of the use of flashbacks, Mal as the femme fatale character and Cobb as the non-heroic hero. The sci-fi aspects include the 'dream machine' and the vault where Fischer sees his father. 

   

   Vault where Fischer sees his father
   

4. The use of CGI in the dream sequences to create impossible scenarios- for example when the city folds in half. The use of CGI allows the film to bring impossible scenarios in reality to life in the dream.

   

   City folding in half
   

5. The film seems to be linear as the plot is moving forward in time, but it is in fact much more complicated as time moves at different speeds in each level of the dream. So at the climax of the film, the characters in the different levels have varying amounts of time to complete there tasks- e.g. the van falling from the bridge is repeatedly shown in slow motion, while the Cobb has much more time, even though these events are suppose to be happening simultaneously. 

   

   Van falling from the bridge in slow motion