Is Sense8 a postmodern Television Production

Sense8 is an American science fiction drama web television series on Netflix created, written and executive-produced by Andy and Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski. The basic plot revolves around eight unique strangers from different parts of the world who all of a sudden become mentally and emotionally linked. The show explores matters that the writers feel science fiction shows tend to ignore, such as politics, identity, sexuality, gender and religion.

Capheus is a bus driver in Nairobi with a passion for the famous actor Jean Claude Van Damme, he uses Van Damme's face to advertise his company therefore it is a pastiche as he show is relating to other texts. Capheus tries to earn money to buy AIDS medicine for his mother and by using Damme he gives the company a face which is relatable to anyone however he is renowned in the western world rather than the African Continent. There is also a strong sense of homosexuality within the text as Lito Rodriguez, a closeted actor struggles to prepare himself for a sexual scene, when help is offered in the way of Daniela Velazquez, Lito's fellow actress however he refuses this sexual offering. This is extremely ironic and unusual as a modern day single male would most likely relish this opportunity. The age barrier and religious beliefs is a postmodernist debate in Sense8 as Kala Dandekar is a university-educated pharmacist and devout Hindu living in Mumbai. She has just got engaged to a man she does not love. Despite her high level of education and attempt of breaking the mould she is still unable to escape the capture of tradition, it is interesting as different generations expect different traditions now, moreover it is obvious how traditions do change over time as in modern day reality it is more than acceptable for a woman to choose who she marries.

The tv show itself is postmodern as it represents globalisation, as the scenes are set all over the world it metaphysically reduces the size of the world. Therefore it enables the audience to gain extra knowledge about different religions; however we can also see how religions and morals are very similar despite the location. This also creates a lack of a clear narrative as the episode jumps from location to location allowing 4-6 minute narratives before moving on. This can be considered postmodern as it confuses the viewer and offers no sort of progression within one unified narrative; it is essentially eight different tv shows. On reflected show breaks the fourth wall as there are such unique locations the show will appeal to a larger audience and therefore the audience will have the ability to relate to the situations that the characters get into within the area. During the episode a White American police officer is given the duty of searching a premises where shots have been fired, his partner and himself search the area and come across a young black boy who is obviously been caught in the cross fire and from the area in which there is a black dominance. Knowing that most white police officers wouldn't care or help this boy, as he is presumed to grow up to become one of the trouble makers in of the neighbourhood, the officer completely contrasts the stereotype as he picks him up and tries to rush him to a hospital despite his partners advice not to help him. This is absolutely postmodern as it doesn't follow the normal proceedings that would occur in our reality today therefore it could be suggested that the producers have blurred the line between reality and fiction as they have created a situation that could occur in our modern society but the characters have dealt with it in a different way to how we would.