Clever mashups: online parodies and the contingency of meaning

Abstract

This article concerns mashup parodies, a genre of audio-visual remixing that has gained popularity online in recent years. Proceeding from the conviction that the often stylistically savvy and semantically complex videos merit a critical, closer reading, I take as my analytical exemplar the trailer spoof 'Titanic: Two the Surface'. In my reading of the clip I pay attention to how the play with contingency of meaning performed through montage, draws critical attention to the viewing situation, the representation of cinematic genres in theatrical trailers and strategizing in the film industry. Prompted by the study, I will conclude the article with some thoughts on further investigation into using the parody mashup as a source for media literacy skills.