<브리짓 존스의 일기>에 나타난 포스트모던적 정치성

Postmodern Politics in Bridget Jones Diary

This paper reveals some positive political aspects of postmodern popular culture in two movies, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, both based on novels with the same titles written by Helen Fielding. The first positive political aspect recognized from these movies is that women show a better interpersonal ability to play a stronger role in human relationships in current times, when tradition and customs have almost collapsed, and intimacy has become an increasingly important measure in maintaining a solid relationship among people. Women have become better at developing intimacy because in the past they had to retain a strong bond amongst themselves to survive in patriarchal society. Secondly, Bridget becomes socially and politically rebellious as she mocks and breaks away from the supremacy of physical appearance oriented value promoted by contemporary consumerist capitalism. She parodies the importance of appearance by imitating femininity in an eccentric comic way. Thirdly, Bridget continues to insist on reflecting upon her current situation to design a better lifestyle, even after becoming confused and frustrated when attempting to make the appropriate decisions in each moment with so many options available arising from the diversity of values in modern life. Sometimes, she fantasizes about tradition, where she might simply follow a more predetermined way of life, but it does not mean she wants to be traditional. As a matter of fact, she holds a strong postmodern attitude, which recognizes a multiplicity of values and beliefs. Finally, her ‘reflexive’ project forms the basis of ‘life politics,’ which is concerned with political issues from local to global, flowing from processes of self-actualization in post-traditional contexts. This reflective attitude towards life allows Bridget to realize a sense of belonging with others, which leads people to live in pleasant coexistence.