The Metamodern Cinema of Taika Waititi

In this book, Kevin Corbett demonstrates the prominent role of metamodern cinematic elements in Taika Waititi’s creative works, tracing their emergence over the course of his decades-long career in film and television.

Analyzing a range of Waititi’s films and television shows including Jojo Rabbit (2019), Reservation Dogs, and What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Corbett highlights how the writer-director embraces the concept of oscillation that lies at the heart of metamodernism’s cultural logic by striking an intentional balance between elements that generate insincerity and disengagement and those that invite audiences to sincerely connect with the characters and story. This variation in tone within individual films and programs, he contends, is reflective of a broader cultural shift in the 21st century as we move beyond the limits of postmodernism.