The text Simulations by French philosopher and cultural theorist Jean Baudrillard is very difficult to digest. Alongside it being a philosophical work it also entrenches the reader to think about the hyperreal, and question the idea of simulations.
Upon further investigation I have discovered the example of Disneyland. It is a perfect example to forefront the philosophical ideas contained in the text. Disneyland is of a hyperreality. As Baudrillard defines it: "The generation of models of a real without origin or reality". Disneyland is a physical place in Anaheim, California that is based off of the fictional characters and places of Walt Disney's brand. In other words, Disneyland is a generated model of a place without reality. That is how I am understanding it although I'm sure I am leaving things out. This example fits under post and present culture due to the fact that Disneyland has been around since 1955.
But before I get too ahead of myself throughout this course I also feel that I should define simulations/simulacrum. Again, it is my understanding that simulacrum is an image or representation of someone or something. That is the basic understanding. But due to Baudrillard there seems to be another layer to the 'face value' definition. The fact that simulacrum is an image or representation of someone or something that in a way "threatens the difference between 'true' and 'false', between 'real' and 'imaginary'"(5 Simulations). This creates more complexities.
Don't forget this is 'theory' and not even aspiring to fact...raw ideas to stimulate more ideas/understandings. Some of the applications can be subtle...how social events (like weddings) can be more photo-ops than real socializing.
ReplyDelete