Friday, August 29, 2008
Blog #1: How do you interpret Baudrillard's concept of the simulacra? Can you identify other simulacras?
Hi all- it's been a pleasure having all of you in class and talking with you! For your first blog entry, please respond to the question posed above as you also read through your peers' responses. In your responses, please take into consideration class discussions, readings, peer comments, and outside experiences, etc. Your answer is thorough when you have included these aspects. Have fun!
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37 comments:
I interpret Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra as a logical concept in today’s society. Even though Baudrillard speaks in a vocabulary level 20 times over my own and I often find myself going crossed eyed while reading, I’ll try to explain what I mean by “logical concept”. As we discussed in class, this idea of us all following some sort of stamped out/ cookie cutter view of life or culture all stems from traditional happenings in our own lives. For example, most of us grew up in rural environments and we all have perceived conceptions on what we should do or act like, even as we try to create our own identity. Joining the high school football team, becoming a sorority sister, getting a bachelor degree, even the styles of cloths we ware are all products of popular media or traditional influence. This was how we were raised and tend to think, all the while believing that we are our own person and that we are completely unique. His concept of a world created to make us believe that what we live in is real, is a very scary and believable idea.
I guess I would see other simulacra in examples such as church held weddings, the idea of retirement, and even how men and women “should” act in today’s society. Even the example of labeling groups (as mentioned in Dr. Millers paper that we read this past week) such as punk, turned a unnamed group of people who acted, thought, and dressed the same into a fad that many modern punks may not fully understand but still go along with it because of preconceived notions.
I interpret his concept of a simulacra as a false reality that we, as people, create for ourselves. I take it as a false reality we create, a reality that we desire. Like stated in class, the idea of amusement parks. They are places that we can go and live the life that we dream of. When reading and discussing this book, the one thing that always comes to my mind is the "Matrix" movies. In these movies the robots created an alternate reality for the humans to live in. I think this is an obvious example of simulacra because people are living in a alternate reality. I think this simulacra is an evil example, but still an example.
I think another example of simulacra would be video games or computer games. Some allow us to even create another world that we can interact and basically live in. These are ways for people to escape reality
I interpret Baudrillards concept of a simulacra as a reasonable assertion for an explanation of the contemporary times we live in. I think Baudrillard's point is that we have created so much in the space of "the real," like the internet, television, nuclear power, and cinema that we have forsaken the real for a life based mostly around the creations of the human race. I agree most with his assessment of cinema. In my understanding of the chapter in our text, Baudrillard suggests that instead of actually remembering or knowing about history, we now know mostly of history as it has been presented in the movies and through televison. Television and Cinematic shows and movies are the ideas and interpretations of events and stories by a person or group of people which are then made into a feature film and presented to the public as an account of events. To get any completely accurate account of of any event, you must take into account the interpretations of many people who witnessed the historical event. By having single person interpret an event and then retell it to others, you get that persons interpretation of the event not what happened in a completely accurate sense. Doing this for several events and presenting them as fact on the silver screen, changes perceptions of what actually happened in history. Doing this as Baudrillard suggests, changes history by rewriting and there for making history into a simulacra.
I agree with Jason Goldners suggestion of another simulacra because I believe it's the best example we have in today society and that is the world of virtual reality presented in computer and video games. People have the ability to actually spend the majority of their lives in the virtual world as a substitute for this one. I think that would make the virtual world the ultimate simulacra.
Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra too me is best represented by computers and the internet. The internet is a place we all have explored. A place that if filled with endless amounts of visual stimulations. It’s a place where we can go to search for information, communicate with people, create avatars that are to represent ourselves, and to fulfill any possible desire. Anything we can image can be located in this colossal environment… that does not really exist.
The internet is the creation of a “false” environment. Physically, you cannot stand in this environment (we’ll not yet). We can only stand on the outside of this environment, but through computers we are allowed to look into this world through a small screen. Through this small screen, we can find all the information (good and bad) that we could ever aspire to.
All the information on the internet, the text, the images, the graphics… none of it really exists. Everything in this environment is the simulacra of an original. Any idea that is placed on this internet immediately becomes a copy of the original, and is no longer the original. The picture of you on your “facebook” profile is no longer a picture of you, but a computers interpretation of a picture of you. There for it does not really exists, and the original image is lost.
I interpret Jean Baudrillard's concept of the simulacra as a very well thought out concept. In Simulacra and Simulation Baudrillard asks the question, how do we know that we are not all copies of something else? He says that we may not be the originals of ourselves which is very scary to me. It really makes me think about where I came from. Then I think could there really be another me in a different world somewhere? I don't know and probably never will. There are two movies I think about while I'm reading this book. I saw the Truman Show a few years ago and it is a movie with Jim Carey and the main character in the movie thought his life was real but in reality everyone in his life was acting to make a movie about him. He was the only one who didn't know it wasn't real. Another movie I think about is The Stepford Wives. Basically all of the husbands in the movie were in a cult and made their wives into robots. They wanted their wives to be exactly how they wanted so these woman were no longer real but basically figments of their husbands imaginations made real.
My interpret Baudrillard's concept of Simulacra as the alternate reality that we (as humans) intoxicate ourselves into living everyday. What is "real" in today's society? I can hardly find an answer to that question myself. Baudrillard tries to explain this concept in the book. Very interestingly he using very complex word associations that common people would be bewildered in reading.
I find myself thinking about our schooling system as a simulacra becasue we go to school when we are about 4/5 years old and at the time we have no idea why we go. Then, we go to Junior High and High School and instead of learning for full pleasure of learning we are "getting through the system." Then they tell us that we need to get into a college to get a good job and have a better life. Well whats to say i wouldn't have a good life without College or HS?
We go to college not just to gain a greater amount of knowledge we go to graduate. The concepts are mixed up. You ask someone "why do u go to college?" Most of the time they would say "to get a good job" and the whole idea of college is to greater the amount of knowledge base. Well then I would argue that why is college a part of the schooling system and not of major job companies.
Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra made my head spin. After reading and letting everything sink in I was able to agree. The concept of amusement parks is a great example. But people can leave amusement parks, come and go as they please. The same is true about the people living there lives trapped in front of there computers in a virtual reality world as mentioned by Jason Goldner. But eventually these people have to get away from there computers/amusement parks and might get a chance to face the real reality. The problem is people may never get a chance to get away because as soon as they get up out of there seat the i-pod headphones go in and there eyes are glued to the internet on there new cell phone as they walk around in this media controlled society. The biggest problem is people in the past could eventually escape there escape from reality and come back to reality. But new technology like i-pods and cell phones make is virtually impossible for people to see and experience this real world. So a life consumed in virtual reality has become reality. A way to escape reality has now become reality for all of us! As I sit here typing this I tried to think when was the last time I was completely disconnected. No computer/television on in front of me, my music off/headphones not in my ears, and my cell phone not by my side. Then I thought it was on vacation swimming under water in the bay, until I came up to take a breath of air and hear the blaring music from the deck speakers. So underwater is the only temporary escape from the virtually reality, reality that we live in. So Baudrillard helped me see that we made a copy of reality, lost the original, and now live in the copy that we all helped to create.
From the text, Simulacra and Simulation the author makes me question who we really are, as a whole society. I find the term simulacra a deep concept that is hard for many to grasp. I believe that our understanding of what is “real” continues to rapidly change from generation to generation. I find when reading this text it makes you truly look at the world from an outsider’s view. The example used in class related to money is an excellent example. The meaning and role of money has changed tremendously. First, the use of money was for trade and survival. Now in 2008, money represents power, education, material, houses, car, and etc. It is unfortunate that money once was only a form of trade, and now without having money, our society perceives a person as nothing. Also, I agree with C. Stewart’s example of college education. It is true that we feel that college is only to get a good job. College has lost its description of being a place to enhance your knowledge, or broaden your horizons.
Wow! After reading Baudrillard's chapters I was completely lost. I do not think on the same level as he does obviously. I was unable to be in class last Monday, so I didn't get to hear the discussion about the book - so I will try to make some sense out of it. I think Baudrillard's concept of the simulacra is stating that there are many "realities" and it is hard to know which one is real. For example, when I am having a bad day or something I turn to watching "reality" shows on television. It is like my escape from my own reality. It is nice to watch other people and see there problems because it makes you forget about your own. Baudrillard talked about places to escape from reality. This past Tuesday I went to NYC for a fashion show and meet and greet with a designer. I went with the company I interned with last summer
and I was treated like a VIP. On a normal day I wouldn't being sitting next to stars or drinking champagne while I try on $50,000 coats in a designer store. It was unreal. This is like what he is talking about. We have places we escape to that are not how we normally live our lives day to day and it is hard to tell what reality actually is.
After reading Baudrillard's chapter, I was completely lost; however, our discussions in class helped me understand the chapter. I interpreted Baudrillard's concept of simulacra also as false. Like Jason stated, it is something we desire. So many people are stuck in virtual world and don’t know what to do without a cell phone, iPod, or computer. One reason I think so many of us are stuck in virtual world is because it gives us a chance to express ourselves or get lost in something we wish we could have. Every day technology comes out with something new and is a replica of the original product. As we discussed in class simulacra’s three levels represents technology. An example of the third level is cell phones. I remember when I got my first cell phone it was the Nokia brick (as I called it). At the time, that cell phone was the thing to have. Now four years later the iPhone, which is a replica of an earlier cell phone, is the popular phone to have. What ever happened to just picking up a phone and dialing someone? Now people are glued to cell phones and practically walking around with their whole life in it.
Another example of a simulacra is television shows. Sitcoms grab people in and make them think that what is on television is actually how life is. Although sitcoms try to demonstrate how everyday life is, they still add false images to keep the viewer interested.
Awesome thoughts everyone- I was reading Manko's and a question occurred to me with regard to the Simulacra, that is, do you
think we need popular culture, because it helps us cope with a reality that can no longer bear? I mean after all, how many of you need visual or auditory stimuli throughout the day? Hasta manana!
Baudrillard's concept of simulacra is quite confusing but at the same time, it's interesting since it's not something that I read about on a daily basis. Funny, because the idea exists in every day life. I think we take for granted the small, mundane things in life - all of the little things that make us who we are. We're unconsciously becoming ourselves every day, thanks to the things surrounding us. Sitcoms on television is an example of a simulacra - simply because it's depicting other people's lives. We can compare our lives to that of the characters on the sitcom. Also, I agree with Matt Madonna - the internet is a great example of a simulacra. Nothing on the internet is "real" - just replicas of something real.
PS - I was thinking about it, and I realized that any photograph taken of you (and of people and things) are also simulacras since they're copies of something that at one point was a "real" moment in time that no longer exists.
I personally thought that reading Baudrillard's book of Simulacra was tough and hard to understand. After referring to the notes and re-reading, I came to this conclusion. The world of Simulacra I believe is the world that is not everything that it seems. It gives a false sense of reality that I see comparable to that of The Matrix. The Matrix talked about the real life that was beyond the life that everyone normally lives. I can sorta see this relationship to what was written in the book with Disney World. Disney world was created and seen as the real world. Everything else around it was considered not real or fake. I can see that the media a lot of times does this with everything, creating superstars, landmarks, and music/television. Through the media, it creates a different and fake sense of reality.
In addition its being shifted and recreated everyday through the people and how they perceive it. What the media throws out to be real and not real is taken by the people and spun by them. This creates what I think is real and what is not real and is what I think is related to book and simulacra.
Baudrillards concept of simulacra is basically talking about a concept which bears no relation to any reality whatever. I read more in depth about Baudrillard and it talks about how he believes God isn't real better yet anything associated with God exists. Also saying that simulacra is percieved as a negative matter. But In my opinion I interpret Baudruallard concept of simulacra as non logic. I know it may seem logic in the worlds perception, But im takin in the another level in a spiritual rim and seeing it as not logical. If it doesnt fit in the spiritual aspects of my life it has to be deleted from my paths. I believe this concept it false and needs to be re-thought.
Other simulacras could be like that game, i believe its called "A second life" its a world where you can live a life that isn't real, you can get married, have kids, play sports just like your ordinary life. This could fall under the concept of Baudrillards but when it comes to My faith and my walk. I disagree and will not trust in this concept of simulacra
I interpret Baudrillard's concept of simulacra as a concept of what people today consider real. He views people are just moving around like a well trained orcherstra. He says that people are copies without an original, that people do not know who they really are anymore. The introduction of the internet and public television creates a false image of what normal life should be. In today's world people cannot live without items like the internet and cell phones. We talked in class if we can really manage without these things, the example was when people get back from vacation, the first thing we do is check our email. Another example is when we are on a plane, after it lands the first thing everybody does is turn on their cell phones. This is an example of simulacra in its fullest.
After looking at every ones entry's i see that a few people have the same interpretation as i do of Baudrillards concept of the Simulacra as being a "false reality". I also agree that the book made my head spin and made me question what am i reading? An example that i am going to use is the Sims computer game where you create a family and you control every action that they do throughout the day. So its like a "false reality". Donte also mentioned the game "Second Life" which is way more in depth then the Sims. you actually can use real money to buy objects that you want to use in the game, like cars, restaurants, whatever you want you probably can buy it and use it in the game. if you ask me this is a little ridiculous, but o well if that's what people want to do with their life is sit in front of a computer and waste money on stuff that's not real then let me do it hahhaha.
I interpret the concept of simulacra as nothing is as it seems. We believe we are real and that all our ideas and experiences are our own, but how do you really know they are? Since the world lacra is an image or a representation, Baudrillard contends that is what we are, just a representation without an original to prove we exist. Its almost like we are only real on the surface because that is what we see. We are just a mere image of something, but not as original. Simulacras exist in our everyday world from the shows we watch and lose ourselves in, to our reliance on the newest technologies. I was reading on the subject and when you think about it, something as simple fire drill is a simulacra because it has the appearance of an escape from danger without the actual danger. This whole concept really makes you think and question what you think you know.
I feel that simulacras in our society are everywhere and are always changing. Right when we think that we know what is real, someone tells us that it is something different. Example: think about how often the government (whether it be state, local, or national) changes the laws and enforces certain situations differently than other situations. In knowing this, think about what you know is real and acceptable where you currently live; now think how all of those "realities" and rationalities can change just because of a location movement. The norms fluxuate from state to state, I cannot even imagine from country to country. The simulacras of our society are created by those who develop any kind of standards or norms and then those who can quickly change our "reality" by enforcing new regulations. Our social norms are always evolving and the things that appear to be real will always change as well.
Everyone keeps coming back to this idea of a false reality. And while i see that as an entirely plausable interpretation of Baudrillard's concept of simulacra, it also seems to be a sort of "cop-out" response, at least in my eyes. I then keep returning to the word hyperreal and thinking about it in a more literal sense. Hyper. Real. An "overexcited" reality as opposed to a false one? If we don't have the original artifact of something, doesn't that make the copy something of a NEW original? I think what Baudrillard is really beating around the bush at (and yes i realize that is a horrible expression to use, and should not be used by someone from generation Y) the fact that the idea of "reality" is constantly changing, amorphous... alive, even. So rather than say that we live in a false reality, why not place the focus more on a concrete definition of what reality is currently? The key distinction to my thought would be the word currently.
Remember that movie "Pay it Forward" with child star Haley Joel Osmont? The one where one nice thing for society creates three more, and then multiplies at a factorial so you get a ridiculous amount of good things? This reminds me of that movie, because we start out with one idea of what is reality, but then a bunch of sub-ideas become prevalent to a point where the original idea is forgotten and not really important. (Because really, it didn't matter that in the movie it all started with him helping a homeless person... the focus was on what people were doing NOW to pay it forward.)
Therein it is probably more relevant to dissect reality in terms of what is the prevaling feature rather than what is real and what isn't.
And now that i think about all of this, i realize why most of the good classical composers were alcoholics.
I suppose I should start off this blog by admitting that I still am a bit perplexed on Baudrillard's depiction of the world as a simulated atmosphere. After reading some of the comments relating to the Matrix and Disneyland, I began to ponder more upon the theory that these simulations could build a sort of “mental hiding place” for everyone in the world, where they may be sheltered from the dangers which loom in the outside world (that obviously being, reality.) One example in film could include Pan's Labyrinth (directed by Guillermo Del Toro.) This is one of my favorite movies, where the viewers see a bright young girl named Ofelia, who reads fairytales and dreams of living in her fantasy world (although I never quite figured out if this was her conscious effort or not) in order to hide herself from the harsh reality that her loving, widowed mother is now remarried/impregnated by the head fascist dictator of Spain after their civil war around the 1940's. -- Clearly, her life pretty much sucks. She encounters a faun (the mythical creature, not the baby deer) which educates Ofelia of her true roots as the princess whose soul still walks the earth after death from being exposed to sickness outside of her kingdom. Throughout the course of the plot, viewers begin to see where her fantasy world actually comes into reality, in which several components in the film lead you to think that the events occuring are in fact real.
I won't ruin too much more incase anyone wants to actually watch the movie for leisure. Anyway, I believe this example could give a very good idea of where I feel the theory of simulacra and simulation play in my head. Although I am still skeptical since the simulations don't seem to be a tangible object, but rather a state of mind, I can appreciate where Baudrillard feels they affect everyday life. Let's face it, this could be simple enough to compare as: Think of us as the generation who has led such spoiled lives that we are oblivious to those around us who may be reaching out for help at the worst of times. Why is it that so many individuals find themselves emotionless or unable to empathize with others? Could it be that they are simply unable to since they have never experienced the same need, or could they be afraid to leave their own safe place for fear that it might drag them down with the other evils of the world? The simulacra would be built from the individual's desire to surpass reality and have a harmonious life, where the simulation can then carry their mind into their fantasy life where everything is perfect, thus becoming their reality. The individual makes it a reality. -- I'm beginning to see where sj viewed Baudrillard as taking your brain and squeezing it out like a sponge. I hope you guys can relate to some of these and provide some more interesting propositions.
Reading through Baudrillard really made me stop and think as I was going along, if anything so I could try to figure out what it said. Baudrillard's concept of simulacra seems the most clear to me when I think about the example he uses involving the cinema and history. Who is to say what "really" happened so many years ago due to varying points of view and so much being passed along by word of mouth. Really all we have left would be the interpretations of events that are presented through the cinema... which just happen to be simulacra after simulacra. However, some people take it too far and believe that things put into movies are what really happened. But I guess if you think about it, some things could end up being the closest simulacra to what the original really was.
Looking back at some previous comments, I noticed a theme of simulacra being reality we create for ourselves, through video games and other technology. I think that is pretty much the case because I know that I usually don't go through a day without music or television or something to escape what is going on around me. It could be possible that the line between what is "real" and what is simulacra, i.e. amusement parks or television, is really being blurred because of the technology. Eventually (if there isn't already) there will be no distinguishing factors between what is real and what is not.
Baudrillard's concept of simulacra is a concept I would have never thought until I ready the chapters. Just realizing that some things cannot be considered "real" because the original is not present is pretty crazy to me. I never thought of Disneyland as being "fake" because when you are there, it is just another place. So if Disneyland is just "another place," then why isn't Pittsburgh just another place. Maybe Pittsburgh or Indiana are just copies of something that was once real. If Disneyland is perceived to be an escape from reality, then why aren't Hawaii and Fiji considered to be false. The concept of simulacra could involve almost every place on this earth because where everyone else doesn't live, would be an escape from reality.
An other simulacra could be the idea of a wedding. People have a preconceived notion that a wedding is a fairytale that can only happen to some people. When you are actually at a wedding, you are thinking that it is from a story book but really, you are still in a space with other people. Weddings are just copies of what had happened a long time ago, with no original copy.
AHHH.. This book really has to make me think about what truly is real and not real. Jean Baudrillard's concept of simulacra is coming to the realization of separating the real and the fake. As said in class, people come to face the challenge of their own identity. Identity is different than your core being, but people just go with the flow seeming to care what other think and feel about them. People just want to be accepted by society. Therefore, you are losing everything about yourself. We don't even know who we are anymore!
I know Baudrillard talks about how Disney World was to represent the real, while everything on the outside was fake or non existent. This reminded me of my trip to NY over the weekend. It just made me see how stores everywhere are just copies of other stores. How do we know where the real ones originated? How do we know where anything truly begins?
Also, I agree with many of the other entries about our technology. We rely so heavily on technology and even as it progresses. You put yourself in a "virtual" world by watching tv, listening to music, or just browsing on the computer.
Examples: pictures / facebook / myspace / technology / amusement parks / movies. The list can go on and on!
One definition that I found for the word simulacra is as follows:
an image or representation of someone or something.
• an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute.
The primary definition of the word, simulacra, simply states that it is an "image or representation of someone or something." However, it is the secondary definition that I believe that Baudrillard uses to describe this popular culture that is around us... or as far as we know, may not exist.
I completely agree that popular culture as evolved to the point that it is very difficult to see the original intention behind whatever may be happening. One example that I was thinking of, while watching Sunday NFL football, was that there are so many evolutions even in football that have made so many people forget what football was like even as recent as the fifties and sixties. I was watching the football game with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns matched up. The pre-game introduction to the game included interviews with the players and they were discussing how much they hate the opposing teammates, due to a rivalry between the two games. This was unneeded hype, to gain publicity, and ultimately higher TV ratings to then ultimately make more money.
This example made me wonder how everything else around us has been changing so frequently, that we will seemingly evolve to a point where we may not know or remember what the "original" really was.
Though I do believe that things are changing and these changes will ultimately lead us to forget about the originality of these different popular cultural themes, ultimately, I do not believe that Baudrillard is using the word simulacra entirely correctly. It simply means a representation of something else that might not be an unsatisfactory representation of the original. But not that the original has been forgotten. In conclusion, I do see simulacra's all around us, but do not see us as a society, entirely forgetting the originals of popular culture.
As far as Baudrillard is concerned, he has completely confused me. My vocabulary is limited, and I must thank the fact that I’ve got wonderful peers and class experience to understand what Baudrillard is trying to convey.
This idea of simulacra, the hyperreal and a created reality have finally begun to make sense. It seems as though Baudrillard’s concept of simulacra is something that has always been a part of life and continues to change; nothing remains the same while humans continue to change their surroundings to create a pleasurable reality. Thinking along the lines of a few other responders, it almost seems as if Baudrillard is working to educate the human race of a possibility of completely missing what life is like altogether. Like the saying goes, many of us do live in our “own little world,” and what Baudrillard is saying is that such a world is dangerous. Living in that world means that one is oblivious to other important surroundings. For example, some people forget about things like the men and women fighting overseas and certain financial crises. These same people create their own “matrix” or “simulacra” in order to live happily and carefree. I believe this is what Baudrillard is referring to.
Baudrillard refers to history and cinema as a type of simulacra. As a history major, I believe he has a fine point. While most historians do their own independent research on specific topics, many are often warned of the threat of a biased opinion in historical accounts. For example, an account of the Civil War can be biased either towards the North or the South. Again, another account of World War II could be written from the side of the French or the Italian. Each expresses its own unique characteristics, thus can create a simulated idea of reality during that time period.
Cinema, along with many other types of technology, has the same effect. Whether one views a film based on historic events or a mere comedy, it creates its own sense of reality. Video games, especially games themed in war and violence, create a simulation of a “tough guy” reality.
All in all, I sense that Baudrillard is trying to convey the message that today’s society is creating its own world. Nothing is original, it is all simulated. While I do not agree with every point Baudrillard makes, it is easy for me to see where he might be coming from.
Baudrillard's concept of simulacra is still a bit confusing to me. I found it very difficult and frustrating reading the text. I feel after reading the notes and other responses, I may have strengthened my understanding. A simulacra is a representation of something that does not exist and is entirely made up. It may possibly resemble something we feel is real. In reality its actually made up and there is no such thing. We look at reality TV shows like they portray typical situations in everyday life. How can these shows convey what real life is when there are constantly maninpulated by outside sources. This can't be reality because it is being manipulated by camera men, producers, etc. All these influences effect how people react in certain situations. The networks want you to perceive this as being real life. How many people can say that their life resembles anything that they see on a reality TV show. We may be seeing reactions to situations in life. However, how is what we are seeing "real" if it is manipulated by controlled situations.
We defined a simulacra in class as "a copy without in original", I look at this as a evolution. Something that has progressed over time to the point where whatever it is progressing from no longer exists. An example of this may be today's society. It has evolved to the point where a society without out modern advanced no longer is visible.
I am on the same page with most of you in that Baudrillard is twisting my brain, but thinking about where simuulacras may exists allows me to better understand what they are. We also spoke in class about need something fake, such as the Simpson's, to prove that there is something real, the family. Looking at simulacra as a progression, helped me to understand and we do need something fake to guide where we may or may not want the progression to take us. It is almost like a trial run as to where we want to take ourselves.
Baudrillard’s view of simulacra states that our reality is nothing more than copies of a copy which is a simulation of the original, leading us to realize that we no longer can tell the difference between what is real as far as our current view of reality is concerned, and what the actual reality is that had lead to this point.
Something that comes to mind when I think about the Simulacra we are exposed to, is, when was the time before simulacra existed? Is it part of human nature to create simulacra to, as was suggested in class discussion, deal with reality by creating the simulacra to know what is real?
Because my sister was married this past weekend, I have come to realize that the entire wedding was a simulacra,with the exception of the religious ceremony, as it remains unchanged for long periods of time, and isn't influenced by popular culture as much. The reception on the other hand was full of simulacra. Young couples copy their favorite ideas from wedding books and wedding planners to create their dream wedding, however, I am inclined to think that these formalities are copies of copies which are not rooted in a true reality.
After reading only 3 pages of this book i was confused but it's ok. I have to agree after reading all i can think about is the movie "the Matrix" Even years ago when i watched it it got me thinking about false realities. I also thought that when he talked about space it was very interesting and how everything has to be perfect nothing can be left to chance. it's interesting to think that as kids most people want to be an Astronaut.
But i have to disagree with some of the notions that amusement parks are simulacra. because i go to an amusement park to have fun and spend time with my family not to get a way in a false reality. Now video games and computers on the other hand i agree with in fact the perfect example is the south park episode where they play "world of warcraft" and they let them selves go and get fat and and all they worry about is making themselves better in the game not in real life. I have had friends that reminded me of this they would play WOW for hours and hours to no end and i believe that the game is horribly boring.
I interpret Baudrillard's concept of the simulacra as something that is very evident in the world around us, today as well as in the past. Many times there are instances in our daily lives that we forget to pay attention to. Possibly because they happen over and over again throughout the day, or a repetitive event that occurs in our day-to-day lifestyle. Whatever the case may be, it's almost as though we need to be pinched in the arm to recognize what is happening around us, and not be involved in some daydream. In fact, to me, the simulacra is almost a representation of our dreams. Dreams are often believed to be developed from the culmination of all the events our brain processed during the day, creating a false world of reality yet confusion. Dreams can also involve our hopes and desires, recognizing them so strongly that they are put into a physical sense of form. Whatever the case may be, (if we are lucky enough to even remember our dreams) our dreams turn into a very personal and real event that took place, even though they are not real at all. I'd like to reference Disneyland as being a "dream" world. Walt Disney dreamt of this design, and turned it into something real that we could see and touch. Yet, some things in Disneyland are imitations of real life places and people. Do we need a place such as this to relate a dream world to the real world, although the real world already exists and contains these truths? To finish, I believe that each and every person just needs to open their eyes and experience life with every sense of being that was given to us - sight, touch, smell, hear, and taste. Savor each moment with the fullest extent of these senses and do not make the mistake of blinding the real into artificial.
Aside from several more re-readings of our assigned book, I still had a little trouble swallowing his version of "reality". What I interpreted was the fact that we might not even "exist". We do not even know we exist, some of us could be the dreams of someone else for all we know.
As we have discussed before, our lives our very much like the "Matrix" movie. We don't what lies outside of our "world" and it could be nothing more a 3-D world where someone controls all of our movements, decisions, etc.
This theory reminds me strongly of two video games that deal with what's "reality" and what's "not reality". Kingdom Hearts I & II and The World Ends With You.
Overall, it's all very interesting....
To be honest, I really do not understand this. From what I do understand, I agree with a lot of other people in that a simulacra is the idea that we no longer have any idea of what is real because of everything around us and the swarm of media. Also, simulacra could maybe be associated with stereotypes. Such as how women should act versus how men should act;or how preppy girls should act versus a goth girl. These, similarly involve the media since the media shapes how people act. So in a way what everyone is doing isn't reality it is what they think reality should be??
I think an example of a simulacra is video games. They could be used as an escape from reality as something someone would rather be.
Baudrillard's book is one of the most complex books I've ever read. At times his descriptions of these false realities make sense, but then at the same time I have no idea what he is talking about. The notes posted did help me grasp the concept better then what I would have done on my own and so did everyones postings. The technology examples are one of the easiest to understand, especially through the networks available online now. Online you can posses qualities you don't even necessarily have and change everything about yourself that you don't like. I can agree with everyone about how Baudrillard makes you question whats real and whats not. An example of a simulacra would be how differently we act depending on who we are around. If you're around a bunch of adults you're not going to goof off and act like jerk like you would with your friends. Somewhere along the lines a false identity was created.
I interpret Jean Baudrillard's concept of simulacra the same as most of my peers. It's basically explaining about a reality that doesn't exist. One pefect example of this that I read from the blogs was the Matrix movie. It's the idea that throughout the movie the audience loses touch of reality of what's fake or real. With technology today, it's hard for us to see what is and isn't real. We have facebooks, myspaces, and our own websites. People also go online to meet their soulmates, but how many of those dating profiles turn out to be who they say? The internet is a way for many people to change their identity. They tend to have the need to validate their worth by maybe having the most friends, best profile picture, or showoff who they're in a relationship with this month. The internet is a great way to mask reality of people's lives. Videogames also tend to control people's lives. There are some people who cancel dates with friends to play, and that's when the fantasy tends to overcome the reality.
I have no idea why I used to think of this, but I remember in middle school wondering (bored in my Algebra class) if I was sitting in class or did my mind put me there and I was really in Europe walking the streets of London. I used to think I was weird but this concept seems similiar to Baudrillards. How can we know 100%what is real in this world and what is fake. The reality shows today have people addicted to other's lives, but in reality most of these shows are scripted and fake. Nothing in this world seems safe within movies, Internet, or T.V. What I find interesting is how some people have dreams and then what they dream sometimes comes true. So could we also now say that maybe dreams can sometimes be true?
Some examples of other simulacras were the facebooks, Matrix, myspaces, and dreams.
When I was trying to interpret Baudrilled's concept of simulacra it confused me even more but I what I think is the main point of this concept is that something isn't real unless soceity makes real I think. In his book he talks about how society has lost the ability to differ between reality and non reality. I really like when Baudrilled used the example of amusement parks. It made me think of amusement parks in a whole different view. I think of them a place just to have fun at but know Baudrilled gave me a different view of them like its where people go to escape reality, which I never thought of before.
I also really like Jason Gouldner the example of video games when talking about simulacra. I think this is a perfect example because when people are playing them it is like they are in another world (a virtal world) and sometimes people can take on different identities. An example of this is when you play WII you can make your person how you want your person to look like. It also like all those virtal world games like where people go on this game and have a completely different identity then in their real lives. Other examples are facebook and myspace.
Baudrillard's concept of simulacra was very hard for me to understand the first time I read the chapter. As I reread it, I began to think about the concept in a different way. As Baudrillard says many things we portray in life may only be copies of themselves. Places such as Disneyland, amusement parks, malls, and even movie theaters can be seen as simulacras. These various places are all created by people to given all of us a sense of false reality. How do we all know that at Disneyland or any amusement park that it is a place of play? Only because, compared to the outside world, these places are built for play.
As I was reading the chapter for the second time, I thought about many movies that made me think of simulacras, which Erika had stated below. The Truman Show was definitely the first one I thought of when thinking of simulacras. I even thought of the Disney movie, Bolt. In this movie the dog, Bolt, believes that he is the "super" dog he plays on tv in real life. Bolt believed that he was "super" because that's the reality he created for himself, when all the other people knew that he was just a regular dog.
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