Sunday 9 February 2014

Best of both worlds?

Applicable to many fields, from science fiction to video game studies, and sociology (Sandoz D, 2003), Baudrillards postmodern theory of hyperreality, or 'Simulacra', appears quite complex.

 “Baudrillard is not merely suggesting that postmodern culture is artificial, but that we have lost all ability to make sense of the distinction between nature and artifice.” (Kinder J, 2012)  

Using 3 of 5 indicators (for more visit Modules on Baudrillard) used to illustrate the presence of simulacrum, I found it remarkable how deeply we have been submerged in recent years, largely without even realising it;
1)     Media culture -  Contemporary media (television, film, magazines, billboards, the Internet) no longer just relaying information or stories, but  change the way we approach each other and the world.


 How celebrities are presented in glossy magazines is largely fabricated. With programs like Photoshop, anything is possible:
Back in 1993 Howard Rheingold could not have anticipated how far the virtual world would go, but I believe his sentiments are still valid. Despite the lure of creating ultimate or alternate lives online, avatars and virtual socialism is no substitute and will not (anytime soon) fully replace face to face interactivity.

 “You can't see people when you are computer-chatting with them; you can't even ascertain their true identities, and you are unlikely ever to run into them on the material plane or recognize them if you do” (Rheingold, 1993) 

 I am not a gamer and cannot speak for this ‘world’ (irony!), but I do see how communication and virtual worlds are becoming increasingly blurred with ‘reality’. This video explains the addictive gaming wold:

Other IRL (In Real Life) Games like IRL shooter, are bringing back face to face contact in their virtual games - a true merging of worlds, now its destined to get even bigger... 

  
2)     Exchange-Value. - Capitalist culture introduced the idea of money being the “universal equivalent,” against how everything in our lives is measured, and think of our own lives in terms of money

"how much is my time worth?"  "How does my consumption define me as a person?"



3)     Multinational capitalism. We continue to lose touch with the material fact of the laborer, as consumers are increasingly using retail outlets or the even more impersonal Internet.


Businesses are taking advantage of digital currency, bitcoins are now considered actual currency (Bainbridge, 2014), and reality continues to mingle with an increasing online presence in an addictive formula (iphones anyone? Smart phones, gadgets, advertising, you name it - you are involved!)


 This is how we perceive progress. Technology, entertainment and success. So, without these ways of living, would our 'lifestyles' as we know them, fall into disarray?      


 Probably. The simulacrum reigns how we live, and who we are - whether we like it or not, we are part of it, and its here to stay.  

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