Write an essay The post structuralist theories of SIMULATION AND SIMULACRA put forward by Jean Baudrillard regarding
Question:
Write an essay “The post structuralist theories of SIMULATION AND SIMULACRA” put forward by Jean Baudrillard regarding reality and hyper-reality. Our media (here in the United States) is replete with instances of "REALITY TV." Write a 4-page essay (3 sources/references) about how the media portrayals of reality (real-life) are entirely “unrealistic” and why? Below you will also find some examples of post structuralist theories, Jean Baudrillard’s theories and definitions. As part of your discussion, select a media example (the Television shows “Modern Family” and “The Office” are great examples) that depicts Jean Baudrillard's theory of simulation and simulacra.
As part of your analysis, also answer the following questions:
1. What do people mean when they use the world “realistic”?
2. What does it mean to call something “realistic”?
3. Should media be “realistic” in portraying the social world? Why/why not? Jean Baudrillard’s theory is defined as something that replaces reality with its representation (also defined as a copy with no original). The simulation is described as a blending of ‘reality’ and representation, where there is no clear indication of where the former stops and the latter begins. Simulation is something that is trying on some level to copy or represent the real (a model of reality), while simulacra are something that is so far removed from the real that it’s not even aiming to replicate reality anymore. Accordingly, we live in a world dominated by simulated experiences and feelings, Jean Baudrillard believes, and have lost the where-with-all to understand reality as it actually exists. We experience only prepared realities--edited war footage, meaningless acts of terrorism, the destruction of cultural values, and the substitution of 'referendum.' Jean Baudrillard's words, "The very definition of the real has become: that of which it is possible to give an equivalent reproduction...The real is not only what can be reproduced, but that which is always already reproduced: that is the hyper-real which is entirely in simulation." There is an increasing concentration of media ownership multinational corporations. The global media is now dominated by the “Big Six” powerful, centralized media conglomerates. Sociological theories show us that they can never be assumed to be politically neutral or socially beneficial. For many people, the key problem is the increasing concentration of ownership of different types of media within these large firms that have come to be known as super companies. Many of these vast media conglomerates have gone on to form media empires which control the flow of information (thus interpretation) across the world. We need to set more realistic expectations in the media because they are creating unattainable standards that benefit nobody except for the companies that are padding their pockets at our expense. This is true for all sorts of media, including radio, video, print media, social media, messaging, digital communities, art, music, and performances. The mainstream media’s rendering of society, in my view is that white males make up two-thirds of the population and white women are less in number but somehow do not live beyond the age of 35. Women who do live, like their younger/male counterparts, are also all white and heterosexual. In addition to being young, the majority of women are beautiful, very tall, very thin, very passive, and primarily concerned with family matters, relationships and getting rings out of their husband’s collars and crappers. In continuing the media's depiction, there are a few bad, bitchy women, and they are not pretty, not subordinate, and not caring as the good women. Most of the bad ones work outside of the home, which is probably why they are rough around the edges, hardened and undesirable. The more powerful, ambitious men (white) dominate important business deals, exciting adventures, and rescuing dependent females, whom they then conquer sexually and all then is well with the world. People of color are even less visible than that of white women, with African-Americans appearing only rarely in special cases, and other ethnic minorities being pretty much nonexistent. In children's programming when African-Americans do appear, almost always they appear in supporting roles rather than as main characters. In prime-time television, they are too often cast in stereotypical roles. Black men are presented as lazy, unable to handle authority, lecherous, unlawful, and Black women are portrayed as domineering or as sex objects. As though it is all they can aspire to, television and other major media conglomerates usually stereotype black men as athletes and entertainers. This misleads our young black males (and all children of color) into thinking that success "is a dribble or dance step away" and blinds them to other, more realistic ambitions. Television and the media creates a space of hyper-reality that overtakes reality; mimicry blurs the lines between the real and fake. It has been carefully set up to manipulate our mindsets and convince us of certain opinions. Viewers are rendered incapable of determining what percentage of the whole is real versus a manipulated plotline. Television shows such as Modern Family and The Office are great examples. The unique feature about these shows is that they appear to be reality television. This is accomplished with the camera angles used, as well as the way the characters talk to the camera, thus the audience. In doing so, the viewers feel as though they are watching the real events in the character’s lives as though it were reality television. However, it is just as scripted and fictional as every other comedy sitcom. Baudrillard’s hyper-reality is a telling description of the television media and news industry with how the codes and simulations absorb reality to imitate a simulated concept and how language and technology drive society and culture. Even though critics of Baudrillard suggest that his theories have no scientific or factual basis, they would seem to have a high degree of significance in today’s Reality TV. Reality-TV does not have the ability to portray reality. Reality is not a realistic goal it should be aiming for. Nor should TV deceive its audience into the idea that reality is the goal.
Materials Science and Engineering An Introduction
ISBN: 978-0470419977
8th edition
Authors: William D. Callister Jr., David G. Rethwisch