Simulation & Simulacra - Anyone read it?

[quetzalcoatl]

It seems to be where inspiration for the control system - that is the Matrix - in The Matrix movies came from. Has anyone out there read it? - if so, what ya reckon?

Author :- Jean Baudrillard Title :- Simulation & Simulacra : This book appears in the first movie of the Matrix Trilogy - a 'cameo' if you will - where the character Neo has a copy hollowed out in which he hides illegal 'programs'.


http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x309/Plumed_Serpent/simulacra.jpg


It's on my list to get & read.

:cool:

[hirschfelder]

I used it a lot in my dissertation, which was about how reality is constructed and how George Orwell pre-empted Postmodernism in 1984. This was long before I got into any conspiracy stuff

I'll dig it out and have another look tonight and see how it ties in with alternative takes on reality in conspiracy culture

It's a pretty hard going read. Baudrillard writes in French and the translation by Glaser has been criticised.

[quetzalcoatl]

Oh great.. Hope it's not too distorted in translation. Yep, I've heard it's some heavy shit - author is a distinguished French professor after-all.

I can see it everywhere & through-out my life so-far (with benefit of hindsight). Everyone's totally compelled & consumed with materialism & out-ward image. & woe betide anyone or thing that steps out of the norms of political correct-ness.

Could even go as far as to say the subtle 'agents' are everywhere; they were your parents/parent, teachers, they are disguised in religions, employers/colleagues & law enforcers - not dudes in black suits out to kill ya.. Just anyone/thing that pitches or pushes a simplistic view of reality.. Someone whom un-wittingly enforces reality so limited that it infects your very being & further cements this amnesia we all suffer; where-by we're convinced there's nothing more to learn or know.. It's all simple - go to church every Sunday; finish school, get a job - bye some material stuffs - don't ask questions; & maybe someday we'll find a special partner & be compete.

Anyone relate?