Baudrillard - 5 Minutes

Baudrillard's theories of hyperreality have influenced postmodernism in the media. In his book Simulacra and Simulation, Baudrillard defined the term 'simulacra' as a simulation of a simulation. In other words, simulacra is a copy of a copy. Baudrillard believed that, eventually, the world would reach a point where there was no real. Everything would be a simulation or 'copy'. We would be living in a 'hyperreality'. It is argued that we already live in a hyperreality, where we have a greater emotional connection to virtual realities (e.g. social networks such as Facebook and Twitter) than we do real life. In many fictional media texts, such as movies, Baudrillard's theories take on a much more literal meaning. No example is more literally related to Baudrillard's hyperreality than The Matrix. In the film, Morpheus explains to Neo that life is a simulation. It is a virtual reality that everyone believes to be real as they have not experienced true reality. The film is so closely linked to the theory, that several references are made. In fact, Neo is seen with a copy of the book at the beginning of the movie.
Alternatively, Baudrillard's theory can be linked less literally. For example, reality TV shows, such as The X Factor, simulate real processes. Eventually, due to a show's popularity, people can begin to see the simulation as far more real than the reality. Talent shows such as The X Factor and The Voice are now seen as the 'easiest' or 'most common' way to get into the music industry, when in fact these shows only simulate the real process. Similarly, shows such as Next Top Model and Project Runway simulate the process of breaking into the modelling/fashion industry, but are more widely known paths to success in their respective fields.