April 11th: Simulation and Essence
Eco
&
Baudrillard

Leading Class Discussion

Let's have Andrae come up and lead the class discussion on their respective authors.

After the discussions, don't let me go on until I address the end of semester stuff.

Eco's "Travels in Hyperreality"

Lots of discussion of American entertainment. Our obsession for the fake is quite appearant to Eco. Let's have a general discussion on this piece.

• What is the point about telling us we like fake stuff?
  
• In terms of rhetoric, why does knowing people prefer the fake or assume the fake is "real" important? What do we learn about public discourse after reading Eco?
• Consider these places/ideas:
  • Concord Mills
  • Olive Garden
  • Hooters
  • Democracy
  • Education
• What else?

We will discuss Las Vegas next week after reading Jameson...this topic isn't over.

• simulacrum: the replication (upon replication) of a subject without being able to find the concrete beginning.

• hyperreality: More real than real!?! Or, as White Zombie would say, "More Human than Human." The idea of "hyperreality" is often associated with a viewer (an audience in general) believing the media-generated simulation is real or more real than an actual event, personality, condition, or, ultimately, an experience.

  • Brent on his experience as a helicopter gunner while playing Battlefield Vietnam (Electronic Arts). (Toscano, p. 17, 2011)

Acting

In February, Bradley Cooper was interviewd on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. He discusses his role in the indie movie Silver Linings Playbook. Interestingly, and this isn't odd to hear from an actor, he talks about how he and David O. Russell (the director) wanted him to "play as real and authentic as [h]e could."

What does it mean for an actor to be real, authentic, raw, etc.? What's behind the idea of believability in acting?

• Check out the transcript and scroll down to the line "Jacki Weaver, yeah."

• How is he maintaining "authenticity" of his character when the film is edited?

Baudrillard's "Simulacra and Simulation"

I'm going to cheat and use a webpage from a previous class. New Media (Summer 2012).

Next Week's Readings

Jameson for next week on moodle. I put the prompt up all ready!

..