What is the true power of a symbol? And does it have the ability to take on or become a separate entity from that which it symbolizes? Does the simulation of reality equal a relative reality?
These were some of the question that arose while I was reading the piece on Bauldrillard. It seems as though he is arguing that the lines between reality and imagination is blurred by the existence of hyperreality. Reality is based in absolutes and truth, meaning that these out comes will cause this effect. However, Bauldrillard notes that the same effects can be produced from a different source. For instance he talks about religion and how this symbol of God results in creating a certain reverence and respect from its followers, but the same reverence and utmost respect can be replicated by creating idols. In a way creating many idols is mass producing God which is blasphemous in the eyes of the church. This is the culture of the industrial revolution, the mass production of an essence, never really the actual thing. And what is it that we say makes something real and separate from its counter parts that may look similar; the “real” has an essence that can not be recreated by any other means other than that specific item.
hmmm… i think i need to do more deciphering this i feel is just the tip of the iceberg……
I like how you lead off with questions, because this essay definitly brings up quite a few to think about when reading through it. I also enjoyed reading your thoughts about Bauldrillard’s ideas regarding religion, it helped clarify a little bit of what he was trying to get across in his essay for me.
The symbol absolutely has the power to become its own entity. Bau would say that is the downfall of our soceity today, we can not distinguish the real from the copy of the real.
http://ju1522.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/im-still-drying-off-from-new-rochelles-flood/
I didn’t know where to send it to, but this is the blog post link for the theory carnival, sorry if it’s coming late.
I liked how you discussed religion through the eyes of Baudrillard. He was interesting to interperate I felt, but I also felt that your example of religion could connect to Saussure in the sense that we create it ourselves through words (or previously seen images). It was hard for me to wrap my mind around this exact concept, but discussing it in class helped a lot.