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Synopsis
The first full-length translation in English of an essential work of postmodernism.The publication of "Simulacra et Simulation" in 1981 marked Jean Baudrillard's first important step toward theorizing the postmodern. Moving away from the Marxist/Freudian approaches that had concerned him earlier, Baudrillard developed in this book a theory of contemporary culture that relies on displacing economic notions of cultural production with notions of cultural expenditure.Baudrillard uses the concepts of the simulacra - the copy without an original - and simulation. These terms are crucial to an understanding of the postmodern, to the extent that they address the concept of mass reproduction and reproduceability that characterizes our electronic media culture.Baudrillard's book represents a unique and original effort to rethink cultural theory from the perspective of a new concept of cultural materialism, one that radically redefines postmodern formulations of the body.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Baudrillard is indeed modern philosophy's equivalent of Nietzsche, but in this work at least does not live up to that great man. Be prepared for a struggle if you want to read this book; the writer's arguments are painstakingly condensed to the point that it is hard to tell whether he has really justified his observation with evidence.
While the chapters on Clones and Holograms are very interesting, inherently suited as the subjects are to the books concern, in other places the subject matter and arguments do seem the result of whim rather than an attempt to locate truth.
So while this book contains a lot of value, and will certainly change the way the reader interprets the world, Baudrillards style of writing forces the intelligent reader to approach his claims critically and selectively.
While the chapters on Clones and Holograms are very interesting, inherently suited as the subjects are to the books concern, in other places the subject matter and arguments do seem the result of whim rather than an attempt to locate truth.
So while this book contains a lot of value, and will certainly change the way the reader interprets the world, Baudrillards style of writing forces the intelligent reader to approach his claims critically and selectively.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To respond to the previous writer's criticism: The reason this book lacks a coherent, logical structure is that it is a collection of essays. Consequently, one should not be surprised that it is not nicely tied together by an introduction and conclusion.
I seldom agree with Baudrillard, not least because I am never too certain how seriously (given his anti-academic stance and avowed debt to pataphysics) he intends us to take him. However I always enjoy reading him because is such a consummate stylist. The essays in this book are more difficult than some of his work but, nonetheless, very enjoyable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought 'Simulacra and Simulation' second hand after hearing that 'The Matrix' was allegedly based on it (and also cameos in the film for a split second). The book itself is condensed into commentaries on particular topics coupled with critiques from the author and aligning things with a post-modernist viewpoint i.e. the concept of hyperreality in today's world, the use of language.
I thought that in small bite-size readings it does pay off, to an extent though. Like with many of the reviews, especially Markgoats' review, I agree that it is indeed annoyingly difficult where you may feel whether it was worth opening it in the first place or whether you are attempting to get up on your post-modern high horse. It tests the reader in ways that it is difficult to determine what Baudrillard wants us to think (or not think given the paradoxical nature of post-modernism). That said, the obscuring of points and drawn out sentences become second nature and you question whether or not you understand the book at all. Indeed a thesaurus and patience are required to tackle this, and adverse reactions of confusion may follow, but once deciphered like I said it pays off but in select areas. For instance the first chapter is enjoyable and pretty much details what a simulacra is, and it is interesting to delve into the essence of simulated realities without having to believe in them. On the other hand, the last chapter 'On Nihilism' to me dragged and I didn't feel as if I was learning anything about Baudrillard's philosophy.
Thought-provoking sometimes, but difficult and tedious at others
I thought that in small bite-size readings it does pay off, to an extent though. Like with many of the reviews, especially Markgoats' review, I agree that it is indeed annoyingly difficult where you may feel whether it was worth opening it in the first place or whether you are attempting to get up on your post-modern high horse. It tests the reader in ways that it is difficult to determine what Baudrillard wants us to think (or not think given the paradoxical nature of post-modernism). That said, the obscuring of points and drawn out sentences become second nature and you question whether or not you understand the book at all. Indeed a thesaurus and patience are required to tackle this, and adverse reactions of confusion may follow, but once deciphered like I said it pays off but in select areas. For instance the first chapter is enjoyable and pretty much details what a simulacra is, and it is interesting to delve into the essence of simulated realities without having to believe in them. On the other hand, the last chapter 'On Nihilism' to me dragged and I didn't feel as if I was learning anything about Baudrillard's philosophy.
Thought-provoking sometimes, but difficult and tedious at others
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Three stars for reality
Out in the world I noticed that the resolution seemed to be much higher than 1080p and that I could actually walk around. Read more
Published 2 months ago by thisnameisalive
A simulation of communication and the subsequent implosion of meaning!
Baudrillard takes 164 pages of dense writing to propose unsubstantiated claims that could have been written over ten pages at the most, as if he were paid by the word. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Lucas Muller
Nice ideas, far too wordy
On reading this book it often feels like Baudrillard was given a list of long words and challenged to get as many of them into each sentence as he could. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2009 by Scott Rennie
No Baudrillard, No Matrix
This book is directly referenced in the first Matrix film. That alone should warrant its place as a classic. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2009 by O. Neale
Nice read but... well...
I couldn't agree with markgoats review anymore if I tried. There are some very intriguing ideas and concepts in this book and it certainly keeps your attention. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2007 by Biomech
it's alright
no actually, there is some good stuff in here. baudrillard is smart but a little fatalistic about everything. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2005 by Mr. B. Belmar
Earn brownie points with your postmodernist chums.
This book lacks even the most rudimentary structure, throwing you
into its confused ramblings without so much as an introduction, or
preface. Read more
into its confused ramblings without so much as an introduction, or
preface. Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2003 by "markgoats"
beautiful nihilism
'Nice' is hardly the word to describe 'The Precession of Simulacra'. Baudrillard, who to my mind is the best contemporary philosopher (along with Deleuze), is also the most... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2001
Nice!
A very interesting collection of observations about life. The subject of simulation is tackled using a wide variety of examples and case studies. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2000
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