This reading is a tough one. Although we were told this could be done as a simple reading while travelling, it really wasnt as easy as i thought. Up and foremost reason is i have motion sickness. The most important reason being the reading contains far too many abstract thoughts, elaborated and told of further with multiple analogies. I must admit the author's perspectives did draw my attention. Every new thought about simlation and simulacra did not have just one view. It shows a very balance view of both ends which leave me a little lost at times. It makes me ponder what was really going through the author's mind that made him see all these. Having trying to adjust my mindset to see his point each time he shifts his perspective, this reading is really tiring and almost indigestible.
I am greatly impressed at the way the writer relates simulation with our lifes and historical events. The kind of meaning the author devour from the word simulation is marvellous.
"To dissimulate is to pretend not to have what one has. To simulate is to feign to have what one doesnt have."
There was a section about museum which sets me thinking, that the museum portray a dimension of life during an era. There are very descriptive events regarding how we are the living specimens. The way the author mentioned about how science and technology failed to conserve the mummy seems hilarious to me. How much effort had mankind put in to prove how science and technology is the "foolproof" answer to everything even if they fail us? No wonder the author mentioned that ethnology gave us the lesson about the secret that kills it.
"the vengence of the dead"
Talking about hyperreal and the imaginery, the writer speaks of the themeparks and playland as a play of illusions and phantasms.
"Disneyland is a perfect model of all the entangled orders of simulacra."
I must admit it never onced occured to me as a space of regeneration of the imaginery as waste-treatment plants. Creating of hyperreal civilization it is . To me, all these play grounds are just lands for time to relax and indulge in the fairy tales which were seen as the utopia land of our childhood memories. I thought these play lands also serve as a reminder that playing is leaving your soul to enjoy the best of the unreal, feeling good without working out the brain, and reality being harsh is about working, thinking and living with the brain as the generator and not the feelings from the heart.
I never thought how the political aspect could have been so much of a simulation. The way the writer speaks of how to preserve power, death is the way.
"Formerly, the king had to die, therein lay his power. Today, he is miserably forced to feign death, in order to preserve the blessing of his power."
This thought is interesting. Power seems to be the thing man kind seeks. So much so that words of denial is the forced truth spoken.
Lastly, the TV was very brilliantly demonstrated as the subject of simulation. How the actors "pretend as if we were not there" and how this phrase can equate to "as if you were there". A very interesting point of view indeed. We were made to watch a show in front a black box, watching the story flow of a show as if we were there...yet the actors/actresses were acting as if we were not there. I never stood away from the first point of view and though of watching a show being so much of a mirror image for thoughts.
I was rather lost on the content relating to nuclear. So i couldnt squeeze any part of the brain juice for any thoughts.
The writer is like a mirror. He sees not just what he sees, but also what seems to be the reflection of what he sees. His perspectives are interesting as they drew me to a new horizon of thoughts. But i must say, it is a little confusing understanding him initially. His scale of a balance thoughts is unqie and that thrown me off the stool.
Talented artist of thoughts indeeds.
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