Simulacra, Simulation

I've written blogs before- fashion, food, fitness..but not about Social Media itself. I mean, I may have a rant once every now and then about Facebook changing their privacy laws or proclaim my love for Instagram..but never have I ever devoted a whole blog to it- well until now.

Clark (2002) calls the blogosphere a "culture of upward mobility" based on the desire for recognition and approval. I'm not looking for acceptance from those who blog about Social Media and technology, yet now I am heading down the road to their micro-community. It's not that I have anything against those who find interest in this area; I just don't share their passion- well I thought I didn't, until I actually thought about it. 

I use Social Media several (...hundred) times a day, so how can I say I don't find interest in it? I believe many, including myself, have become naturalised in our use of technology and Social Media- it's always there, it's use within professions has grown, and still is growing, exponentially and I know that I, for one, would be incredibly lost should it up and disappear one day. We take it for granted, and in embedding is so deeply within our lives have in turn taken other things for granted too.. time, nature, etc. but that's another story.

The simulacrum is never what hides the truth - it is truth that hides the fact that there is none. The simulacrum is true.  -Ecclesiastes

It took me a little while to understand this. Oh Baudrillard, you really do know how to boggle minds.

My initial thought was 'this is just like a diary, I'm writing down my thoughts and opinions..it's nothing but an online version of a journal'. But no- it's much more than that..there are communities of bloggers, within those live micro-communities, there is a far deeper devotion and interest than a mere diary- the once-up-a-time imitation has passed through the 4 stages of simulacrum and simulation, to become a pure simulation- it's own "thing", basically. There is no true or false to blogging, this is not a 'fake' version of something else. It is not emulating a reality, it is itself within our reality; a part of it, and us.

Now that you're deep in thought and confusion... just think about what else has so comfortably embedded itself into our lives. Well, actually..we're the ones who have let it happen- and I for one would like to consciously recognise what else I have been taking for granted and rely so heavily on. I don't particularly  like confusion or feeling a lack of control.



Clark, J 2002, Deconstructing 'You've Got Blog'. Viewed January 4 2004,  <http://fawny.org/decon-blog.html>