Simulation & simulacra

The Environment in Cultural Studies

'Simulation: a copy without a source, an imitation that has lost its original.

theory about how our images, our communications and our media have usurped the role of reality

our mediated world

simulation is a philosophy of reality and of our changing relations with it.' (Sean Cubitt 2000)

Present historical moment characterized as an era of simulations

Models (as when a situation comedy simulate real family life)

Idea of the distinction between an original and a copy becomes disrupted

Duplications represent the real

“It is no longer a question of imitation, nor duplication, nor even parody. It is a question of substituting the signs of the real for the real” (Baudrillard 1994)

‘themed environments’ – simulate history and locales with art, architecture, and theater

To recreate an historical and cultural ambience

To present it as a commoditySometimes “branded” – fused with well-known,

highly advertised product/product linesE.g., ESPN Zone restaurantsDecontenxtualized history and art to create

sites where culture and commerce mix to expand their markets

a work is called pastiche if it is cobbled together in imitation of several original works

"Pastiche is, like parody, the imitation of a peculiar or unique, idiosyncratic style, the wearing of a linguistic mask, speech in a dead language. But it is a neutral practice of such mimicry, without any of parody's ulterior motives, amputated of the satiric impulse, devoid of laughter“ (Jameson 1991)

"the cannibalization of all the styles of the past, the play of random stylistic allusion…” (Ibid.)