#hyperreality

"Hyperreality", coined by French sociologist Jean Baudrillard in his 1981 essay Simulacra and Simulation, describes (essentially) a confusion of reality and representations where representations develop without actually representing something real; they become a sign with no referent, a perception without a reality, simulacra. Ajmal describes how hyperreality impacts identity online given the amount of simulacra circling on social media. This fosters identity as a performance and fragmentation in social media, shaping much of the social space online. Researchers van Kessel et al. use hyperreality to frame a discussion on media education and (mis/dis)information, arguing for giving learners a greater awareness of hyperreality online through conveying that the modern media landscape is not a direct representation of reality but "a tangled structural recurrence of cultural frames for experiencing the world".

References / Works to check out

Ajmal, S. (2024). Charting youth subcultures, identity formation, and niche aesthetics in the age of social-media.

van Kessel, C., Manriquez, J. D., & Kline, K. (2025). Baudrillard, hyperreality, and the ‘problematic’ of (mis/dis)information in social media. Theory & Research in Social Education, 53(2), 249–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/00933104.2024.2439302

Media Does Not Report Reality, It Produces It: The Midnight Channel as Hyperreal System in Persona 4 Golden In Persona 4 Golden, the question of truth is never simply about uncovering what happened. Instead, the game constructs a system in which “truth” is actively produced through media circulation, collective interpretation, and attention. The Midnight Channel, the game’s central supernatural…

Postmodernism can be seen as a reaction against the ideas and values of modernism, as well as a description of the period that followed modernism's dominance in cultural theory and practice in the early and middle decades of the twentieth century.

The reason I went with the title "Reality is Overrated" is that real life can feel repetitive, stressful, or limited compared to how much more exciting things are in my imagination. When reality doesn't match what I wish for, it’s easy to feel like the real world just isn't as interesting. Therefore, I wanted to do the total opposite to suit the overall fantasy look of the poster. 

Personally, a postmodern lifestyle is all about mixing things up and doing what feels authentic instead of following one fixed path. As author Jugnu Agarwal once said, "Nothing real is ever perfect.”

Because of that, I stay open to blend influences freely and shape my own way of living without expecting everything to fit one standard. It might mean blending different styles and letting my interests shift over time. 

Hence, connecting it back with my design training, instead of everyone producing the same outcome, it becomes a space for layered meanings and playful combinations where the process and individuality are just as important as the final piece. 

For example, the process of making a collage based on an article about how fast fashion impacts the environment for Photography. Or having to design a postcard for Studio, referencing my artist, Ed Fella. 

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Reference:

Cahoone, Lawrence. (2003). From Modernism to Postmodernism: An Anthology, 2nd Edition, London: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd.

Stacey, J. (1998). Brave new families: Stories of domestic upheaval in late-twentieth-century America. Univ of California Press.

The hyperreality of social media

Over the course of this week, I explored a range of topics building on last week’s work. The social issues that stood out most to me were the hyperreality of social media, the misunderstanding of ADHD across young women, imposter syndrome, and copy culture/lack of originality. After researching, I found myself drawn towards the hyperreality of social media because I have struggled with it myself and know most in my generation do too. In both media projects, I aim to demonstrate the contrast between online expectations and lived reality through the aspect of performative nature where people feel they must behave in a certain way in such a media-saturated world. My goal is to raise awareness that what is shown online isn’t an equivalent of reality. I hope to prevent any negative comparison, reminding audiences that everyone moves at their own pace and must not feel pressured to ‘do better’ as we are not in competition. My next step is to examine images  I may use for my mood board and investigate different case studies related to my idea. 

And the creative work of the day is postmodern surrealist fanfiction about the Sopranos, a show that I have, legally speaking, never watched. Go for it.