Postmodern media — Baudrillard's simulacra and hyperreality
Baudrillard argues postmodern media has replaced reality with 'simulacra' (copies without originals) and 'hyperreality' (simulations experienced as more real than reality).
Real World
During the 1991 Gulf War, CNN's live broadcast of missile strikes — watched by millions in real-time — was experienced by global audiences as more vivid and 'real' than the war itself, illustrating Baudrillard's hyperreality where the media simulation eclipses the actual event.
Exam Focus
Define simulacra and hyperreality separately before applying them; examiners penalise conflating the two concepts.
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