Hello Blog!
Since the end of class today, I could not stop thinking about the idea of a good image, an evil image, a sorcery image, and a simulator image.
I went ahead and found a link to that Disney commercial I started talking about in class:
I am trying to place exactly where this commercial would fall under the four categories, but I know for sure it is not “good” as the commercial does not reflect reality. Baudrillard says that “Disneyland exists in order to hide that it is the “real” country, all of “real” America that is Disneyland…” (393). In the context of this quote, Baudrillard suggests that Disneyland exists to cover up the underbelly of capitalism and our actual reality, which is not as “desired” as the fantasy world of Disney. People visit Disneyland for that purpose - to escape their realities. Images that include “sorcery” mask the absence of reality. Disney itself conceals “…the fact that the real is no longer real…” (Baudrillard 393). Therefore, instead of masking the absence of reality, I feel like this commercial masks the presence of reality.
Because of this, I think that the commercial is more evil than sorcery. In a way, it is similar to Justin’s clever example of Antidepressant commercials in class. It feels so false, but there is a weird sense of comfort and familiarity attached to it. It is our desired reality, even though it is just used to "cover up" the current reality.
I remember watching this commercial as a kid and begging my parents to take me to Disney world. When you are a young child, it is still difficult to tell the difference between reality and fantasy. This commercial made me believe that this was a reality I could have. Looking back at it and watching it for the first time in years, I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic, even if I know the true intention behind this commercial.
Until next time blog,
Avetheflav
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