The document discusses French sociologist Jean Baudrillard and his theories of hyperreality, sign value, and simulacra. It provides biographical information on Baudrillard, outlines his main theories and terminology, includes quotes from his work, and gives an example of applying his concepts to analyze a music video by Nicki Minaj.

2. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media
text

3.  Born 27th July 1929 – 6th March 2007 in Reims,
France
 Died 6th March 2007 in Paris, France (aged
77)
 French sociologist, philosopher , cultural
theorist, political commentator and
photographer
 His main interests are Mass Media and
Postmodernity
 Schools include Western Marxism, Post-
Marxism and Post-Structuralism

4. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media
text

5. Hyperreality
Sign Value
Simulacra

6.  In reference to Semiotics and
Postmodernism, Baudrillard’s theory of
Hyperreality is a conscious effort to break
down the barriers between reality and
hyperreality in order to create a more
mediated version of reality itself
 Hyperreality defines the blend of
physical reality with virtual reality and
human intelligence with artificial
intelligence

7.  The theory of hyperreality was coined by
Baudrillard in Simulacra and Simulation
 Baudrillard defined hyperreality as
“The generation by models of a real
without origin or reality”
 He believed hyperreality involves
creating a symbol or set of signifiers
which actually represent something that
does not actually exist – e.g. Father
Christmas

8. Hyperreality
Sign Value
Simulacra

9.  Regarding sociology and economics,
the term sign value denotes and
describes the value accorded to an
object because of the prestige (social
status) that it imparts upon the possessor,
rather than the material value and utility
derived from the function and the
primary use of the object

10.  Example:
Rolls Royce – could be valued as a mode
of transport yet could also value it as a sign
to signify the owner’s wealth or status in
society
Transport function = primary (raises use-value)
Social prestige function = secondary (raises
sign-value)

11.  Baudrillard proposed the Theory of Sign
Value as a philosophic and economic
equivalent to the argument of exchange-value
vs. use-value, which Karl Marx
recognized as a characteristic of capitalism
as an economic system.
 E.g. Sims game – The furniture which you
can purchase for your Sims house has a
“Room enhancing value” which is treated
as a form of sign value.

12. Hyperreality
Sign Value
Simulacra

13.  Representation or limitation of a person or a
thing.
 Fredric Jameson suggested that
photorealism is an example of artistic
simulascrum
 Argues that a simulacrum is not a copy of
the real, but becomes truth in its own right:
the hyperreal.
 Supports pastiche as Simulacra believes
that the copy of something is an original
piece in its own right.
Photorealism is a genre of art that encompasses painting, drawing and
other graphic mediums, in which an artist studies a photograph and then
attempts to reproduce the image as realistically as possible in another
medium.

14. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media
text

15.  “We live in a world where there is more
and more information, and less and less
meaning.”
 “The secret of theory is that truth does
not exist.”
 “Philosophy leads to death, sociology
leads to suicide.”

16.  "Henceforth, it is the map that precedes
the territory — precession of simulacra —
it is the map that engenders the territory
and if we were to revive the fable today,
it would be the territory whose shreds are
slowly rotting across the map." — Jean
Baudrillard, "The Precession of Simulacra,"
Simulacra and Simulation

17. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media
text

18.  Signifer
 Hyperreality
 Pastiche
 Deconstruction
 Aporia (An aporia is a philosophical
puzzle, paradox, or impasse often used
in conjunction with 'deconstruction‘)
 Simulacra
 Dystopia

19. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media
text

21. Biography
Main theories
Quotes and Quotables
Terminology/language
Cirticism
Application to media text

22. The direct address from
the artist suggests to the
audience that the artist
knows she is on camera
and therefore real life and
hyper reality are merged
into one.
In my case study, Nicki Minaj ft
Cassie – The Boys, there are lots
of examples of post modernism,
particularly the use of
hyperreality.

23. Again, this element of
hyper reality is
introduced as the MES
suggests Minaj is in a
“Barbie world”, seen
through the pink
settings and the “Ken
dolls” pink tuxedos.
This could also be an
intertextual reference to
herself, as the artist as
been know to refer to
herself as the “Black
Barbie” whilst also
naming her album, of
which this song features
on, “Pink Friday”.

24. Again, hyperreality is
used consciously in
Minaj’s video as she
has removed the
roof of the hair salon
in order to show the
pink candy floss
clouds.

25. Through editing, the audience again begin to question the concept
of reality. The editing are very animated, suggesting they are not real,
however as the rest of the video is so exaggerated too, the line
between reality and hyper reality becomes thinner.

26. Here is a good
example of sign
value as the artist
is posing in front of
a $70,000 car. By
posing in front of it
as opposed to
driving, she
creates a
secondary
function and
suggests social
prestige.

27. Minaj is suggested as
a Barbie once more,
as she is seen having
her hair “blow-dried”
by the plastic hair
dryer. This is pastiche
of a typical Barbie toy
set which would
contain plastic
accessories such as
these.