Reflective Conversations : baudrillard’s orders of the simulacrum

Abstract

The French poststructuralist Baudrillard’s (1981; 1983; 1976 and 1994) conceptualisation of the simulacrum entails the philosophical-theoretical exploration of the deconstruction and simultaneous realisation of the real. The gradual loss and ultimate realisation of the actual real is systematically arranged by Baudrillard’s three orders of the simulacrum. These orders are historically framed by specific epochs and concurrently represent different phases of the image. This article investigates Baudrillard’s orders of the simulacrum as a possible methodological approach for interpreting contemporary South African art. More specifically, this article focuses on selected art works from the group exhibition Reflective Conversations: Typography, topography, typology (2013). The methodology of this study consists of a theoretical understanding of Baudrillard’s discussion of the simulacrum and the orders thereof. The selected art works are interpretively used as contemporary examples in order to enlighten Baudrillard’s three orders. The value of this research lies in a contemporary reflection of Baudrillard’s three orders of the simulacrum.

Die Franse poststrukturalis Baudrillard (1981; 1983; 1976 en 1994) se konseptualisering van die simulacrum behels die filosofies-teoretiese ondersoek na die dekonstruksie van realiteit, en terselfdertyd ook die bewuswording daarvan. Die stelselmatige verlies en uiteindelike bewuswording van die werklike realiteit word deur Baudrillard gerangskik volgens drie ordes van die simulacrum. Hierdie ordes is histories gekontekstualiseer volgens spesifieke epogge en verteenwoordig gevolglik verskillende fases van die beeld. Die artikel ondersoek Baudrillard se ordes van die simulacrum as moontlike metodologiese benadering vir kontemporêre Suid-Afrikaanse kuns. Meer spesifiek fokus hierdie artikel op gekose kunswerke van die groepsuitstalling Weerspieëlings en Weerklank: Tipografie, topologie en tipologie (2013). Die metodologiese benadering van hierdie studie behels ʼn teoretiese verkenning van Baudrillard se bespreking van die simulacrum en opeenvolgende ordes. Die gekose kunswerke word voorts beskoulik gebruik as kontemporêre voorbeelde om Baudrillard se drie ordes te verhelder. Die waarde van hierdie navorsing lê in die kontemporêre weerspieëling van Baudrillard se drie ordes van die simulacrum.