In SIMULACRA AND SIMULATION, Buadrillard argued that we have created a hyper-reality of self-representation and "fake originals." Politicians and theme parks like Disneyland are perhaps obvious examples, but can we find further examples in our everyday lives?
I think that Olive Garden restaurants are a good example, as are some of the "themed" casinos in Las Vegas.
Yes, good examples. I've also considered several others that appear to be related to radical populism. $200 jeans that are made with holes in them so as to suggest that the wearer is, shall we say, less than affluent; likewise, a week's growth of beard, suggesting the same.
As the Pearl Jam lyric suggests: "off he goes with his perfectly unkempt clothes."
I think a lot of clothing and fashion examples apply: Jeans with a pre-made chewing tobacco ring to look country, pre-torn clothes held together with safety pins to look punk, leather jackets to look hard core, etc. Sometimes people where I am from say things like "he is all hat and no horse."
I wonder if electronic cigarettes will serve the same function. They can be filled with flavored "juice" without nicotine. I guess it is a simulation of smoking.
Similarly, karaoke seems to give the experience of being a music star.
When I was on the faculty at UNC Chapel Hill years ago, it was a mark of pride among the young men to have a Skol ring worn into the back pocket of their jeans. Amazing to think that now it's possible to buy processed jeans. I wonder whether that affects the sense of pride.
I would argue that brands (or any brands, particularly electronics (phones / pcs) clothing, make-up etc) can be regarded as 'fake originals', as they are differentiated at brand level, not product.
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