Simulation Era Of Capitalism—On Baudrillard’s Simulacra Theory

Throughout Baudrillard’s lifetime of academic research, he has involved in political economics, sociology and semiotics, anthropology, media theory, art, etc. The simulacra and simulation constitutes the keywords of Baudrillard’s later thoughts, the theory provides us a new perspective to research the contemporary society. Based on Baudrillard’s theory works, this paper tries sort out the detail of simulacra theory, then expect to dig the intrinsic value and significance of this theory.The introduction firstly explain the origin and significance of simulacra theory, then makes a brief explanation about Baudrillard’s research by domestic and foreign scholars, finally introduce the research ideas and methods of this paper.The first chapter primarily analyzes the theoretical source and realistic origin of simulacra. Saussure’s structuralist linguistics, Marx’s theory of commodity value and Roland Barthes semiotics theory all has a iomportant influence on Baudrillard’s theory research. Along with the development of world economy and the progress of science and technology, the value of the structure of the revolution makes a spread of non-functional and symbol consumption consciousness in the developed capitalist countries, so the consumer society was established. In the consumer society, people’s consumption concept and consumption psychology become crazy, and we can say that Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra is the reflection of the consumer society.The second chapter makes a detail explanation of the process of Baudrillard’s simulacra theory and analyzed in detail. Baudrillard divide the process of simulacra into three phase,as the imitation, the production, the simulation. The process of simulacra is consistent with the change of the law of value, and correspond to the development of the Times. Through this analysis, the author tries to understand the intrinsic logic of simulacra and simulation and make a difference between simulacra and simulation.The third chapter based on the revealing of the essence of simulacra theory, and then analysis the principle of simulation, the expression of simulation, the tool of simulation, and the results of simulation. Finally, the author points out that the binary codes is the universal law of capitalism in the simulation stage, the fashion is the expression of the simulation pattern, the mass media is the most important tool of simulation, and the hyperreality society is the result of the simulationThe fourth chapter summarizes the positive significance and the limitations of Baudrillard’s simulacra theory. Baudrillard’s simulacra theory exposes the essence of the capitalist’s power strategy, the theory has a wealth of theoretical value and practical significance.But at the same time, this theory denies reality completely, exaggerated the symbols reproduction and have a pessimistic forecasts for social condition, which is the limitations of Baudrillard’s simulacra.