DISNEYLAND

Jean Baudrillard’s concept of the hyper-real extends to the notion of places like theme parks and casinos existing solely for the purpose of intentionally conveying the sense that the surrounding context is legitimately “more real.” In other words, if places like Disneyland exist as fictional environments, then the broader context in which it’s constructed must be legitimate enough for there to exist such a thing as a distinction between fiction and reality. The surrounding ‘legitimacy,’ then, must surely be in the category of reality.

An interesting study might examine the points of conflict between reality and such ‘hyper-real’ scenarios as theme parks, casinos, nightclubs, and golf courses. The hyper-real is entirely obvious in places like these. But where does it exist where it’s more sinister?