Models of the Hyperreal p. 13-23

"[T]he duplication is sufficient to render both artificial." -Baudrillard, 18

FACECOOL, 2018

As we, a collective institution, decide what gets a pedestal and what gets left in the dirt, remnants of significance drift towards an elitist sense of belonging. Cultural gatekeepers portray certain realities as fragrant and approachable to an audience that can't afford high society. 

"Operating under the crooked American system for too long..." - True Dat (Interlude) by OutKast

The "new and shiny" look different for different classes, demographics, species. Are we living in a multi-dimensional reality? How can it be fair to separate realms of existence? Why does only a select group get to experience the best of the best? I am forced to re-live those experiences through the lens of social media. I re-live what will be re-lived by millions of other viewers. We are on-lookers in a society that tells us we will never not be. Viewership takes on a new role when we introduce the "new and shiny." 

Museumification: today, we slate viral imagery and idea into a historical timeline that excludes the masses. The masses participate in creating the virality, but do not get any credit for doing so. In our collective understanding of the digital world, we have shared experiences that bring us together while leaving others behind. Being in the "in" group that aided in virality means we have cultural significance. Can we break this cycle? It's pretty intoxicating to be recognized as a cultural phenomenon in 2020.