Hyperreality is the condition where simulacrum replaces reality. It is used to describe a hypothetical inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality.
An example of hyperreality is Irish bars in different countries, often slipping into the alluring clutch of signs and simulacra, offering a more ‘authentically Irish’ environment than the reality of those in Ireland. These bars claim to offer a re-creation of the countries culture and cuisine.
Although the bars aren’t dissimilar, for example that they use similar furnishings and serve similar food, they often use extra elements that add to their exchange value. These added elements often become associated with the original bars, distorting the way people perceive the reality.
Also because of growing popularity they have spread to other cities, but with the new bars being copied from the replicas they continue to move further away from the original. Because this is many visitors soul contact with an ‘Irish Bar’ they begin to believe that it is the reality. In turn meaning when they visit an actual Irish bar, the reality may be less exciting than the recreations that they had previously visited.
This is where it begins to enter the second order of simulacrum where distinguishing between the representation and the real becomes blurred. This can be applied too much of Westernised society where finding the reality amongst the backtrack of hyper realities becomes an increasingly difficult task.
