Post Blog 9/3

Let me start by saying this was the fourth time I’ve watched the movie Memento and it is one of my all-time favorites. I had seen it twice a long time ago and then a third time as a refresher since it was the frequent topic of discussion, or rather the example used often in an effort to understand other interpretations of neo-noir films in the “Film 150” class. Leonard Shelby, a man with antergrade amnesia  which impairs his ability to store new memories is forced to rely on a “system” which he creates in order to make sense of his life, and in turn find his wife’s murderer. This system requires habitual Polaroid photographing and note taking, but as we see as the movie unfolds this “Simulacra” is not enough to perfectly imitate “reality.” In the article Baudrillard’s basic assertion is that society uses symbols and signs instead of actual events in its understanding of what’s real. Nor do these simulacra even attempt to portray reality; they merely create third own meaning. Or one might say, history. The particular simulacra that Baudrillard refers to are the significations and representations of culture that construct perceived reality. In this specific case, the reality Leonard creates and chooses to believe given the simulacra of his “system.” This is a prime example, because you can see perfectly clear how his distortion of history allows him to continue on this false quest steaming from a reality created by interpreting simulacra that simply doesn’t exist.  A real life example we talked about in class was "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” photo, which is actually an imitation of a event that supposedly happened, but had to be recreated. Another more excessive example is the raising of the flag on 9/11. This was a staged event which purpose was to replicate the photo of Iwo Jima. Essentially it was an imitation of an imitation, simulacra of simulacra.