Definitions and Examples of Simulacra Levels

Simulacrum levels are an important framework for thinking about the world. Better explanations have been written by better people on better websites. This post is a collection of definitions and examples. All those without attributions are my own.

• Definitions

  • Baudrillard

    • It is the reflection of a profound reality.
    • It masks and denatures a profound reality.
    • It masks the absence of a profound reality.
    • It has no relation to any reality whatsoever: It is its own pure simulacrum.

  • Zvi

    • Level 1: Symbols describe reality.
    • Level 2: Symbols pretend to describe reality.
    • Level 3: Symbols pretend to pretend to describe reality.
    • Level 4: Symbols need not pretend to describe reality.

  • Zvi’s 2nd definition

    • Level 1: Symbols accurately describe reality.
    • Level 2: Symbols inaccurately describe reality.
    • Level 3: Symbols claim to describe reality.
    • Level 4: Symbols no longer claim to describe reality.

• Examples

  • Courts (Due to Vasser)

    • Level 1: A court reflects justice.
    • Level 2: A corrupt judge distorts justice.
    • Level 3: A Soviet show trial conceals the absence of real Soviet courts.
    • Level 4: A trial by ordeal or trial by combat lacks and denies the concept of justice entirely.

  • “There’s a lion across the river” (Due to Strawperson)

    • Level 1: There’s a lion across the river.
    • Level 2: I don’t want to go (or have other people go) across the river.
    • Level 3: I’m with the popular kids who are too cool to go across the river.
    • Level 4: A firm stance against trans-river expansionism focus grouped well with undecided voters in my constituency.

  • “There’s a pandemic headed our way from China.” (Due to Zvi)

    • Level 1: “There’s a pandemic headed our way from China.”
    • Level 2: “I want you to act as if you think there might be a pandemic on our way from China” while hoping to still be interpreted by the listener as meaning “There’s a pandemic headed our way from China.”
    • Level 3: “I wish to associate with the group that claims there is a pandemic headed our way from China.”
    • Level 4: “It is advantageous for me to say there is a pandemic headed our way from China.”

  • Advertising

    • Level 1: Demonstrating a specific case where the product generates value.
    • Level 2: Artificially creating a problem, then solving the problem with the product.
    • Level 3: Paying people to say that product has made their lives better.
    • Level 4: Images of attractive people using the product.

  • Pumpkin Spice Latte

    • Level 1: A latte made with the spices traditionally used in pumpkin pie.
    • Level 2: A latte that tastes like pumpkin pie but might not use the same spices.
    • Level 3: A latte that has flavors that might be associated with pumpkin pie.
    • Level 4: A latte sold during the time that pumpkin pie is traditionally eaten.

  • Christmas movies

    • Level 1: A movie about literal Christmas.
    • Level 2: A movie whose plot is incidentally driven by Christmas.
    • Level 3: A movie that has Christmas in it.
    • Level 4: A movie watched during Christmas.