Week 7: Identify Natural imitations
For the first image I used for week 4’s discussion, it was stickers. I think stickers does exemplifies Baudrillard’s concept of the simulacrum. I think this because the designs, which feature anthropomorphic fruits, ghostly imagery, and a cutsey style, aren’t imitating reality but instead reference other signs, aesthetics, and emotional cues born from digital culture, creating a symbolic world detached from any original. While some elements might qualify as productive copies, for example, a tomato with a face stylizing the real for emotional effect, most operate in a realm of pure representation,
The second image I used was a poster. This poster operates primarily at the level of productive copy, with strong gestures toward simulacrum. It stylizes historical labor movements through collage and multilingual slogans, not to mimic reality but to reframe it as a unified, emotionally resonant narrative of solidarity. Phrases like “Workers Unite” and “Great Stories” serve as symbolic anchors, referencing not just historical events but also the idea of activism itself as a cultural sign. The poster does show analog aesthetics like the brick wall texture, the photo collage, and bold typography. It’s a visual rhetoric of remembrance and mobilization, more symbolic than documentary.
Lastly, I chose a tote bag design. This image leans toward productive copy with strong simulacral undertones. The tote bag designs feature whimsical, red-haired cat-like characters under a cherry-studded umbrella, don’t aim to imitate reality, obviously, but instead stylize emotional and aesthetic cues drawn from fantasy, kawaii culture, and cozy symbolism. These characters aren’t referencing a real-world original but they’re crafted to show a mood/vibe that feels emotionally familiar. At the same time, the physical medium (canvas tote bags) and the style display suggest skeuomorphic qualities that they bring digital era aesthetics into tactile, analog form, echoing the charm of handcrafted goods and nostalgic merchandising. The result is a layered representation.
