01_Baudrillard_pg366_The author talks about dissimulation and simulation; to dissimulate is to ‘feign not to have what one has,’ and simulation is to ‘feign to have what one hasn’t.’ He then puts forth the example of the patient who fakes illness can sometimes generate the symptoms. I’m reminded slightly of Benjamine’s concept of aura and authenticity; Is a simulation a work of art? Does it have an aura if it fundamentally misinterprets or misrepresents reality? is it a soul-less copy, even if it is accurate? Am I reading too much into this?

02_Baudrillard_pg369_‘Disneyland is there to conceal the fact that it is the “real” country, all of “real” America, which is Disneyland. I’m confused as to how Disneyland is the ‘real’ and Los Angeles is no longer real. How does this example relate to the broader concepts of simulation discussed?

03_Picon_pg307_‘The aim of the architect is no longer to propose an alternative, and allegedly better , world but to take the world as it is; to contribute to the further actualization of its potential rather than bring about the advent of a remote utopia.” I’m curious to know what the group thinks of this statement. I agree with it, and see much of my own design style summarized by it. Is the current state of design to optimize the world that already exists? or is this a step back, a safe and superficial wall of data and metrics to justify our reasons for design?