Hyperreality: A Social Distorter

Hyperrealitly saturates our culture and is a product of an advancing technological age. Garry Crystal defines hyperreality in his article on wiseGeek.com as, “an inability to distinguish between what is real and what is not,” or, “enhanced reality.” Hyperreality is seen in such things as myspace because myspace can be used to present a sort of fake reality of who someone is. Movies also depict hyperreal situations, using CGI technology and unreal situations that may end up giving people and unreal view of how things really are. This affects people such as celebrities who, “reach a point in their life at which every aspect of their lives is taken care of by someone,” and as result, “lose their ability to interact with people on a normal level and are cocooned in hyperreality,” (Crystal 1). A hyperreal world can become isolating for someone and that isolation can yield problems such as having unreal expectations of people. This a formula for social catastrophe as one has an expected need that they feel others should meet. Crystal also comments that, “some people who watch soap operas fro a long time develop a view of interpersonal relationships that is determined by the writers of the soap,” (1). Movies, TV shows, and the like can influence society through what it produces. Soaps might be responsible for some of the drama that is found especially in high school relationships. Hyperreality can be damaging to people’s social lives, setting unreal expectations on those around an individual and giving a distorted view of love that is based on ones own needs not a giving of oneself. Conclusion: Keep it real.