Jameson Reflection, 10/29

As I was reading Jameson, I began to notice a lot of connections to previous theorists that we have read throughout the term. There is one quote from page 410 that states,

"I am very far from feeling that all cultural production today is 'postmodern' in the broad sense I will be conferring on this term. The postmodern is however the force field in which very different kinds of cultural impulses--what Raymond Williams has usefully termed 'residual' and 'emergent' forms of cultural production-- must make their way."

This quote relates back to what Habermas was saying, that postmodernity has not yet been fulfilled. In fact, both theorists feel as if modernity is still present in our world today, and we are waiting for that shift into postmodernity. 

Jameson also talks about aesthetic production and how it widely impacts our society.

"What has happened is that aesthetic production today has become integrated into commodity production generally: the frantic economic urgency of producing fresh waves of ever more novel-seeming good (from clothing to airplanes), at ever greater rates of turnover, now assigns an increasingly essential structural function and position to aesthetic innovation and experimentation."

This ties in with Benjamin's theory about aesthetic reproduction and how frequent it has become, along with the loss of aura through such reproduction. Jameson's quote also relates to Beaudrillard and his theory of the popular demand for simulacra. As a society, we get more satisfaction from the simulation rather than nature. Jameson takes it a step further and asserts that this aesthetic reproduction is driving consumerism due to the high success and demand there is for it. 

I immediately thought of the ride Soarin' at Epcot when reading this section of Jameson's passage. The reason being that is provides the riders with a certain joy and instant satisfaction through aesthetic reproduction.

 When you ride it, you feel like you are flying through various parts of the world. You heard sounds and smell certain smells that tie the whole experience together, making it feel real. But it's not, it's simply a simulation. And even though we know it's a simulation, we still travel to Epcot and wait in the line to experience it. We are *actively participating* and we become consumers, contributing to the profit that Disney is receiving off of their aesthetic production.

Nailed it.