America And The Spectacle In The Simulacra

One way Philip K. Dick’s novel the Simulacra demonstrates the convergence of political power in America and the spectacle as defined by Guy Debord is through the character Richard Kongrosian. This character displays both of these characteristics and is greatly affected by these aspects throughout the text. Debrod’s text focuses more on presenting specific ideas of the spectacle and relates them with different segments in society. While Philip K dick addresses some of the ideas presented by debrod and presents them in his own manner. I will discuss how Kongrosian’s relationship with the spectacle affects him and ultimately how he is more powerful than he realizes, just like people who are consumed by the spectacle in society.

Richard
“ The spectacle presents itself simultaneously as all of society, as part of society, and as a instrument of unification. As a part of society it is specifically the sector of which concentrates all gazing and all consciousness. Due to the very fact this sector is separate, it is the common ground of the deceived gaze and of false consciousness, and the unification it achieves is nothing but an official language of generalized separation” (Society Of The Spectacle, 3). In this text the spectacle is a variety of things but the main two things that influence the spectacle as a whole are Nicole Thibodeaux and the corporations. They present themselves as almost all of society and try to unit everyone else together. They both get all the attention or “gaze” like celebrities from individuals however they don't truly help the people in society but rather perpetuate a lifestyle of human culture which only aids those who whom have power or a status of power . Kongrosian ties into all of this because he himself is greatly influence by of these two aspects of the spectacle like so many other
Debord makes us aware and gives us the opportunity to see society in a different way. To question and understand what goes on beneath the surface and to not always believe everything the spectacle is telling us. Kongrosian believed everything society told him, although this may be an exaggeration it warns us what could happen if we follow blindly to what the spectacle shows us. In the end he broke away from the spectacle but it was too late then. I think Debord and Philip K Dick try to tell us that we must question the spectacle before it’s too late and to be wary of the media and