Simulacra and Simulation

Connotation refers to the connections and associations attached to a word, symbol, or sign. According to Baudrillard, connotations play a significant role in shaping hyperreality. He argues that symbolic meanings often become more important than a sign’s connection to profound reality.

Unlike connotation, denotation is the literary meaning of a sign, word, or symbol. In a simulation, denotations become unstable and are replaced with connotations.

In hyperrealities, commodities become hypercommodities; they are no longer attached to real value or meaning. Instead, goods are bought and sold for their symbolic or cultural significance. Baudrillard says that an obsession with brands and lifestyle commodities is indicative of a shift into the hyperreal, where goods are selected for their symbolic value. Bitcoin or non-fungible tokens serve as modern examples of extreme hypercommodities.