2 truths and 1 lie

 The first thing that came to mind when reading this book was a reading I did for a SOCI class by Baudrillard  “Simulacra & Simulations: Disneyland”

In which Baudrillard argues that in a modern society, we no longer live in reality but we live in simulations of reality. He uses the example of Disneyland and says that Disneyland is disguised to look obviously fake which makes the rest of America seem real by contrast. And touches on how the whole system for example: media, culture, and consumerism, is also simulated. 

After reading this, it really made this book more eye opening and really made me think about the reality I’m living in, and how many gaps in my mind have I replaced to be different versions of reality that I now think to be true. 


It is true, that sometimes, I make up false narratives to people to either make myself look better, fit in, or using the idea of “fake it ‘til you make it”, which I tend not to fully believe myself and have a good sense of who I really am and am able to ground myself as much as I can. But there are others that cannot do the same thing and make up false narratives about themselves and believe this “delusional” image of themselves and that is when things can start to get dangerous. Because now you are living in a different reality than everyone else and you will be so out of touch with reality, that it will cause the opposite effect of being detrimental to your relationships, career, and integrity. 


Although, the idea does seem kind of cool to make up a false narrative about yourself, it is hard to keep up with and will eventually catch up to you. Which a lot of people don’t realize. The scariest part, I think, is the fact of how the other reading and this one all mentioned how those in power and a country as a whole is manipulating reality to us, so we don’t even REALLY know what is real and what is not and we will never really know the truth. And how many hidden realities we are living in currently would be very fascinating to know. I don’t even think I would wanna find out and how many things are actually a lie in our society. And maybe some things are better left unknown. 


You could say that, in a way, Felix kind of represents both our society and our minds by being the one who is creating these false narratives for people and how he is kind of the “state of delusion” when he can barely figure out his own identity. And the photographer with whom he falls in love with represents the kind of opposing figure of being the capturer of truth. Which is a funny (probably not a) coincidence. But there is this tension between truth and false narration that is an interesting dynamic to see unfold. The whole theme with the double-ness is also smart because it really shows how when you lie and make up false representations, you are now in a way, doubled - in the sense that there are two sides to you. Which is cool how that is a theme throughout the novel in subtle and different ways. 


My question is, is it worth creating a false narrative to live in a fantasy at the cost of losing touch with reality?


Comments

  1. Daniel Orizaga23 March 2026 at 01:06

    It is also possible that this simulation is, at the same time, dangerously real. In the novel, thanks to the invented story, through Buchmann's parallel life—a reminder of the theme of the double—he manages to access the "real story" and close the painful chapter of his life. In other words, the simulation, in this novel, does not distance us from reality, but rather brings us closer to its resolution.

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