• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.24
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• pp.135-154
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• 2011

Simulacra theory as propounded by Jean Baudrillard in his seminal treatise, "Simulacra and Simulation," explores the significance of images, media and art in contemporary culture. Its central theoretical premise is the simulacrum, a sign or symbol that plays a crucial role in constructing perceived reality but which lacks a real-world referent. In Michel Gondry creates simulacra in the form of hallucinatory dream imagery by combining stop-motion animation and live-action elements. As experimental film-making that combines analog and minimum digital technologies, the result is a tour-de-force of synchronization. This study analyzes the film's technique and expressive content and, by adopting simulacra theory as a conceptual framework, aims to provide a better understanding of Gondry's work.