
Postmodernism is the period following modernism marked by enormous amount of transformation and clash of different cultures as the world becomes more and more connected due to progression in technology. Some of the factors that classify postmodernism is a blending of reality and fiction, such as cartoons about a fictional land that people still relate to, simply though what the characters of such a cartoon would be doing. This "blend" is also present throughout different art styles, techniques and cultural methods as artists experiment more and more, combining and mixing different methods from the modern era into new redefined meanings. Meanings, stories and symbols can almost be communicated "any way" in this new era, because the methods for communication are no longer limited by any regional methods. Rather a message can be communicated obviously to the viewer, even if the viewer had never been exposed to messages communicated in such ways before. Nikki S. Lee's work is a good example of this, because her messages of ethnic-mixing, and sub-culture "infiltration" are obvious, while we've never seen the message communicated so clearly, and as obviously as her method of literally joining different groups, becoming accepted and having her picture taken with them.
Postmodernism is much different from modernity in that now, the rules seem to have all been broken. Modernity was the process in which communication was rapidly growing in a mechanical, exponential rate, allowing for more and more experimentation. Post-modernism seems to be beyond that point, where we've come along far enough that the rate of expansion doesn't even seem to matter anymore. Its off the charts, we can just seem to do whatever we want now, free of even the limits within modernity. Like modernity however, there is an emphasis on experimentation and so the "notation of expansion" as far as experimentation is still there. Its just no longer "new" its the way of things.
Simulacra is something that mimics, or attempts to represent a different object, simulating it. I think a great example of simulacra I've experienced is the "future earth" sphere in epcot, Disney. The ride takes viewers through a simulation of the whole human history, and eventually going past the present into the future, exposing all the wonderful places and technology "we'll have" in the future. The ride tries to be a simulation, and convince you you are actually traveling in time. The reflexivity (something that makes a viewer aware that they are physically viewing material) of this ride happens at the very end, where the viewer is taken off the ride and lands in the middle of a gift shop (as always); Reminding the viewer that they were just on an entertainment ride, and that they should buy some merchandise to remember the occasion.



