Overview of German and Austrian cinema after 1990 within the scope of Jean Baudrillard's simulation theory

In Jean Baudrillard's perspective modern western societies have lost their Principle of Reality, which they had started to construct with the inception of the enlightenment era and have entered the realm of simulation (hyperreality) in the second half of the XX. Century. Nowadays this evolvement has reached the stage of"Virtual Reality". Refering to Baudrillard in the realm of simulation things have lost their essence, in other words, things have transformed into mere images/forms. The collective illussions of the individuals living in this realm, were replaced by individual hallucinations. Furthermore relentless manipulation of reality via communication instruments and networks created a realm of hyperreality. Thus, all communication instruments have transformed into simulation production devices. The filtering of our perception of reality by virtue of communication instruments has started long time ago and these instruments are not only chancing our perception of reality, it is also forming and remodeling our perception of reality into a puzzle. In this context cinema/film is also an instrument of communication. But Baudrillard defines cinema (good cinema) contrary to other communication instruments as the only communication instrument remained, which is still powerful enough to create illusions. According to him, film should aim for creating a distance to reality and conceive illusions, instead of endeavor to imitate and even to surpass reality like other communication instruments. In order to use cinemas possibilities to open new paths in the mind-set of the viewers through his/her imaginary. Since German and Austrian cinema have presented an astonishing imaginary in the first quarter of the XX. Century (German Expressionist Films), it has derived a cinema, which is obsolete and saturated with an obsession of reality. Contemporary films are visualizing stories and happenings belonging to the realm of simulation (simulacr of life), as they are without doubt not seducing and unable, or not even have the intention, to spread hope. A cinema where imaginery was very intense is now suffering in the middle of the desert of reality, thirsty for imaginery. KEYWORDS: Simulation Theory, Reality, Hyperreality, Germany, Austria