Simulacra and hyperreality in Neil Gaiman's American Gods

Neil Gaiman's American Gods tells the story of many mythological figures from diverse ancient mythologies, who try to survive in the twenty-first century America. However, these old gods are gradually replaced by the new gods of the American society such as Television, Technology Boy, and Media. This thesis aims to scrutinize Gaiman's novel through French theorist Jean Baudrillard's theory of simulacra. Baudrillard asserts that the reality in our contemporary world has been replaced not just by mere copies, but by simulacra that have created their own realities; thus, this is the new reality, which is the hyperreality. By analyzing the protagonist Shadow Moon, the simulacrum of Baldur in Norse mythology, the antagonist Mr. Wednesday, the failed simulacrum of Odin in Norse mythology and other minor characters, some of who have transformed into simulacra whereas others just remained as copies, I will try to depict the fact that unless one is simulacrum, s/he cannot survive in America. Neil Gaiman's novel illustrates this struggle for the old gods to adapt to American values and recreate their own narratives instead of reliving the histories of their original versions. As an expatriate himself, Gaiman is no stranger to this process as a European living in America. He projects his experience as an expatriate onto his novel while he tells the struggle of European gods to fit in America. In the discussion on new gods, the characteristics of American society, such as consumerism, technology and rejection of history, will be handled with respect to Baudrillard's theory. Key Words: Neil Gaiman, Baudrillard, Simulacrum, Hyperreality, Norse Mythology.