S.N.U.F.F.: człowiek w pułapce symulakrów (postmodernistyczna koncepcja Wiktora Pielewina)

Abstract

Victor Pelevin is one of the most prominent exponents of Russian literary postmodernism. His novel S.N.U.F.F. (2011) is analyzed in this paper. Pelevin’s novel is set in the future (but the book contains many allusions and references to contempo-rary reality). As the aftermath of the collapse of the old world (after apocalyptic events) the earth has been divided into two countries (two nations): Byzantion (Big Byz) with advanced technology (where 3D simulations have almost completely replaced real life) and Urkaine whose inhabitants are called Orks and who are technologically backward. To keep the people of Byzantion entertained, the news companies periodically start wars which are filmed by CINEWS INC. Pelevin focuses our attention on mass media manip-ulation methods and techniques. The writer demonstrates that television manipulates information and produces its “own” versions of events – its “own” version of the war. This self-creation of television (“hyperreality”) has no reference to what is authentic. The aim of this article is to present and discuss relations and connections between “real reality” and “hyperreality” (virtual reality), between real emotions and their simulacra, between a “real” man and a “sura” (a surrogate woman, a human-like doll).