Journal of Lifestyle

Journal of Lifestyle

Lifestyle in the Age of Hyperreality: A Critical Reading of Jean Baudrillard’s Theory

Document Type : Scientific research

Authors
mohammad kheyri 1
amir qorbani 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Mofid University, Qom, Iran. (Corresponding Author) kheyri@mofidu.ac.ir
2 Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Lifestyle Researcher, Lifestyle Research Institute, Qom, Iran. amirqorbani@yahoo.com
10.22034/jl.2025.528938.1760
Abstract
Abstract
Adopting a theoretical–analytical approach, this study revisits the notion of lifestyle within the framework of Jean Baudrillard’s thought. Baudrillard interprets lifestyle through the logic of hyperreality, a realm where lived experience no longer emerges from natural or social interactions but is instead constituted through media representations and the consumption of signs. Meaning, in this context, is generated not by experience itself but through the endless play of signifiers, gradually dissolving the boundary between reality and representation.
The findings indicate that while Baudrillard’s theoretical framework effectively elucidates the symbolic logic underlying lifestyle in the contemporary media-saturated world, it faces significant limitations in addressing dimensions such as agency, resistance, cultural diversity, and the possibility of reconstructing authentic life experiences. Particularly in non-media, non-urban, or culturally alternative contexts, his model provides insufficient explanatory power. Hence, the integration of complementary perspectives appears essential for developing a more multidimensional understanding of lifestyle.
Keywords
Lifestyle
Consumption
Hyperreality
Representation
Jean Baudrillard
Media

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 28 February 2025
  • Revise Date 13 April 2025
  • Accept Date 11 September 2025