The Hyperreality in Science Fiction Novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Abstract

Snow Crash, a science fiction book, touches on cyberpunk and postmodern fiction as well as other subgenres of science fiction. In this book, technology and its hyperrealistic effect are discussed. The phenomenon of hyperreality creates a break between the real and the fake. This thesis examines the hyperrealism in the science fiction book. The research presented here discusses two issues: how does the author constructs the hyperreality in Snow Crash and what lies beyond hyperreality in Snow Crash. The research uses a qualitative research methodology. Close reading and documentary technique are used to gather the data. The information relates to data about Snow Crash's hyperreality, information about the Metaverse and virtual reality, and information about the state of modern America in relation to technological development.. The analysis of science fiction's structure serves as the starting point for the discussion, which then moves on to hyperreality. I apply Baudrillard's Hyperreality Theory, which explains the shifting image orders, to analyze the hyperreality in Snow Crash. Hyperreality emerges as a result of the transition from image as representation to image as simulacrum. The analysis of what underlies the hyperreality and the state of America, which are used to illustrate the connection between the hyperreality in Snow Crash and in America, continues in the discussion. This research finds two hyperrealities as a result. According to the analysis of hyperreality, Snow Crash contains a simulation of simulations. In addition, hyperreality in America demonstrates how Americans want to create their own world through technological advancements that will make their lives easier and happier.