1. SIMULATIONAL
SELVES, SIMULATIONAL CULTURE IN
GROUNDHOG DAY
Dee Menear
Fall 2013

2. WHAT IS SIMULATION?

An experience that is self-contained within its self.
Video Games are a simulation.
 If a sword were used in a video game, it is not an
instrument that can be felt but we know it is a cutting
instrument to be used in the game and not to a real
sword.
 When the game is shut off that world is left waiting for it
to be turned back on again.
 Self-contained worlds can be repeated again and again
giving us copies. The reset button on a game gives you
a repeat.


3. SYNOPSIS
Bill Murray plays TV weatherman Phil Connors who
will report from Punxsutawney, PA about the
emergence of Punxsutawney Phil.
 Connors is a self-absorbed man who has entered a
‘loop’ of repeating one day of his life over and over.
Simulation.


4. CULTURE AND RHETORIC
Connors self- absorbedness can be found in most
Western cultures.
 Simulational natures of Western cultures are
significant.
 Connors repeat can be viewed as a sign life today.

The more digitally connected, the more unaware of the
real world.
 Theme parks put people into their world; unaware of the
world around them.
 Work, school, family are all secluded worlds which there
is some separateness from other worlds.


5. LIVING THE SIMULATION
Connors continues to relive the day over and
over, never experiencing anything new.
 The alarm and the radio wake him up at the same time
playing the same song every morning.

He grows angrier every day at this.
 Rhetoric in these scenes is a sign of the cycles in life.
Though they may not repeat as Connors has, our culture
has rigidly adapted to schedules and
cycles.

Work and family schedules
 Train/Bus schedules
 School calendars


6. LIVING THE SIMULATION

Connors and the groundhogs shadows are a
constant presence.
Groundhog Phil’s shadow is a symbol of never ending
winter cycle.
 Connors shadow is a symbol of the never ending cycle
of his life.
Connor’s cycle helps him to know
every
detail of the day. He is able
to save
people, help people and
eventually turn his
selfishness
into selflessness.


7. TEACHING AIDE AND ‘RELATIONSHIPS’

Simulation is a sign of something that can be real.





Weather simulations help predict weather.
Aircraft simulators help train pilots.
Cars are simlations. They parallel park for us, drive for
us and back up for us.
Conversations through text and email are simulations of
interpersonal conversations.
Facebook can be a simulation of real-life relationships.
We can expect simulations to be a sign of our culture and
to be aware of them in order to be more aware of the
world around us.

8. IN THE END

Phil Connors gets the girl, wakes up to February
3rd and lives happily ever after.
Resources:
Clip Art – www.dreamstime.com
Excepts and ideas from – Rhetoric in Popular
Culture, Chapters 4 & 8