Reading Response to Jean Baudrillard

There are parallels between Jean Baudrillard's "The System of Objects" Introduction and class projects, Jones' hierarchy, current information age and design profession.  Baudrillard begins the introduction speaking about how humans have been unable to name and classify objects since the Encyclopedia was created.  It is stated that even more so due to the time that we are living in that it is difficult to name and place objects in a system because the objects are being rebuilt to handle the completion of two different activities.  Basically with the information age as we are in, we are curious with the possibility that one object can have multiple uses.  This fits in with the current project that we are doing, through the research of the concept map for the lawn; Ian and I have been able to see what brought about the standards of a “good” lawn.  The standards of a good lawn were established after the invention of the aerator, lawn chemicals, and the garden hose; and each of those objects was not just created once.  There were multiple inventors at various times and places that were striving to make it easier on the consumer by giving one product more than one purpose.  The first home fertilizer and chemical, two in one, was invented after fertilizer and chemical weed killer was created.  In order for one product to exist, the other two had to be created first.  According to Jones’ hierarchy, we cannot establish a system or community until objects have been interrelated or became one – so it makes sense that at times there is an inability to figure out where words or objects should go in the classification system of objects.  Luckily, we are currently in a time where new objects are being created and old objects are being remade cheaper, more environmentally friendly or easier to use.  In the design profession we are currently in a time where designers often look for inspiration at past design and find a way to redo and change the way old designs worked.  Designers often use a bit of inspirations for designs from a variety of locations and bring together to make the outcome more cohesive and impactful, which is the same thing that Baudrillard was mentioning when he talked about how parts on cars were starting to have multiple purposes, making it easier for the objects to relate to one another.