Prinses on… Sun City and ‘Faux Africa’

I find it weird that, even though we live in South Africa, all our tourist attractions seem to have an ‘African’ theme. This makes no sense. We are in Africa. Would you throw a party where the theme is “Party?” Would you give your backyard a “Backyard Theme” to make people feel as if they are in your backyard? Surely, the theme-part is implied, right? Wrong, apparently.

[Note to reader: In the discussion below, the terms ‘Africa’ or ‘African’ will in no way reflect its true nature, but that of a more Eurocentric view and for best results should be read with a sensual kind of tone. Thank you.]

“The African Experience…” (oh, how marketers love to milk this term). How many times have we heard or read this… but do we actually know what it is?? Do the marketers know exactly what it is? Is it seeing the Big 5? Is it being chased by a lion? Or maybe being chased by a tsotsi? Is it feeling the wrath of the African sun? Is it sitting on a tree stump and eating pap? I don’t know, but it must be something awesome (that involves elephants and leopards), because tourists come here for exactly that forged idea of Africa and what’s more, they are willing to pay a shitload for it.

Sun City is a classic example of this. I mean, the fake ocean and shaking bridge (both on a timer – every hour on the hour, and don’t you be late! Fake earthquakes and waves wait for no man) are some of the elements found at this resort, to enhance your “African Experience”. What’s more, Sun City houses the Motseng Cultural Village where tourists can become familiar with “a true visual experience of African cultures and customs” [Script note: cough-in-mouth-*bullshit*]. A true visual experience?? How true can this visual experience be when you just hopped off a plane into metropolitan Jozi, got in a car and drove 190km away from civilisation into a simulated jungle, along with thousands of others like you? Ahem. Reality can be represented, yes, but that representation will never be real. This museumification of a way of life distorts, inverts and subverts meanings. It also makes for great theme parks, it would seem.

A smart man, Jean Baudrillard, referred to this simulated experience as a hyperreality, which tricks the consciousness into detaching from any real emotional engagement and instead opting for artificial simulation, and endless reproductions of fundamentally empty appearance. Essentially, (although Baudrillard himself may balk at the use of this word) fulfilment or happiness is found through simulation and imitation of a temporary simulacrum of reality, rather than any interaction with any "real" reality. Interacting in a hyperreal place like Sun City gives you the impression that you’re walking through a fantasy world where everyone is playing along. The decor isn't authentic, everything is a copy, and the whole thing feels like a dream. Baudrillard’s partner in crime, Umberto Eco referred to this phenomenon as “the authentic fake.” Baudrillard and Eco used Disneyland as an example and contended that this false reality creates an illusion, making it more desirable for people to buy this reality.

By the same token, Sun City is actually promoting a Faux Africa: “Come and experience exotic and wild Africa… in a controlled, safe environment that makes you feel better about yourself.” Now, what I find problematic is the fact that this Faux Africa is the product of the tourist/foreigner/non-native’s paranoia – the fear of the unknown and savage terrain that is Africa – and yet, it is being fed straight back to them, to be consumed, nay, gobbled up and make them believe they have experienced Africa?! Sun City works in a system that enables visitors to feel that technology and the created atmosphere "can give us more reality than nature can."

Personally, I find Sun City atrocious, and boring, although it is a major attraction which generates some income, I suppose. But it begs another question: Who are actually the assholes here? Them, for imposing this idea on us, forcing us to portray a bogus Africa? Or, us, for exploiting the Euro-induced idea of Africa and laughing all the way to the bank?

I shall blog about this again when I have thought some more on the matter. Feel free to think some also. And comment.

Cheese.