Guided By Voices: Creating the Hyperreal

I recently finished a project exploring the different ways Guided By Voices simulated via their music and general persona. The band, specifically frontman and only consistent member Robert Pollard, create two distinct hyperreals. One is from incorporating live rock antics such as mic-twirling, partying and drinking on stage, and windmilling, simulating what famous rock bands would do despite GBV themselves not being that famous. The other hyperreal is created within each song and the world of their music overall, the lyrics being self-contained and self-referential (either within themselves individually, or the entire catalogue). Immersing myself in a band's work and thinking about the music far beyond themselves was not a new experience for me, but I really enjoyed doing so with this group.