My final blog post was over Augmented, or Virtual, Reality. To my surprise of my topic being mentioned on Exam 2 as a bonus question, it reminded me of the value of this topic and how interesting it was to learn of this new world valued by so many.
In this post I'd like to reiterate my presentation, as well as include links that give a little more information about the world that is Virtual Reality.
Most of my information presented came from Chapter 43 of Fantasyland, which discusses Augmented / Virtual Reality to an extent that goes further than what it is most commonly associated with - video game VR. This chapter dives deep into this world and is a good introduction into what it's all about. From what I've found, it's more than just a way to play games.
Augmented / Virtual Reality is deeply rooted in enabling oneself to the suspension of belief. To go alongside an augmented reality, there are many forms of entertainment that contribute to this mindset - fantastical movies, radio talks, TV shows, Disney's theme parks, Renaissance Fairs, war reenactments, cosplay, and of course, video games.
It's been stated that each new wave of entertaining fiction has become more immersive than the earlier ones and seem much more real. It has created this sense of Fantasyland that leaves people in a mindset that makes it difficult for them to draw lines or impose limits. Everything has become relative, and everyone has their own truth. A dangerous example of people succumbing to the idea of the possibility of everything would be the type of people that go to casinos, wasting their money, time, and efforts on the smallest chance that they will be rich in a moment.
In the case of plastic surgery, the argument of "what is real?" comes into play. Plastic surgeons claim they are helping make fantasies into realities, so the girl who wanted and then got breast implants has turned her fantasy into a reality. But it got me thinking - Can we make all of our dreams a reality, or will be always be hopeless dreamers that long for things that are not truly real? Surely the implants look real and may feel real, but are they true? Or is that relative to the person? Is the girl who got them truly experiencing a new reality, or is that an illusion considering that the implants are not in her biological nature? Does it then become a matter of how real or fake they appear to determine whether or not it is really real or fake? I think that may take us back to the point originally brought up by those in Fantasyland - Everything is relative.
Just in case you're thinking about it like I am, if you follow the mindset that "everything is relative" or maybe "that depends on the situation" and things of that manner, I don't think that means you're in Fantasyland. I think there is a clear distinction on who is off-the-deep-end when it comes to Fantasy and then those that are simply open-minded, weighing in all options.
But to further continue the discussion of blurring the lines between true and untrue, filtered and/or photoshopped pictures and videos have become so common that sometimes we don't catch the things that aren't real. For instance, if you've ever looked at yourself through your smartphone - on your camera, Snapchat, Tiktok, etc. - you may notice that you look slightly different than how you look in the mirror. It's been proven that certain social medias, and even the smartphone camera, will give an illusion to the viewer that tricks the eyes into believing something different (such as a smaller face or bigger eyes).
In contrast to what we physically perceive, I find that in terms of thought and controversial topics there is an intense grey area where I have found it hard to realize what's true and what isn't. In today's society, you can believe two things at once, say that something could be real or fake, due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to differentiate between what is more plausible. We are constantly posed with the question, "Why can't it be possible?"
In a personal example, I find myself grappling with the question of whether aliens are real or not. My hope is that they are, but I've never seen one, so what would make me believe in them? To a certain degree, I find myself adapting to the idea of a Fantasyland that believes in ghosts, aliens, and others without concrete proof, solely for the fact that it's fun to think about - it makes life a bit more interesting in my experience.
With that in mind, J.R.R. Tolkien is quoted saying that "Fantasy is a natural human activity. It certainly does not destroy or even insult Reason... on the contrary, the keener and the clearer the reason is, the better fantasy will it make." I believe this holds true - the Media Culture Industry in our modern day has exploded with fantasy entertainment and has proven to be quite successful. The most popular media in recent years speaks for itself - Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, and many more.
It has been stated that many Americans are in a state in which they don't want to know or can't perceive factual truth, yet the perishing of fantasy featuring elves, orcs, superheroes, zombies, angels, and more is nowhere in sight. I think this also holds true, and in my personal opinion coinciding with a a psychological perspective, many Americans would rather talk about and consume what is easy, whimsical, and light than much heavier, truer content. Desensitizing real events to an unrealistic standard is the easiest way to swallow hard truth for the average adult.
Something else that humans tend to gravitate toward would be the digital game world. This is the home that I most often associate with Virtual Reality, so I would like to conclude my final blog post with this last bit of information, in addition to some links to YouTube videos that go a little bit more in depth on what is VR and its impact on the human brain.
Most American adults inhabit digital game worlds some of the time, and a quarter of those are so seriously engaged that they devote at least five hours a week to playing imaginary roles. Examples include Minecraft, Mortal Kombat, Halo, Call of Duty, and even Farmville. I have personally been affected by the digital gaming world and have found myself in a pattern in the past of playing my favorite video games for hours, daily, due to the fact that I could play an imaginary role. My favorites to play when I had the time were Minecraft and Stardew Valley. Over quarantine in 2020, I found that many lost themselves in Animal Crossing, playing imaginary roles that enabled them to escape from the new unknown world of COVID-19. I'm torn between whether or not this is always acceptable, but I sure found it fun. Additionally, an extension to this digital gaming world would be VR, a literal Virtual Reality. It has become revolutionary in making the fantasy feel even more realistic when gaming.
Below are some attached videos I have found to be very informative of the topic of VR. I have appreciated this class and the topics brought up.
Be well, be kind.
Eden Tucker
Understanding Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
How Virtual Reality Tricks Your Brain
Good, Eden. I thought about your presentation yesterday when I received an email inviting me to purchase Alexa glasses (that is, spectacles with Alexa built into the frame). One step closer...
ReplyDeleteYou have lots of candidates here for embedded links: in one of your iterations of "virtual reality" you might consider linking to something by or about Jaron Lanier, one of the pioneers of VR who's been critical of internet culture. Maybe something too at "plastic surgery," "Disney," "Tolkien," those digital games,