Virtual, Hyper & Reality
Continuing with the trend of asking more questions then answers, i move onto a new subject we just started last week in my contemporary theory class - Hyperreality. We have excerpts from both Beaudrillard and Eco - but i realize, i need to read more on the topic to understand how the concept fits into my general concept of reality (that encompasses both the tangible and the abstract/virtual)
My professor gave a very nice, simplified definition of both the virtual and hyper concepts of reality so we can be clear as to their seperation.
Hyperreality - a 'better' or more 'pristine' version of reality. In this version of reality, there is a necessity to be able to see the difference between everyday and hyper reality so you can make the distinction [that hyper is better?]
Virtual Reality - is a simulation of reality. The point is to make as little distinction as possible between the virtual and the real in terms of our senses, actions and perceptions of what is and is not real.
With these two versions of reality in mind, i have been trying to see how it all fits into my avatar research. Whereas the video games are obviously not real since they are forms of animation and not photorealist images transposed into a movie like setting. But the immersive factors of mmorpg's has been said to skew the player's perception of identity, of reality... not knowing where one's character ends and their tangible selves begin.
Obviously, i have more thinking to do about it, and more reading as well since we were only privy to two articles from two theorists, nonetheless i stand slightly confused how this will all flesh itself out.
We watched an interesting documentary last night in class called Synthetic Pleasures. It was a bit dated technologically (it was made in 1995) but the issues are essentially the same. The debate between modern and post modern, natural versus synthetic, technology as power and technology as savior, as well as many other subtler things that creep up as you think about the scenes that are laid out for you with the voice over explaining it...
Interestingly, Orlan, the performance artist i wrote about in a post about perceptions of beauty, is in the film discussing her work, and how it fits into this idea of fabrication of self, restructuring of the tangible body etc. Beware though, there is a graphic scene where they actually show her plastic surgery - and not in the TLC channel, clinical ways we are used to seeing it.
There is also an interesting portion on sex through the 'virtual' and 'hyper' perceptions. (again, graphic content - i cant believe i had to sit through 15 minutes of pure porn in a classroom!!) But, as was pointed out by my professor after the film, the voice over and interviews spoke of virtual sex and the potential for hyperreal orgasmic experiences, yet the imnages that we were privy were pure, old-fashioned pornography, and essentially, little to do with the actual idea of connected body gloves with sensors and probes for this new futuristic version of sexual and sensual pleasures.
Which makes me think about how visual and oral representations can confuse the viewers. Simple example: Brittany Spears (yuck i know!) She went on and on about how she was a virgin, and that abstinence was best, and the mature, responsible thing to do, yet her image, her visual representation of herself completely contradicted her words by dressing provocatively and even at times downright skanky. (sorry hehe) This can be tied into, again, my earlier post on perceptions of beauty and the myth of power women hold when using their body and their sexuality in what they consider to be strong ways (teasing men with skant clothes and preaching abstinence is a dangerous concoction that all too often leads to rape - but alas, that is another issue all together)
So, how do we deal with these issues? Hyper real and real? Contradiction of oral and visual stimulations? Trying to fit it into traditional moral or even ethical belief structures. (the film speaks to bioethics as well - again another topic for another time)
I guess i just need to keep reading!
Continuing with the trend of asking more questions then answers, i move onto a new subject we just started last week in my contemporary theory class - Hyperreality. We have excerpts from both Beaudrillard and Eco - but i realize, i need to read more on the topic to understand how the concept fits into my general concept of reality (that encompasses both the tangible and the abstract/virtual)
My professor gave a very nice, simplified definition of both the virtual and hyper concepts of reality so we can be clear as to their seperation.
Hyperreality - a 'better' or more 'pristine' version of reality. In this version of reality, there is a necessity to be able to see the difference between everyday and hyper reality so you can make the distinction [that hyper is better?]
Virtual Reality - is a simulation of reality. The point is to make as little distinction as possible between the virtual and the real in terms of our senses, actions and perceptions of what is and is not real.
With these two versions of reality in mind, i have been trying to see how it all fits into my avatar research. Whereas the video games are obviously not real since they are forms of animation and not photorealist images transposed into a movie like setting. But the immersive factors of mmorpg's has been said to skew the player's perception of identity, of reality... not knowing where one's character ends and their tangible selves begin.
Obviously, i have more thinking to do about it, and more reading as well since we were only privy to two articles from two theorists, nonetheless i stand slightly confused how this will all flesh itself out.
We watched an interesting documentary last night in class called Synthetic Pleasures. It was a bit dated technologically (it was made in 1995) but the issues are essentially the same. The debate between modern and post modern, natural versus synthetic, technology as power and technology as savior, as well as many other subtler things that creep up as you think about the scenes that are laid out for you with the voice over explaining it...
Interestingly, Orlan, the performance artist i wrote about in a post about perceptions of beauty, is in the film discussing her work, and how it fits into this idea of fabrication of self, restructuring of the tangible body etc. Beware though, there is a graphic scene where they actually show her plastic surgery - and not in the TLC channel, clinical ways we are used to seeing it.
There is also an interesting portion on sex through the 'virtual' and 'hyper' perceptions. (again, graphic content - i cant believe i had to sit through 15 minutes of pure porn in a classroom!!) But, as was pointed out by my professor after the film, the voice over and interviews spoke of virtual sex and the potential for hyperreal orgasmic experiences, yet the imnages that we were privy were pure, old-fashioned pornography, and essentially, little to do with the actual idea of connected body gloves with sensors and probes for this new futuristic version of sexual and sensual pleasures.
Which makes me think about how visual and oral representations can confuse the viewers. Simple example: Brittany Spears (yuck i know!) She went on and on about how she was a virgin, and that abstinence was best, and the mature, responsible thing to do, yet her image, her visual representation of herself completely contradicted her words by dressing provocatively and even at times downright skanky. (sorry hehe) This can be tied into, again, my earlier post on perceptions of beauty and the myth of power women hold when using their body and their sexuality in what they consider to be strong ways (teasing men with skant clothes and preaching abstinence is a dangerous concoction that all too often leads to rape - but alas, that is another issue all together)
So, how do we deal with these issues? Hyper real and real? Contradiction of oral and visual stimulations? Trying to fit it into traditional moral or even ethical belief structures. (the film speaks to bioethics as well - again another topic for another time)
I guess i just need to keep reading!
posted by Kelly at
08:15
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