Virtual Reality is taking the world by storm. It will revolutionize entertainment and education, but its ultimate potential may rest in its ability to transform our awareness of reality. As an immersive medium unparalleled in history, the essence of VR lies more in art than in technology. Pulling the viewer into an alternate reality, much like the work of the greatest musicians and artists, VR provides a unique opportunity to perceive this reality differently.
This panel of artists, contemplatives, and scientists will explore the promise and peril of VR – the limitations of spectator art; Alternative World Syndrome; art as escapism; cognitive vs. embodied presence; and a host of other near enemies.