From ‘embodied interaction’ to ‘emplaced interaction’: Thinking through the transformative potential of interactive documentary

Aston, judith

Abstract

In 2016, interactive pioneer Chris Milk launched his new company With.in through an article on ‘The Future of Virtual Reality’, in which he called VR “the last medium” and claimed that it “will be more than just a storytelling platform. It will be a platform for sharing our inner self — our very humanity”. This paper problematises this assertion in relation to interactive documentary, taking debates about presence and embodiment in a different direction to look at the transformative potential of what interactive documentary specialist David Dufresne has referred to as ‘temporary autonomous zones’. Referencing Wagner’s concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk, and agent provocateur Bill Drummond’s comments about how live performance can create a sense of Time, place and occasion, I will argue that my concept of ‘emplaced interaction’ can take us closer to achieving genuine empathetic communication through interactive documentary than VR ever could.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: NECS: European Network for Cinema and Media Studies
• Start Date: Jun 29, 2017
• End Date: Jul 1, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Mar 5, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 29, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: emplaced interaction, interactive documentary, virtual reality
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/885410
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : SENSIBILITY AND THE SENSES Media, Bodies, Practices