VR & Empathy - Bella D.

 After Watching Chris Milk’s TED Talk, I am impressed by the possibilities within virtual reality, and how they can expand on the human ability to perceive experiences. By placing yourself in another world, like the refugee camp he did a film on, allows for an empathetic experience that allows you to be present in another world. He describes a human empathy machine, the reactions that Sidra provoked, and how powerful this tool is when utilized in this sense. This seemingly entertainment-based medium has the possibility to break down global barriers, place humans in locations thousands of miles apart, and decrease the amount of miseducation or lack-there-of. I really enjoyed watching this speech, and I thought that Milk’s work is relevant in a world where we consume insane amounts of information that is often clouded and distractive from the harsh reality of some people’s lives. 

 

I also looked at “This is Not Private” which also explored themes of empathy and human emotion. This piece investigated the world of empathy as a meta-language within the human face. 8 people sharing personal stories based on specific emotions, while looking into a window of themselves. I watched the short video attached to the link and viewed the images, and the reflections look all weird and funky. Which to me, seems like the author was trying to evoke a sense of inner-reflection and force the participant to face what others see. I liked this piece, and I think it would be really cool to see in person, but it does not have the same impact digitally.