Week 14
"prosthetic memories" (Schlembach, Clewer)
The Idea of creating empathy through the process of creating a memory like experience or producing "vicarious Trauma (Schlembach, Clewer) seems to me as though it illustrates a very troublesome perspective on VR one that is easily understood through the author's argumentation. I feel as though I can see the argument clearly and also feel as though we sometimes give too much credit to media consumed as altering human thought, when when we often seek out media that conforms with our own wants/desires, media almost being echo chamberlike as people who would likely have differing from the empathetic VR experience are not those seeking out the experience.
"The Metaverse Is Bad" (Bogost)
The title informs us immediately of the argument being made, the ontological focus on human experience as tainted by the VR/Metaverse movements. The ideas presented are true that often times power and fantasy are intertwined especially in fiction novels, however the idea that VR is an apocalyptic power struggle I think is a bit of a reach as of now, as the medium has not progressed to challenge real life at all, hypothetically of course it may, but as of yet it seems to be in its infancy as a form, and thus we don't truly understand the scope of what it can really do or effect in people.
"VR is just television for the computer junkie" (Bogost 11)
This particular article while still have elements of alarmist rhetoric shows a more in my opinion realistic approach to the realities of VR as it is a medium that for some as of now may be entertainment, but in general will not change entertainment as we know it (yet?). As much of what Bogost says about smart devices is true, we already have the capacity for a virtual life divorced to some degree from reality, the ideas are true to a point however again it just brings to my mind a phrase I've heard before a "Boring Dysyopia".
