Introduction to Virtual Reality and Violence
The concept of virtual reality (VR) has develop into increasingly popular, with many artists and creators using it to explore complex and infrequently disturbing themes. One such example is Jordan Wolfson’s Real Violence, a VR installation that depicts the artist himself violently attacking a defenseless man. This raises essential questions on the impact of VR on our perception of violence and our role as observers.
The Impact of Virtual Reality on Behavior
Research has shown that fully immersive experiences, akin to those provided by VR, can have a major impact on behavior and psychology. Philosophy professor Thomas Metzinger warns that such experiences can result in depersonalization, while a 2014 study found that unpleasant stimuli presented in 3D can activate the appropriate amygdala, related to negative emotion, more strongly than in 2D. This suggests that VR can have a profound effect on our emotional and psychological state.
The Role of the Observer
In Real Violence, the observer is placed in a singular position, watching because the artist commits a violent act. This raises questions on our complicity within the violence and whether we’re endorsing it by observing it. Wolfson himself has stated that the actual violence shouldn’t be the act itself, however the undeniable fact that we’re watching it and deriving a thrill from it. This challenges our understanding of the role of the observer and our responsibility in consuming violent content.
Different Perspectives on Violence
Other artists, akin to Paul McCarthy, have also explored the theme of violence of their work. McCarthy’s CSSC Coach Stage Stage Coach VR Experiment: Mary and Eve is a sexual psychodrama that presents a disturbing and unsettling scenario. In this work, the observer shouldn’t be only a passive viewer, but is as an alternative immersed within the scene and subjected to the violence and harassment. This highlights different ways during which violence could be presented and experienced, and challenges our understanding of the impact of VR on our perception of violence.
The Therapeutic Potential of Virtual Reality
While VR could be used to present violent and disturbing content, it also has the potential for use as a therapeutic tool. Exposure therapy, for instance, could be used to assist individuals overcome their fears and anxieties in a protected and controlled environment. Additionally, VR could be used to advertise empathy and understanding, akin to in a study that put domestic violence offenders within the virtual shoes of victims. This highlights the potential for VR for use as a positive force, somewhat than simply a medium for presenting violent content.
Conclusion
The use of virtual reality to present violent and disturbing content raises essential questions on the impact of VR on our perception of violence and our role as observers. While it may be used to present complex and thought-provoking themes, it also has the potential for use as a therapeutic tool and to advertise empathy and understanding. Ultimately, the important thing to understanding the impact of VR on our perception of violence is to contemplate the context during which it’s presented and the role of the observer. By doing so, we are able to begin to understand the complexities of VR and its potential to shape our understanding of violence and its effects.
