Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Kinetic Imaging
First Advisor
Semi Ryu
Second Advisor
Kate Sicchio
Third Advisor
Dean Moss
Fourth Advisor
J Molina-Garcia
Abstract
Expect is a speculative documentary filmed in Virtual Reality (VR) that features Chinese actors with disabilities to explore, challenge and reimagine the conventional ableist Sci-Fi tropes and the transhumanistic tendency to “fix” or eradicate disabilities through technological enhancement. I invited people with disabilities who are interested in Sci-Fi to do a Role-Playing with me in Virtual Reality (VR), in which they imagine themselves to be living in a future civilization, an alien planet, or an alternate universe. The participants came up with their own fictional characters and built their own world views. I interacted with them by asking questions and responding accordingly. The final film, Expect, is weaved together with the actual life stories of the actors, the fictional Role-Playing narrative, and behind the scenes of VR filmmaking; the film reveals the paradox in the “technological cure” as well as the dilemmas and difficulty on the path of reaching the all accessible social ideal. This thesis examined different models of disabilities, how they are played out in classic Sci-Fi narratives, the use of Role-Playing, VR and “invisible object” in the filmmaking process, and the content of film.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-8-2024
Included in
Disability Studies Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Interdisciplinary Arts and Media Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons