SC Connecticut News

Virtual reality (VR) has the power to transport people into immersive, imaginary worlds where they can explore alien planets, battle zombies, or even play minigolf. However, Yale anthropologist Lisa Messeri is more interested in VR's potential to enhance understanding of our own world and improve it.

In her latest book, “In the Land of the Unreal: Virtual and Other Realities in Los Angeles” (Duke University Press), Messeri explores a community of Los Angeles-based storytellers, artists, and tech innovators who are using VR to address societal issues by fostering empathy towards marginalized communities. She argues that while this approach is promising, technology alone cannot solve complex social problems.

Messeri recently spoke to Yale News about fractured realities, VR as an “empathy machine,” and whether wearing a headset can truly help someone understand what it’s like to walk in another person's shoes.

She explains that the term "unreal" refers to moments when the multiplicity of reality demands attention - when we realize that each person's reality is different from others'. This concept is particularly relevant for those in positions of privilege who often believe in a common shared reality.

The use of VR as an 'empathy machine' involves telling impactful stories from the perspective of historically marginalized individuals or communities with the aim of eliciting strong empathetic reactions from viewers. One example Messeri gives is “Carne y Arena (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible),” a VR project that immerses viewers in the experience of migrants crossing the Mexican border into the United States.

During her research in 2018, Messeri focused on the VR community in Los Angeles where many were using VR as a non-fiction storytelling device aimed at bridging differences and cultivating empathy. This was also a time when alternative facts had entered national discourse due to Trumpism, making it important for her to study virtual reality amidst these alternative realities.

Messeri also worked with a start-up called Embodied Labs, which uses VR to help caregivers better understand the experiences of their elderly clients. She found this application of VR as an empathy machine intriguing because it augmented the work of caregivers, potentially benefiting both parties in an existing social relationship.

In conclusion, Messeri believes that while VR has potential as a tool for informing us about world events and telling impactful stories, it cannot single-handedly solve societal problems. This mindset often accompanies emerging technologies and overlooks the fact that these tools are not panaceas but rather aids in addressing complex issues.