M4, Entry 1: Indigenous Futurism & Ontologies: Pleito VR

Pleito VR is a prime example of using the technology in cultural education programs (Recording Archeology, 2019). The VR experience explores an immersive cave with rock art, in addition to interactive heritage exhibits and artefacts (Immersive Academy, 2017). Art work can “come alive” and tell meaningful stories to the user. The “disembodied” experience of the VR cave compels the user to consider their body in a new way, enabling them to exit their temporality and enter the virtual space to experience different textures and dimensions not immediately available at the physical space itself (Recording Archeology, 2019). The experience was created with Unity 3D, Oculus Avatar SDK, Virtual Reality Toolkit (VRTK)” (Immersive Academy, 2017).

IMMERSIVE ACADEMY (2017, SEPT 1). PLEITO VR CONCEPT [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE.

There are unconsidered VR spaces, especially when we consider Indigenous ontologies; rather than just symbolic or indexical, objects can be relational agents (Recording Archeology, 2019). Objects constantly undergo transformations, and thus VR work becomes a “moving assemblage” of colonization and disenfranchisement that is informed by Indigenous scholars, anthropologists, and even philosophers (Recording Archeology, 2019). When considered through such a lens, Western ontologies can be directly challenged and allow for Indigenous consciousness to “reshape” VR experiences, ushering in “Indigenous Futurism”.

RECORDING ARCHEOLOGY (2019, MAY 18). WHEN THE VIRTUAL BECOMES ACTUAL: INDIGENOUS ONTOLOGIES WITHIN IMMERSIVE REALITY ENVIRONMENTS [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE.

References

Immersive Academy. (2017, Sept 1). Pleito VR Concept [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRHUcC0xa8

Recording Archeology. (2019, May 18). When the Virtual becomes Actual: Indigenous Ontologies within Immersive Reality Environments [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjB2LyVGEso