The Shadow: Coevolution Processes Between a Director, Actors and Avatars

TL;DR

This paper explores the coevolutionary dynamics between a director, actors, and shadow avatars in staging Andersen's tale The Shadow, highlighting how virtual characters assist in adapting to technological changes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for understanding coevolution processes involving virtual avatars, actors, and directors in theatrical staging.

Findings

Identifies coevolution patterns in theatrical staging

Demonstrates virtual avatars' role in adapting to technological evolution

Provides a new perspective on human-avatar interaction in performance

Abstract

Andersen's tale The Shadow offers a theatrical situation confronting a Scholar to his Shadow. I program specific creatures that I called shadow avatar to stage the story with five of them and a physical narrator. Echoing Edmond Couchot's ideas about virtual people helping human beings to adapt to technological evolutions, I describe dynamics of coevolution characterizing the relationship between a director, actors, and shadow avatars during the process of staging The Shadow.