Mixed or Misperceived Reality? Flusserian Media Freedom through Surreal Me

TL;DR

This paper explores how media distort perception and diminish freedom within Mixed Reality, using Surreal Me as an artistic tool to reveal the constructed nature of mediated reality and foster critical discourse.

Contribution

It introduces Surreal Me, an artistic inquiry that demonstrates media's obfuscating effects in MR and promotes awareness of media's impact on perception and freedom.

Findings

Participants experience breakdown of embodiment, revealing media's constructed reality

The process fosters critical reflection on media influence in immersive environments

Highlights media's role in shaping perceived reality and freedom

Abstract

This paper delves into Vil\'em Flusser's critique of media as mediators that distort the human perception of reality and diminish freedom, particularly within the Mixed Reality context, i.e., Misperceived Reality. It introduces an artistic inquiry through Surreal Me, which engages participants to experience a two-phase virtual embodying process and reveal the "Misperceived Reality." The process examines the obfuscating nature of media; as the Sense of Embodiment inevitably breaks down, users can discover the constructed nature of media-projected reality. When users reflect on reality's authentic and mediated experiences in MR, this work fosters a critical discourse on Flusserian media freedom addressing emerging immersive technologies.