Virtual Souls.

Assembling the Image, Disassembling the Experience

Abstract

The aim of this article is to outline a phenomenological framework that challenges the foundational tenets of the threshold concept of virtual reality (VR). This structure interweaves physical movement, subjective experience, and presence in a manner heretofore unexplored within our engagements with images. In virtual environments, the human body becomes the focal point of a dynamic interaction of physical and visual elements, resulting in an immersive performance that may be described as a continuous montage. Simultaneously, reflection on VR has brought to light the concept of the “empathy machine”, which underscores its potential as a medium for encountering otherness and empathizing with the pain of distant others in a state of telepresence.