Is virtual reality a tool for social change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the world of film, VR has become a powerful tool for tackling pressing social issues<\/a>. It\u2019s capable of presenting hard truths in ways that the average person can easily comprehend and connect with. However, its greatest power is its ability to inspire action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fully immersive experience that VR provides makes it an excellent medium for storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It cuts off viewers from the outside world. Unlike traditional films, which set a safe distance between you and the story, VR puts viewers right in the middle of it. It creates visceral experiences that enable you to connect with characters in a much deeper way. Moreover, it eliminates the typical distractions that you encounter in the cinema, allowing you to focus on the story.See Also: Virtual Reality Documentary Tells the Story of the Band That Changed History in Eastern Europe<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the point of view, you can watch the story unfold from the perspective of a character. You can walk in someone else\u2019s shoes. You\u2019ll feel empathy\u2014not just sorrow\u2014for the real lives represented in the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the latest VR documentaries you can check out right now is called Reeducated<\/a>, <\/em>which debuted at SXSW back in March. Through this film, The New Yorker exposes the harsh truths inside the Xinjiang prison camps. It accompanies their investigative piece called \u201cInside Xinjiang\u2019s Prison State<\/a>,\u201d a multimedia report detailing ethnic and religious persecution in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The internment camps in China have been a well-kept secret for quite some time now. Apart from survivor accounts and satellite imagery, the world knows so little about the reality inside these camps. That is, until now, with the debut of Reeducated<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just before the COVID-19 lockdown, reporter Ben Mauk, director Sam Wolson, and illustrator Matt Huynh traveled to Central Asia. There, they spoke with dozens of survivors of the mass internment campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The documentary, however, only uses the testimonies of three Kazakh men who survived the internment camps.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Virtual Reality?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Virtual Reality Documentaries Are Highlighting Social Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n