A brief encounter with virtual reality would probably convince most of us in the dance community that we have no part to play in the so-called technological revolution. Indeed, some current trends in art, theory and science seem to be pointing in that direction. Confusion and ambivalence about virtual reality predominate in the dance community with standard reactions ranging from skeptical, apprehensive and proudly ignorant to intrigued, excited and hopeful. We need to address our assumptions about the field of emerging technologies so that we can distinguish well-founded suspicions from misguided fears and reasonable hopes from absurd expectations.
Virtual reality is both a technology and a way of thinking and the two are linked.
Some of our suspicions about technology in general has to do with its associations to ecological destruction, weapons of war, mindless entertainment, escapism and failed promises. Here's the deal. Reality has toxic waste spills, transmission overhauls and bad hair days. VR, on the other hand, has nothing but totally fun games played in a strange yet stylish headgear. Although the ad is meant to be funny, it nevertheless reflects an attitude that the VR industry is trying to capitalize on.