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Mixed or Misperceived Reality? Flusserian Media Freedom through Surreal Me

Aven-Le Zhou, Lei Xi, Kang Zhang

TL;DR

The paper applies Flusser’s theory of media-mediated reality to Mixed Reality (MR) through Surreal Me, a two-phase virtual embodiment designed to reveal Misperceived Reality and prompt a critique of media freedom in immersive technologies. It combines motion authoring, sense disruption, and UAV-based FPV to elicit a Sense of Embodiment and then expose MR as a constructed projection rather than an unmediated reality. The work contributes a speculative design framework for revealing media obfuscation in MR and for advancing Flusserian discussions of freedom amidst immersive tech, including AI-generated motions and human–machine collaboration. Practically, it highlights the potential for inclusive and critical MR design, while acknowledging methodological limitations and proposing more rigorous, diverse future studies.

Abstract

This paper delves into Vilém 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.

Mixed or Misperceived Reality? Flusserian Media Freedom through Surreal Me

TL;DR

The paper applies Flusser’s theory of media-mediated reality to Mixed Reality (MR) through Surreal Me, a two-phase virtual embodiment designed to reveal Misperceived Reality and prompt a critique of media freedom in immersive technologies. It combines motion authoring, sense disruption, and UAV-based FPV to elicit a Sense of Embodiment and then expose MR as a constructed projection rather than an unmediated reality. The work contributes a speculative design framework for revealing media obfuscation in MR and for advancing Flusserian discussions of freedom amidst immersive tech, including AI-generated motions and human–machine collaboration. Practically, it highlights the potential for inclusive and critical MR design, while acknowledging methodological limitations and proposing more rigorous, diverse future studies.

Abstract

This paper delves into Vilém 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.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 19 sections, 6 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Literature Review
  3. Flusserian (Loss of) Freedom
  4. Towards Flusserian Freedom
  5. Misperceived Reality in Mixed Reality
  6. Sense of Embodiment
  7. Related Work
  8. Surreal Me
  9. Authoring Virtual Body's Movement
  10. Virtual Body's Sensations and Being Inside
  11. Experiment
  12. MR Solution, Pre-registered AOIs and "Spots"
  13. Virtual Body
  14. Virtual Embodying Experience and Interactions
  15. Summaries and Reflections
  16. ...and 4 more sections

Figures (6)

  • Figure 1: Through Surreal Me's customized software, users can manipulate their virtual body's motion and view it in MR, thus achieving the feeling of "being the author of virtual body's motion."
  • Figure 2: Through a First-Person View goggles and connected UAV, users can experience sensations their virtual body perceives in real-time and feel being located inside the body.
  • Figure 3: MR solution applied in Surreal Me.
  • Figure 4: "Spots" to place the virtual body.
  • Figure 5: Integrated "Ready Player Me" interface to customize an avatar as the virtual body.
  • ...and 1 more figures