Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling
This article explores the potential of new, immersive realities to convey the complex experiences of gender dysphoria and body dissatisfaction, using the innovative and multi-award-winning experience Body of Mine as a case study. Recognizing a gap in understanding and empathy towards gender-queer co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cogitatio
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Media and Communication |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8687 |
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| _version_ | 1846151594154917888 |
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| author | Cameron Kostopoulos |
| author_facet | Cameron Kostopoulos |
| author_sort | Cameron Kostopoulos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the potential of new, immersive realities to convey the complex experiences of gender dysphoria and body dissatisfaction, using the innovative and multi-award-winning experience Body of Mine as a case study. Recognizing a gap in understanding and empathy towards gender-queer communities, Body of Mine employs an innovative full-body tracking solution to place users into the body of someone else, combined with first-person documentary interviews and interactive elements aimed at fostering a deeper connection and insight into the transgender experience. Initial feedback from users indicates a heightened awareness and emotional connection to the challenges faced by individuals with gender dysphoria, as well as an increase in self-body positivity, based on a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Tübingen’s Department of Psychology. This project underscores the power of immersive storytelling in fostering embodied understanding, while also acknowledging the ethical complexities and voyeuristic risks when sharing narratives from vulnerable communities, and explores innovative methods for tackling social issues through emerging technology. It concludes by contemplating the implications of immersive technologies for the concept of identity in a world that increasingly transcends the physical body, suggesting a future where the notion of self is not confined to physical form but is fluid, multifaceted, and continually redefined within boundless digital horizons. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19916c9b7a794d60b6a9f7063db7e9b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2183-2439 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Media and Communication |
| spelling | doaj-art-19916c9b7a794d60b6a9f7063db7e9b02024-11-27T08:15:34ZengCogitatioMedia and Communication2183-24392024-10-0112010.17645/mac.86873804Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive StorytellingCameron Kostopoulos0Narrative and Emerging Media Program, Arizona State University, USAThis article explores the potential of new, immersive realities to convey the complex experiences of gender dysphoria and body dissatisfaction, using the innovative and multi-award-winning experience Body of Mine as a case study. Recognizing a gap in understanding and empathy towards gender-queer communities, Body of Mine employs an innovative full-body tracking solution to place users into the body of someone else, combined with first-person documentary interviews and interactive elements aimed at fostering a deeper connection and insight into the transgender experience. Initial feedback from users indicates a heightened awareness and emotional connection to the challenges faced by individuals with gender dysphoria, as well as an increase in self-body positivity, based on a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Tübingen’s Department of Psychology. This project underscores the power of immersive storytelling in fostering embodied understanding, while also acknowledging the ethical complexities and voyeuristic risks when sharing narratives from vulnerable communities, and explores innovative methods for tackling social issues through emerging technology. It concludes by contemplating the implications of immersive technologies for the concept of identity in a world that increasingly transcends the physical body, suggesting a future where the notion of self is not confined to physical form but is fluid, multifaceted, and continually redefined within boundless digital horizons.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8687embodimentgender dysphoriaidentityimmersiveinteractive medialgbtq+storytellingtechnologytransgendervirtual reality |
| spellingShingle | Cameron Kostopoulos Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling Media and Communication embodiment gender dysphoria identity immersive interactive media lgbtq+ storytelling technology transgender virtual reality |
| title | Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling |
| title_full | Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling |
| title_fullStr | Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling |
| title_short | Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling |
| title_sort | body of mine yours and everyone in between communicating gender dysphoria through immersive storytelling |
| topic | embodiment gender dysphoria identity immersive interactive media lgbtq+ storytelling technology transgender virtual reality |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/8687 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cameronkostopoulos bodyofmineyoursandeveryoneinbetweencommunicatinggenderdysphoriathroughimmersivestorytelling |