Theater without Actors—Immersion and Response in Installation

The author’s installations led to her interest in creating immersive narrative spaces, which would surround the viewer and provide a sense of movement through time without relying on linearity. Through discussion of her collaborative work on a virtual reality performance/installation, the author presents her criticisms of the concepts of mapping and choice prevalent in interactive artwork. She discusses her interests in the alternative concepts of immersion and response. The relation of certain myths surrounding virtual reality to social and economic factors is briefly analyzed within the author’s cultural context. Her current ideas for creating immersive and responsive environments are outlined.