Abstract
This article selects the concept of “virtual reality” as the starting point to think about metaversal literature， as it is not only one of the core technologies supporting metaverse， but also refers to the most basic features or functions of literature. The typical characteristics of VR such as immersion， interactivity and imagination （multi-sensibility） are largely parallel to literature. Although multi-sensibility seems to be rejected by the traditional theories on literary imagination， in accordance with relevant research in the fields of neurobiology and iconology， the “multi-sensual image” formed by VR may be more productive in achieving empathic effect and ethical purpose than the verbal image formed by language and the visual image formed by theatre， two main ways of presenting virtual reality in literature. Therefore， this article puts forward a preliminary assumption of metaversal literature： metaversal literature is a special UGC community composed of creator-experiencer and work-world. It pursues the basic principle of “empathy”； that is， the creator instantly experiences all literary roles and situations with the technology of “sharing avatar/senses” to truly achieve empathy between subjects， in order to shoulder the mission of preventing technological risks and protecting the goodness of human nature.
Keywords
virtual reality, metaversal literature, imagination, multi-sensibility empathy
First Page
1
Last Page
11
Recommended Citation
Song, Xuhong. 2023. "Virtual Reality and Metaversal Literature." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 43, (1): pp.1-11. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol43/iss1/2
