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Events at the end of the 20th century led to a notable shift in our shared vision of the future. Ideas of infinite industrial and technological progress were replaced with pessimistic forebodings. Endless news cycles remind us daily of the threats of irreversible climate change, the nuclear armament of unstable nations and ever-rising global political tensions. This growing sense of unease has crept in to all aspects of popular culture; from literature to cinema, video games to theatre, live-action experiences to entire themed festivals.
Real-world anxieties and concerns for the future have been reflected in the media and experiences we choose to consume for entertainment. It is as if we are choosing to stay on the edge of our seats, to be prepared emotionally and psychologically for something looming on the horizon. What used to be a niche subgenre of speculative fiction is now part of the mainstream.
For a short period, paying participants live out what it might be like to live after the end of the world as we know it. With the advent of video games and live-action experiences, the participant becomes the protagonist at the center of their own post-apocalyptic fantasy. The creators of these simulations go to great lengths to offer complete and total immersion into this fantasy, making the experiences as indistinguishable from the real thing as possible. As a result, the gaps between reality and fiction are collapsed and intertwined. Each has been created for recreational purposes but their increasing popularity says something about our contemporary condition, a time defined by environmental crisis, media-induced paranoia and fake news.
Awards
Magenta Foundation Flash Forward 2019 Winner
BPF OPEN18 Solo Shortlisted
BJP Breakthrough Awards 2017 Finalist
Press
This project is still in development and not currently taking press requests. Email to request working pre-release PDF. -
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