Next exhibitions
re:publica // 8 - 10 June 22 // Berlin
DEBUG
A VR Experience Against Racism
The VR experience DEBUG addresses racist microaggressions. It offers participants the opportunity to experience the daily struggle of those affected by racist microaggressions.
Happyland
is a term coined by Tupoka Ogette, an anti-racism trainer, civil rights activist and author of the book “Exit racism”. In her book, she describes Happyland as a state of mind in which we live before we actively and consciously reflect about racism. Happylanders are convinced of not being racists. For them, it is more important not being called a racist than actively deconstructing racism: “Don’t you dare calling me a racist!” They also exclusively decide what effect their words and actions have: “I didn’t mean it like that, so don’t be mad!”
Microaggressions
Coined by psychiatrist Dr. Chester Middlebrook Pierce, the term refers to frequent verbal, behavioural or environmental attacks - intentional or unintentional - that communicate derogatory attitudes towards stigmatized or marginalized groups. They work similar to mosquito bites: The more frequent, the more harm they can cause. Examples of microaggressions are questions like: “Where are you from?” or “Can I touch your hair?” Their subtle message is: You are not like us. You don‘t belong here.
A Two Level VR Installation
The VR installation is staged on the audience and the participant level. While the participant enters the VR experience (VRansit zone) through the VR glasses, the audience stays in the real world (Happyland) watching the participant and a screen behind him or her. The audience assumes to be watching on screen what the participant sees inside the VR glasses. However, this is not the case. Instead, the participant is experiencing the world outside of Happyland, which is a disturbing experience full of mosquito attacks.
The Purpose
Debug aims to contribute to deconstructing racism. Only if we are aware of how our words and actions may affect others, we will change our behaviour. The VR installation is an opportunity to experience how harmful racist microaggressions can be to our mental and physical well-being.
Hopefully next time we are about to ask someone “Where are you from?”, we pause for a second and ask ourselves: How could this question or statement affect the other person? Why do I want to know or say that? Is there another way I could find out? This will be our first step out of “Happyland”.
Hopefully next time we are about to ask someone “Where are you from?”, we pause for a second and ask ourselves: How could this question or statement affect the other person? Why do I want to know or say that? Is there another way I could find out? This will be our first step out of “Happyland”.
You want to join the experience?
Contact us!
dario@kisd.de
