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SUMMARY:Voices of XR: Kyoko Omori
DESCRIPTION:Echoes of the Silent Screen: Bringing Benshi Storytelling to 
 Life in VR\n\nKyoko Omori is an Associate Professor of Japanese at Hamilton 
 College and a film/literary scholar specializing in historical media and XR 
 technologies. She leads the Benshi: Silent Film Narrators in Japan digital 
 archive project\, which examines the evolution of benshi storytelling in 
 Japanese cinema from its early 20th-century origins to its contemporary 
 intermedia adaptations. The project incorporates digital tools such as VR 
 recreations of 1920s theaters and 360° cameras to document post-WWII small 
 theaters. Her work connects analog traditions with modern technologies\, 
 providing fresh perspectives on storytelling and interactive media.\n\nHow 
 can Virtual Reality (VR) immerse users in historical media experiences and 
 inspire new forms of storytelling? This talk explores the use of VR to 
 reconstruct a 1920s Tokyo movie theater experience\, complete with a live 
 benshi oral storyteller on stage\, thereby transporting audiences into the 
 world of early Japanese silent cinema. By recreating the intimate 
 atmosphere of smaller screens and the unique interplay between film and 
 live narration\, the project highlights VR’s potential to revive 
 ephemeral cultural practices and provide insights into historical cinematic 
 engagement.\n\nBenshi were central to Japan’s silent film era\, 
 delivering live oral storytelling that complemented and transformed 
 projected images. Their performances combined cultural translation\, 
 narrative interpretation\, and direct audience engagement\, creating a 
 multisensory experience that blurred the boundaries between reality and 
 imagination. This VR project replicates that dynamic\, enabling users to 
 observe the historical setting and embody the benshi’s role. By 
 synchronizing their performance with a film on screen\, users can craft new 
 narratives for contemporary audiences.\n\nThis immersive approach bridges 
 analog traditions and XR technologies\, showcasing how VR can deepen our 
 understanding of historical media environments while inspiring innovation 
 in gaming\, 360° video\, and other interactive narrative experiences. By 
 examining the intersections of narrative\, space\, and cultural 
 translation\, this talk invites audiences to envision XR’s potential to 
 reimagine storytelling through the lens of the past.  \n\nThe Voices of XR 
 speaker series is made possible by Kathy McMorran Murray and the National 
 Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) program as part of the 
 Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in the Science\, Technology\, and 
 Applications of Augmented and Virtual Reality at the University of 
 Rochester (#1922591).
LOCATION:Studio X - Carlson 1st Floor\, Carlson
ORGANIZER;CN="Studio X":MAILTO:studiox@library.rochester.edu
CATEGORIES:Studio X, Voices of XR
CONTACT;CN="Studio X":MAILTO:studiox@library.rochester.edu
STATUS:CONFIRMED
UID:LibCal-14081875
URL:https://libcal.lib.rochester.edu/event/14081875
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