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Soundscape and Sense of Presence in the VR Experience of Madame Pirate: Becoming a Legend

  • Désirée Marianini

    Désirée Marianini graduated in Chinese Language at La Sapienza University of Rome and specialized in Directing and Project development at ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media, Italy. Currently she is Ph.d candidate at La Sapienza University of Rome with a research project about Chinese cinema and contemporary documentary. She has been lecturer in Chinese Language and Languages and Literatures of China and Southeast Asia at Tuscia University and Lumsa University, and she taught Audiovisual Translation at the Second-level Master’s Degree program in Specialized Translation at La Sapienza University of Rome. She works also as a narrative translator and on various audiovisual projects.

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Published/Copyright: November 19, 2024

Abstract

This article proposes a phenomenological and critical analysis of the film, Madame Pirate: Becoming a Legend, written and directed by Morgan Ommer and Huang Dan-Chi (Taiwan: Serendipity Films 綺影映畫, 2022, VR360, 17 min), with the goal of encouraging more comparative analyses of narrative paradigms expressed through virtual reality. Particular attention will be paid to the sound aspect in Madame Pirate, which is foundational in establishing a sense of presence for the viewer. Following a discussion of theoretical framing for virtual reality production, the author presents an experiential report of her experience of Madame Pirate, focusing on how sound influences the sense of presence, directs the viewer’s gaze, and steers the narrative.


Corresponding author: Désirée Marianini, Italian Institute of Oriental Studies – ISO, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy, E-mail:

About the author

Désirée Marianini

Désirée Marianini graduated in Chinese Language at La Sapienza University of Rome and specialized in Directing and Project development at ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media, Italy. Currently she is Ph.d candidate at La Sapienza University of Rome with a research project about Chinese cinema and contemporary documentary. She has been lecturer in Chinese Language and Languages and Literatures of China and Southeast Asia at Tuscia University and Lumsa University, and she taught Audiovisual Translation at the Second-level Master’s Degree program in Specialized Translation at La Sapienza University of Rome. She works also as a narrative translator and on various audiovisual projects.

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Received: 2024-02-19
Accepted: 2024-10-04
Published Online: 2024-11-19
Published in Print: 2024-12-17

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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