Mapping Past and Future Wars in Voice of the People: Experiencing Narrative in the 3D/VR Environment Institution: Florida Atlantic University
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Mapping Past and Future Wars in Voice of the People: Experiencing Narrative in the 3D/VR Environment by Ivan Kalytovskyy A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL August 2017 Copyright by Ivan Kalytovskyy 2017 ii Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Joey Bargsten for his unrelenting support and encouragement throughout the writing of this manuscript. Additionally, I would like to thank professor Francis X. McAfee for his continued support throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, his advice and orientation has inspired me to tackle any challenge. Additionally, Bradley Lewter for his advice in navigating the challenges of this project. I am also grateful to Dr. Eric Freedman and Dr. Noemi Marin for providing me with teaching assistantship that greatly lifted the financial burdens of my education. iv ABSTRACT Author: Ivan Kalytovskyy Title: Mapping Past and Future Wars in Voice of the People: Experiencing Narrative in the 3D/VR Environment Institution: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Bradley Lewter Degree: Master of Fine Arts Year: 2017 We have an opportunity not only to interact with 3D content but also to immerse ourselves in it via Virtual Reality (VR). This work is deeply inspired by my experience as a Ukrainian witnessing the recent turmoil in my homeland. I wanted people around the globe to experience the horrors that are unfolding. The Voice of the People, explores narrative storytelling through VR. Ultimately, the viewer will be able to put on a VR headset and become deeply immersed in the story. With this technology, the user intimately experiences the war and devastation created by Russian occupation first hand. The end of World War II is a critical time in my country’s history. Included in the 3D environment are video segments of those affected by the current Russian occupation; historical themes underscore the narrative and help the viewer understand the recurring aggression by Russia that is part of Ukraine’s history. v Dedication This manuscript is dedicated to my mother, my family and my friends. Thank you for all of your support. Table of Contents Part 1 Intro Thesis Advisors and Boards Signatures ................................................ III Acknowledgements ................................................................................ IV Abstract .................................................................................................. VI List of Figures ...................................................................................... VIII Part 2 Critical Overview and Literature Review I. Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 II.History of Ukraine ................................................................................. 4 III. Treatment of Similar Themes / Ideas in Fiction, Cinema, and New Media ................................................................................................................. 8 IV. The Hybrid of 3D and the Documentary: History and Fusion ........... 16 Part 3 Materials and Methods of Voice of the People I. Overview ............................................................................................ 28 II. Materials ........................................................................................... 36 III. Methods ........................................................................................... 42 Part 4 Conclusion Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 46 Bibliography ..................................................................................................... 47 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map of Kievan Rus` ............................................................................ 4 Figure 2: Map of Kingdom of Halych-Volynia .................................................... 4 Figure 3: Map of Ukraine 1919 .......................................................................... 5 Figure 4: Map of Ukraine today (with Crimea) ................................................... 6 Figure 5: Lumieres camera .............................................................................. 17 Figure 6: Stereoscope ..................................................................................... 18 Figure 7: Kinematoscope ................................................................................. 19 Figure 8: Sensorama ........................................................................................ 19 Figure 9: Telesphere Mask ............................................................................... 20 Figure 10: Headsight ........................................................................................ 20 Figure 11: Sega Genesis VR ............................................................................ 21 Figure 12: Nintendo’s Virtual Boy ..................................................................... 21 Figure 13: StuntMaster VR ............................................................................... 22 Figure 14: Cybermaxx VR ................................................................................ 22 Figure 15: VFX-1 VR ........................................................................................ 22 Figure 16: Different virtual reality headsets offered today ................................ 23 Figure 17: Game Walk – through Part 1 ........................................................... 28 Figure 18: Game Walk – through Part 2 ........................................................... 29 Figure 19: Game Walk – through Part 3 ........................................................... 30 Figure 20: Game Walk – through Part 4 ........................................................... 31 viii Figure 21: Game Walk – through Part 5 ........................................................... 31 Figure 22: Game Walk – through Part 6 ........................................................... 32 Figure 23: Game Walk – through Part 7 ........................................................... 32 Figure 24: Game Walk – through Part 8 ........................................................... 33 Figure 25: Game Walk – through Part 9 ........................................................... 34 Figure 26: Game navigation map ..................................................................... 35 Figure 27: USSR posters .................................................................................. 37 Figure 28: ZIl 130 ............................................................................................. 38 Figure 29: Tank T-64 ........................................................................................ 38 Figure 30: Soldier character ............................................................................. 40 Figure 31: Texture map of the building. (Displacement, Normal. Color, Gloss) 40 Figure 32: Texture map of a lightpost (Displacement, Gloss, Color, Normal) ... 41 Figure 33: Texture map of Zil-130 firetruck (3 color maps and 1 bump map) ... 41 Figure 34: Interviewed people. (Iruna, Muhailo, Ryslan, Roman) ..................... 43 Figure 35: Sample of a JavaScript code. .......................................................... 43 ix I. Introduction My project, Voice of the People, is an interactive documentary. It explores the themes of remembrance, suffering, time, and humanity through a 3D interactive environment and through documentary video embedded in the environment. The user who enters my 3d environment will be immersed in the experiences of civilians who suffered and fought against military aggression from the Soviet Union, the Nazis, as well as Polish forces throughout the 20th century and into the present day. I will create a direct link between the stories of Ukrainian civilian and the 3D user/viewer, using the Oculus Rift software to enhance the user’s experience of this interactive documentary. I have always been interested in the newer technologies but have been mesmerized by the well-established media that we experience every day. After spending nearly fourteen years in the USA, I recently went to my native Ukraine, which stirred up in me many nearly-forgotten memories. Growing up in a country which was previously occupied by the Soviet Union, I found that things may not have been easy once the Russians left but at least things were peaceful. As a child I heard the stories of the elders about war, about the suffering and horrors of it, but for me it was always as a horror movie or a very dark tale of the Brothers Grimm. When I returned to my hometown I noticed a different ambience in the people. Civilians are still going about their business and living casual day -to-day lives although this conflict has been going on for over two years, but there 1 was just something “off” in people’s eyes and in their posture. It was as if they were afraid of what is to come. Many people have predicted that Soviet Union or today`s Russia will invade again and that they will never let Ukraine be at peace. However, no one expected it to happen so soon. It was hard to get anyone to express his/her opinion and thoughts in front of the camera. Based the stories of our parents and grandparents, everyone knows what happens when you speak out against Russia. The options