Digital immersive environments: The transformation of perception and new forms of subjectivity in contemporary culture

Abstract

Background.The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of digital immersive environments in the context of contemporary culture. The technological, anthropological, and sociocultural aspects of immersiveness are examined, tracing the genealogy of immersive practices from archaic rituals to modern digital technologies. Special attention is paid to the transformation of perceptual mechanisms and the formation of new modes of subjectivity in conditions of total digitalization of cultural space. The specific characteristics of virtual and augmented reality, interactive installations, and immersive theater as key formats of digital immersiveness are analyzed. The paradoxes and contradictions of immersive experience in the era of post-digital culture are identified. The phenomenon of immersion has become a key element of modern culture, actively penetrating various spheres. It affects not only the forms of artistic expression, but also the modes of perception, cognitive processes and self-identification of a person. There is a need for a theoretical understanding of immersion, its historical roots, anthropological and socio-cultural consequences, especially against the backdrop of the rapid development of digital technologies. Purpose.To analyze the evolution and specificity of immersive practices in culture: from archaic forms (shamanic rituals, mysteries) to modern digital technologies (VR, AR, immersive theater, environmental art), revealing the influence of immersion on subjectivity, perception, emotions and cultural interaction, rethinking the aesthetic and ontological status of art in the digital environment. Methodology.The basis of the study is formed by cultural and comparative-historical, interpretive analysis, phenomenological approach. Results. It has been established that immersiveness is not an exclusively modern phenomenon, its origins go deep into the cultural history of mankind. Modern digital technologies radicalize archaic practices, turning them into technologically constructed environments for the transformation of consciousness. Immersive technologies contribute to the shift in the role of the subject - from a passive viewer to an active participant, co-author and interpreter. The dual nature of immersiveness has been revealed: on the one hand, an expansion of the possibilities of perception and learning, on the other, the risks of losing critical thinking and emotional authenticity. It has been noted that the development of immersive environments leads to the formation of new aesthetic, ontological and ethical paradigms. A hypothesis has been put forward about the transition to a post-immersive culture focused on a balance between immersion and distancing, experience and reflection.