Infinite Realities is an ongoing study of shotacon, lolicon and other phenomena that exist in the virtual rather than the actual world.
Although these phenomena are fantasies, they are also in a sense alternative realities, but which occur in the virtual world. They can be described as “virtualities”, a term coined by the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze to denote “an aspect of reality that is ideal, but nonetheless real” (Wikipedia).
In addition to being virtual, phenomena such as shotacon and lolicon push the border of fantasy; they form a subculture which can be described as an “extreme virtuality”.
The research is centered around the following broad question:
How do inhabitants of a virtuality relate to the virtual world, the actual world, and the gap in between?
About the researcher
My name is Karl Andersson. I am a master’s student in the Visual and Media Anthropology programme at Freie Universität Berlin, a German research university.
I am personally interested in the phenomena I study and have participated in the doujinshi scene, on Pixiv and in other subcultures.
My research of extreme virtualities is part of a course in Digital Anthropology, but might be extended outside that particular course. The results of my research will be presented in written as well as visual form (a film or similar).
About your participation
The core of my research consists of interviews with people who create or read doujinshi, who create or enjoy illustrations on Pixiv, or who otherwise interact in the subcultures that I study.
The form of the interviews can range from a short interaction in direct messages on Twitter to longer Skype sessions or even meetings in person. As a participant in the study, it is entirely up to you to set a level of interaction that you are comfortable with.
By talking to me about yourself and your virtual/actual life, you contribute important knowledge about these subcultures, which in many ways can be seen as the cutting edge of human culture.
Keep in mind that participation is completely voluntary and that you are granted full anonymity.
Research participants who contribute more thoroughly to the study will be asked to sign a form about informed consent.
Contact
I’d be very happy to be contacted by potential research participants and to answer questions about my research in general.
Contact me by sending an email to gap.ethnography ((AT)) gmail.com or by adding me on Line:
