Mixed or Misperceived Reality? Flusserian Media Freedom through Surreal Me

This paper delves into Vilém Flusser’s critique of media as mediators that distort the human perception of reality and diminish freedom, particularly within the Mixed Reality context, i.e., Misperceived Reality. It introduces an artistic inquiry through Surreal Me, which engages participants to experience a two-phase virtual embodying process and reveal the “Misperceived Reality.” The process examines the obfuscating nature of media; as the Sense of Embodiment inevitably breaks down, users can discover the constructed nature of media-projected reality. When users reflect on reality’s authentic and mediated experiences in MR, this work fosters a critical discourse on Flusserian media freedom addressing emerging immersive technologies.