Building Real Worlds: From the Storytelling of Science to the Science of Storytelling

Explore a thought-provoking two-hour seminar that delves into the fascinating intersection between worldbuilding in scenic arts and scientific worldview construction. Learn how ancient philosophical concepts, like Plato's cave allegory, connect to modern representational technologies and their impact on our understanding of reality. Discover how interactive technologies challenge traditional notions of presentation versus representation, body versus mind, and the complex relationship between real and unreal. Through the expertise of philosopher of science Karin Verelst, examine the theoretical and practical overlap in experimentation, audiovisual realization, and gaming. Drawing from her interdisciplinary background in humanities and exact sciences, and her experience as a lecturer at the Royal Institute for Theatre, Cinematography and Sound (RITCS), gain insights into how representational worldview construction and its paradoxes manifest in both science and art. The seminar, hosted by CLEA at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), is accessible both on campus and online via Zoom.