Nowadays, social media platforms have become an essential part of our lives and can be used as synonyms to describe our identity. Therefore, the book “The Imaginary Real World of CyberCities” Author by M. Christine Boyer can help us to know how these phenomena change our understanding to the real world and the imaginary worlds. From the book, Boyer mainly explores how movies and media influence our views on life and the world. Boyer also defined “CyberCities” as a virtual space within computer networks, she explained how CyberCities blurs the boundaries between physical and virtual reality, and how CyberCities provide an interactive and exploratory platform for users.
Boyer also point out another key concept is the “Imaginary worlds” as a virtual setting which provide the audiences a sight of parallel universes from the fantastical realms to futuristic societies. These universes reflect on social, trends and political influences. Base on the background of CyberCities, fictional technologies prediction can engage to virtual experiences and access to different information and entertainment. These innovations open in new dimensions however it also raises awareness on privacy risks and losses of distinction between the real and the virtual.
Boyer further highlights how films and media impact on our own perceptions, how the dominance of constructed imaginary worlds will lead to a sense of inequality and dissatisfaction when comparing them to the reality. Furthermore, movie and media tend to join people around the world based on personal predilection, limiting creativity, and encouraging people to escape from reality.
Yan Chi Hong
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