The Interplay between Form, Story, and History: The Use of Narrative in Cultural and Educational Virtual Reality

This paper attempts to review examples of the use of storytelling and narrative in immersive virtual reality worlds. Particular attention is given to the way narrative is incorporated in artistic, cultural, and educational applications through the development of specific sensory and perceptual experiences that are based on characteristics inherent to virtual reality, such as immersion, interactivity, representation, and illusion. Narrative development is considered on three axes: form (visual representation), story (emotional involvement), and history (authenticated cultural content) and how these can come together.