Imagining the Impossible Vol. 6: Immersion and Emergence in the Fantastic
Immersion is a key concept in the fantastic. From the 3D worlds of Avatar to the in-depth lore of The Lord of the Rings, fantastic narratives thrive on the idea of immersing us in worlds so detailed that we feel as if we are really there. Fantastic worlds often come with their own detailed maps, histories, languages, and cultures, creating the illusion of being a real place. Media industries invest heavily in producing technologies of immersion, such as 4D cinema or VR games. Immersion is one of Henry Jenkins’ “Seven Core Principles of Transmedia Storytelling”, while Mark J.P.
