Title: Zeuxis meets RealityEngine - Digital Realism and Virtual Worlds

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Tags: Article, 1996

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Download_link: zeuxis-meets-realityengine.pdf

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Text: The essay explores the evolving nature of realism in digital virtual worlds, contrasting it with traditional optical media like photography and film. The article identifies key characteristics of digital realism, including its commodification (where realism is quantifiable and purchasable), the shift from artistic creation to selection of pre-made elements, and the tension between illusion and its deconstruction. Manovich critiques the illusionary coherence of 3D graphics, comparing virtual spaces to the disjointed urban architecture of Los Angeles, and frames digital realism as a reflection of contemporary capitalist ideology—where experience is fragmented, transactional, and simplified.