Richard and Eric discuss the now famous Virtual Choir phenomenon and its varying ramifications on not only the choral community but on greater social society. In their critique, they attempt the impossible by unifying seemingly disparate ideas of thinkers and philosophers such as Debord, Baudrillard, Eco, Kierkegaard, all in too short of a time. Is the virtual choir actually a choir? Does the virtual choir share aspects of previously seen social experiments in the recent past? Are there claims the virtual choir makes that could be seen as problematic or illusory? Trying to look deeply at this very popular social art-form proves to be not only challenging but enlightening.
Baudrillard, J. (1981). Simulacra et Simulation. Éditions Galilée (French) and University of Michigan Press (English).
Curtis, A. (2011). Episode 2: The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts. All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace.
Debord, G. (1967). The Society of the Spectacle. Buchet-Chastel (French) and Black & Red (English).
Eco, U. (1973). The Fortresses of Solitude. Travels in Hyperreality. Mariner Books.
Kierkegaard, S. (1846). This Present Age.