THE STOLEN CHILD
VR FILM

A short VR film inspired by the work of W. B. Yeats and his poem ‘The Stolen Child’. The poem tells the story of a group of fairies who lure away a human child to join them in their enchanted realm. The poem is often interpreted as a commentary on the allure of escapism and the dangers of losing oneself in an imaginary world. Some critics have seen it as a metaphor for Yeats’ own struggles with the tension between the world of reality and the world of his imagination.

‘With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand’

Revisiting this line, I look to recontextualize its meaning. In a modern world are notions of fairies and fantasy now more aligned to a digital perspective and virtual realities. My VR cinematic piece is an adaptation of Yeats’ words and explores the concept of simulated reality through VR. The viewer is situated in a woodlands area collaged from virtual materials and handmade textures.

.apk file and video below.