It'sallaboutPOP:Thatwasre:publica2018

It's all about POP: That was re:publica 2018

The re:publica is one of the world's most important conferences on digital society topics. Started as a conference for the blogging scene, in 2018 it presented itself with many soap bubbles and in a neon green dress - the slogan POP was hard to miss at the STATION BERLIN. Under this motto, the organizers wanted to burst filter bubbles and approach popular media phenomena with open interest. Questions to be answered included, "What is the fascination with (scripted) reality shows, Insta-stars, and influencers, and what influence do they have on society? Is this the Real Life? Is fake already an accepted mainstream that no one wonders about anymore? What makes alternative facts so appealing to concerned citizens? Where is the POP in POPulism?" This and more was discussed and more or less answered...

Exceptionally High Female Quota

According to the re:publica website, "around 47 percent of the speakers at re:publica 2017 were female." In 2018, the organizers again relied on strong speakers - whether female or male. Whistleblower Chelsea Manning was a guest and spoke about her new life as a free person, but also about uncontrollable state power, the impacts of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the responsibility of developers and politicians towards it.

ZDF vs. WDR

Additionally, WDR veteran Ranga Yogeshwar presented his thoughts on "Humans and Machines - who programs whom?". The next day, ZDFneo moderator Jan Böhmermann called via video link to participate in "Reconquista Internet" and made it clear that something must be done against right-wing trolls.

Virtual Reality is all around

Virtual Reality was THE topic in the exhibition halls of re:publica 2018 - major TV stations like ZDF or WDR presented various VR experiences at their booths - but one stood out from the entire VR hustle according to various media reports: Our Virtual Reality Live Acting Experience, which we developed together with Kolle Rebbe and PETA Germany. It premiered at this year's re:publica, and in the specially pimped VR truck, conference visitors could engage in a personal dialogue with an animal for the first time. And that in real-time...

Taking Responsibility for Your Actions

"With the experiment, we want to reach people directly and draw attention to the worldwide exploitation of animals," explains Hendrik Thiele, Head of Brand Communication and Creation at Peta, in conversation with HORIZONT. "Humans and animals can speak eye to eye in our truck for the first time. This way, the human is forced to take responsibility."

And this is how it works

After the person puts on the virtual reality headset, a rather cute and realistic rabbit hops onto the chair opposite. Then it begins a quick-witted and empathetic conversation, addressing the person's treatment of animals and animal products. Each dialogue is completely individual and tailored to the respective conversation partner.

Behind the animal is an actor, which makes the dialogue very personal and human. The face reenactment system we developed for the project transmits the actor's voice and facial expressions live onto the virtual character.

The Team

We were on-site with our team and not only ensured that the experience ran smoothly - no, we also looked around a bit and discovered the following... Who are these five more or less happy figures? We don't really know either, but they probably belonged to the interior of re:publica '18... Maybe you can even hire them for your next project. Get in touch (hi@demodern.de) ;)

(from left: insane(ly) sound designer, not very amused art director, happy Mainzelmännchen & even more happier PM; last but not least: the pretty cool dev...)

Bye Bye - we're off!

Ball pit? We're diving in for a quick breather...

Find more about our VR Experience and re:publica 2018 in various media reports:
  • “Eye to Eye“: Why animal protection is now relying on Virtual Reality - Business Punk
  • With this VR experiment, PETA is now campaigning against animal consumption - REFINERY29
  • The re:publica has arrived in the mainstream - MDR Kultur
  • Peta and the unsettling Virtual Reality dialogue between rabbit and human - HORIZONT
  • Virtual Reality: PETA lets humans and animals engage in dialogue - Vrodo
  • Peta, Kolle Rebbe, and Demodern put re:publica visitors in a VR cage - W&V
  • New Virtual Reality Project Lets People Talk To Animals To 'Open Their Hearts And Minds'... more
  • What if Animals Could Talk? PETA Creates VR Experience Eye to Eye... more
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