How do you trust what you see? Is something posed or staged still real? Join us for a screening of Elysia marginata from New York City-based filmmakers Allyson Packer and Jesse Fisher. This genre-defying short film blends AI-generated content with documentary footage and virtual reality to craft a speculative narrative about human agency in a virtualizing world. Following this, we will hear from artist/researcher Vahid Valikhani on the historical tension between authenticity and manipulation in photography and documentary filmmaking, now rapidly evolving since AI entered the picture. Enrich your understanding of reality in the digital age with this conversation and audience Q&A, moderated by Professor Geri Zeldes from MSU’s School of Journalism.
Light reception to follow.