Immersive 360-degree documentaries as false illusions of presence or a step towards more genuine representations of the refugee experience? An analysis of three immersive refugee documentaries Life in the Time of Refuge (2017), Dreaming in Za’atari: Stories after Syria (2018) and Lives On Hold in Lebanon (2018)

Abstract

The introduction of Virtual Reality technologies into documentary filmmaking in the previous decade has brought about opportunities for emotionally compelling narratives to be constructed surrounding various social issues in hopes to raise more awareness and provoke real change. However, it is important to remember that just like any other media format, immersive 360-

degree documentaries are nonetheless produced and consumed within the hegemonic Euro- American human rights spectacle which lays at the core of all contemporary humanitarian

communication practices. Thus, through a qualitative analysis of three immersive 360-degree documentaries, this research study aims to provide critical insight into the current modes of immersive documentary making about refugees and/or displacement.