University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Southland

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Southland

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Content Southland
By
Natalie Gravier
Master of Fine Arts
Interactive Media & Games Division
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California
August 2016

Southland Page 2 of 4
Table of Contents
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………........3
References………………………………………………………………………………………....4

Southland Page 3 of 4
Abstract
Southland, my MFA thesis, is a Google Cardboard and Gear VR based VR exploration of
historical, forgotten aspects of Los Angeles as seen through the perspective of driving in a
car. Inspired by the infamous car culture of Los Angeles, as well as my own long drives through
the city, vignettes will focus on roadside landmarks (or lack of landmarks) that inform the history
of Los Angeles: what was there and no longer is, or what is still there but no longer serves its
original purpose. This experience ultimately encourages appreciation of the layered quality of
Los Angeles and allows the past to meet the present through an interactive medium.
Southland serves as a bemusing experience for those who live and have lived in Los
Angeles, a chance to excitedly point out recognized landmarks or muse over the project’s
interpretation of a certain location or situation. Southland is a way to give something back to a
city that has given me, and others, so much, to make my own mark on the landscape of work that
passionately, in a positive or negative light, remarks on the experience of the city.
The design concepts explored in Southland enable the project to be used as an awareness
and educational tool for a variety of subjects including but not limited to history, culture, and
anthropology. The project has the potential to be incorporated into learning environments such as
museums, schools and other educational centers.

Southland Page 4 of 4
References
Los Angeles Plays Itself. Dir. Thom Anderson. Perf. Encke King. Thom Anderson Productions,
2004.

Elliott, Jake, and Tamas Kemenczy. Kentucky Route Zero. Computer software. Kentucky Route
Zero. Cardboard Computer, 7 Jan. 2013. Web.

Abstract (if available)

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Asset Metadata

Creator Gravier, Natalie (author)

Core Title Southland

School School of Cinematic Arts

Degree Master of Fine Arts

Degree Program Interactive Media

Publication Date 09/26/2016

Defense Date 09/26/2016

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag game design,Interactive Media,Los Angeles history,OAI-PMH Harvest,Southland,virtual reality

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Wixon, Dennis (committee chair), Lemarchand, Richard (committee member), Watson, Jeff (committee member)

Creator Email gravier@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c40-306791

Unique identifier UC11281563

Identifier etd-GravierNat-4818.pdf (filename),usctheses-c40-306791 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-GravierNat-4818.pdf

Dmrecord 306791

Document Type Thesis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights Gravier, Natalie

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA