Holograms and Vocaloids: a deep dive into the virtual persona of Hatsune Miku - Polyniki Katrantsioti - 2792841

Abstract

Hatsune Miku, originally created as a software for music creation created by Crypton Future Media, puts forward a different way to look into intermediality and playfulness through the lens of the “virtual idol”; a media performance that subsists independently of the referent of any performer (Black 2006, 209). Yet, although Miku’s position is more than present in media discussion, there is a lack of focus with regards to how intermediality and playfulness affect not only Miku’s performances, but also the audience in place. Throughout this thesis, I explored a number of media concepts, through the gaze of the duality of Hatsune Miku: a software agent and a performer. Having this in mind, I was able to draw conclusion concerning Miku’s place in the intemedial discussion, the importance of technological advancements within the music industry, as well as the importance of playfulness in audience participation and liveness.