During CCXP 2024, the panel “Do the images of fiction interfere with our reality or is it our reality that inspires fiction?” brought together experts to discuss how entertainment shapes and reflects the world we live in. Mediated by Matheus Sodré, audiovisual director and screenwriter, the debate featured contributions from Maria Clara Silveira (psychiatrist), Vanessa Mathias (researcher of emerging narratives) and Tatt Rossi (multiplatform artist).
The discussion revolved around the interconnection between fiction and reality, covering everything from human evolution to the role of entertainment as a tool for social and emotional transformation.
The impact of human evolution on fictional narratives
For psychiatrist Maria Clara Silveira, human beings are shaped by their ability to project the future based on past experiences. “When we create fiction, we are rehearsing for the future. Fiction is not just something we create; it is a cultural product of a population dealing with its challenges and developing paths for the future”, he stated.
She also highlighted how human evolution has influenced our ability to tell stories. “We are social mammals with language, which allows us to take our ideas from the present time and work on them collectively. This expanded our planning horizon and allowed us to create more complex narratives.”
The crisis of imagination in the contemporary world
Vanessa Mathias drew attention to the predominance of dystopian narratives in contemporary fiction and the difficulty of imagining utopian futures. “When we talk about visions of the future, we usually think of apocalyptic scenarios like Mad Max or Black Mirror. But it is rare to find stories that portray a regenerated future, where inequalities have been resolved. This reflects a crisis of collective imagination”, he explained.
She also suggested that entertainment could be used to reimagine more positive futures. “Anyone who doesn’t see the house ready can’t handle the work. We need narratives that help build visions of a future we want to live in.”
Reconnecting with the real
Tatt Rossi emphasized the need to integrate fiction and reality more fluidly. “Our human nature is to mix reality and fiction in a healthy way. However, we start to reserve specific spaces for fiction, such as films or shows, while we live ‘real life’ in an automatic and disconnected way. We need to relearn how to live in a more integrated and open way”, he commented.
She also highlighted the role of entertainment as a catalyst for change. “Art and the creative industry have the role of stretching the contours of reality and creating new meanings. We are at a time when many people say: ‘My life no longer makes sense’. We need to dare to imagine new paths, even if they are not immediately profitable or connect with large audiences.”
The role of technology in human relationships
The dependence on screens and their influence on mental health was a central point in Maria Clara Silveira’s speech. “While we are in front of a screen, we often lose connection with the present moment and with our body. To overcome challenges such as the mental health crisis, we need to overcome the idea of a mind separated from the body and develop a more integrated subjectivity”, he stated.
The panel explored the tensions between control and unpredictability in human life, highlighting how entertainment can serve as a mirror and a tool for imagining new futures.
