Metaverse Ethnography After the Virtual

Abstract

In a historical moment where the metaverse seems to be on the wane, it is timely to reexamine key concepts. In that spirit, in this article I theorize the virtual and its implications for metaverse ethnography. I explore the history of the virtual and engage in two thought experiments, replacing “virtual reality” with “sensory immersion” and “virtual world” with “online Land.” I then develop the “skeuomorphic virtual” and “exocentric virtual” as two possible ways to recuperate the virtual for metaverse ethnography. I hope this helps counter hype cycles to come, contributing to ethnographic inquiry that illuminates the transformational potential of the metaverse.