Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare

This article explores the concept of a metaverse courtroom by engaging in an imaginative dialogue between Shakespeare's Hamlet and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. Using Connolly's method of juxtaposing distinct intellectual traditions, the analysis examines key aspects of justice proces...

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Main Authors: David Tait, Meredith Rossner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Sociology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1552706/full
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author David Tait
Meredith Rossner
author_facet David Tait
Meredith Rossner
author_sort David Tait
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the concept of a metaverse courtroom by engaging in an imaginative dialogue between Shakespeare's Hamlet and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. Using Connolly's method of juxtaposing distinct intellectual traditions, the analysis examines key aspects of justice processes—presence, facework, movement, adversarialism, and evidence presentation—in virtual spaces. Drawing on insights from dramaturgy, the sociology of emotions, and science fiction, the article considers how the performative and symbolic dimensions of physical courtrooms might translate to the metaverse. By imagining the metaverse courtroom as a space for innovation and interaction, this article seeks to illuminate how literature, sociology, and technology can collaboratively inspire the reimagining of justice in virtual environments.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Sociology
spelling doaj-art-3cf81f40c1954d8daf265ebeb2d6cc622025-08-20T03:13:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-05-011010.3389/fsoc.2025.15527061552706Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and ShakespeareDavid TaitMeredith RossnerThis article explores the concept of a metaverse courtroom by engaging in an imaginative dialogue between Shakespeare's Hamlet and Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. Using Connolly's method of juxtaposing distinct intellectual traditions, the analysis examines key aspects of justice processes—presence, facework, movement, adversarialism, and evidence presentation—in virtual spaces. Drawing on insights from dramaturgy, the sociology of emotions, and science fiction, the article considers how the performative and symbolic dimensions of physical courtrooms might translate to the metaverse. By imagining the metaverse courtroom as a space for innovation and interaction, this article seeks to illuminate how literature, sociology, and technology can collaboratively inspire the reimagining of justice in virtual environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1552706/fullemotionritualsmetaversecourtsjusticevirtual
spellingShingle David Tait
Meredith Rossner
Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
Frontiers in Sociology
emotion
rituals
metaverse
courts
justice
virtual
title Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
title_full Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
title_fullStr Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
title_full_unstemmed Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
title_short Imagining the metaverse court: a conversation between science fiction and Shakespeare
title_sort imagining the metaverse court a conversation between science fiction and shakespeare
topic emotion
rituals
metaverse
courts
justice
virtual
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1552706/full
work_keys_str_mv AT davidtait imaginingthemetaversecourtaconversationbetweensciencefictionandshakespeare
AT meredithrossner imaginingthemetaversecourtaconversationbetweensciencefictionandshakespeare