How real is virtual?

On to my other fascination today; CGI. Now one thing about Yotna is that things often perplex him, this is one of them.

I as a hobby do some 3D art - now let's ignore how I do this and look at one of the movements in the genre. Artist's producing computer graphics are working in an artificial media; producing 'virtual art' hence we know it is not real. However with more powerful computers and increasingly sophisticated software our images can become very detailed, and approach reality.

Many artist take great care and time to produce images that are as close to reality as they can. The greatest compliment one can pay them is to say 'I looked and for a minute I thought it was real'. So lets take this to its logical conclusion; eventually we render the perfect reality. So good no one can tell it is not a high quality photograph of a real event.

So it would get ignored, no one would give it a second glance; all of the work and care would be for nothing, just 'another' photo.

Now that to me is paradoxical; why do we want reality in our virtual worlds? What is this magnet that draws us back to making it 'believable'?

I find it odd, I suppose, as my favourite 'real' art forms are Surrealism and Impressionism. Even so I still find myself striving to get the lighting, pose and atmosphere 'right' - how odd, for there is no right; just our human perception of what looks 'real'. I think that's where I came in, so time to leave the theatre.

This seat is vacant. Be warned however it is virtual.