The Art of Staging Simulations: Mise-en-scène, Social Impact, and Simulation Literacy

Computer simulations have tremendous influence in a society that faces the irreducible complexity of an open future and that feels the urge to anticipatorily deal with possible future developments. The perspective proposed in this essay investigates the entire process of computer simulation as a mimesis operation that draws much of its social power from the staging decisions made in the process. Simulations are understood equally as composed imitations of something real and as creations of something fictitious or imaginary. The concept of mimesis—following Paul Ricœur—combines these two aspects of imitation and creation. It allows us to tackle important questions: To what extent must the persuasive power of simulations be accompanied by recipients’ simulation literacy? How can this literacy be fostered? How can the science and art of simulation be embedded into a cultural context and how can the appropriate cultural skills that are needed in order to ‘fluently read’ and properly interpret simulations be provided? Another mimesis operation—theatrical staging or mise-en-scène—has developed unique composition techniques between imitation and creation. While seeking to investigate simulations’ efficacy in society, it is rewarding to focus on the staging character of simulation, on the mise-en-scène aspects of this powerful ‘computational as if.’ The following article will discuss the insights to be gained by looking at computer simulations as a peculiarity of staging and theatricality. It positions the art of staging simulations as a starting point both for more socially compatible simulations and for a more simulation-literate society.