Meet Nikolai Evreinov, the 19th century Nathan Fielder
mssv.net
2 threads
Fascinating story. Can we say this is tangentially connected with ideas of virtual reality and simulation? Ignoring the role of technology of course.
OP here: I think so! I didn't cover it in the essay but Evreinov had an essay about "The Theatre of the Future" where he imagines something very similar to VR.