Oral traditions, vital to cultural identity, are losing relevance among youth due to the dominance of modern media. This study addresses the revitalization of these traditions by reconnecting young people with folklore. We introduce Anansi the Spider VR, a novel virtual space that combines first-person virtual reality (VR) with generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI)-driven narrative personalization. This space immerses users in the Anansi Spider story, empowering them to influence the narrative as they envision themselves as the `protagonists,' thereby enhancing personal reflection. In a 2 by 2 between-subjects study with 48 participants, we employed a mixed-method approach to measure user engagement and changes in interest, complemented by semi-structured interviews providing qualitative insights into personalization and immersion. Our results indicate that personalization in VR significantly boosts engagement and cultural learning interest. We recommend that future studies using VR and Gen-AI to revitalize oral storytelling prioritize respecting cultural integrity and honoring original storytellers and communities.

翻译：口述传统作为文化认同的核心要素，因现代媒体的主导地位而在青年群体中逐渐失去影响力。本研究旨在通过重新连接青年与民间传说，探讨复兴这些传统的路径。我们介绍了"阿南西蜘蛛VR"——一个创新的虚拟空间，该空间将第一人称虚拟现实（VR）与生成式人工智能（Gen-AI）驱动的叙事个性化相结合。该空间使用户沉浸于阿南西蜘蛛的故事中，使用户能够以"主角"身份影响叙事进程，从而增强个人反思。在一项包含48名参与者的2×2被试间研究中，我们采用混合方法测量用户参与度与兴趣变化，并通过半结构化访谈获取关于个性化与沉浸感的质性洞察。研究结果表明，VR中的个性化显著提升了参与度与文化学习兴趣。我们建议未来利用VR与Gen-AI复兴口述传统的研究，应优先注重尊重文化完整性，并致敬原始讲述者及其社群。