I read 20 pages (all) of Toni Sant's essay "Performance in Second Life: Some Possibilities for Learning and Teaching" and what I got out of it was basically what I already knew: virtual worlds are all about performance in one way or another.
Sant begins by discussing how SL is used in theatre, music, dance, and live art, but what I find the most interesting is when she discusses identity performance. Sant asserts that "the mechanics of Second Life--its physics and game engine and expected or acceptable behavior--are the the rules that enable you to operate within the online environment. Beyond this, whatever role you chose for your avatar is an identity performance" (160). She even discusses how the name one chooses for their avatar is part of that performance and part of how we want others to perceive us in the virtual world.
I know this to be true, at least for me, because I spent a LOT of time choosing both my first name and last name in SL. When I signed up, last names were listed to choose from, and you then chose a first name to go with it. I knew I wanted my first name to be Zoe, which is Greek and means life. I couldn't get Zoe with the last name I wanted, which is McMillan for my ancestry on my father's side, so I brought some of my real life identity into SL by adding a capital B to Zoe: the initial of my real life last name. I wanted to present myself as a fiery Scottish woman full of life.
The other thing that Sant discusses which I find interesting is the difference between role-play and real-play. First, I had never heard the term real-play before. By definition, Sant claims that "if a truthful exchange occurs between Second Life residents, who known [sic] exactly who is behind the avatar they see in-world, then the suspension of disbelief that is essential in successful role-play is disengaged temporarily to enable real-play between the users" (161). I'm undecided about this. Not sure I buy into the "real-play" concept.
Even though I had to read 20 pages to get 1 1/2 pages of something I found interesting, it was worth it. If you don't know much about Second Life and the possibilities it offers for all types of performance, this is the article for you.
Sant begins by discussing how SL is used in theatre, music, dance, and live art, but what I find the most interesting is when she discusses identity performance. Sant asserts that "the mechanics of Second Life--its physics and game engine and expected or acceptable behavior--are the the rules that enable you to operate within the online environment. Beyond this, whatever role you chose for your avatar is an identity performance" (160). She even discusses how the name one chooses for their avatar is part of that performance and part of how we want others to perceive us in the virtual world.
I know this to be true, at least for me, because I spent a LOT of time choosing both my first name and last name in SL. When I signed up, last names were listed to choose from, and you then chose a first name to go with it. I knew I wanted my first name to be Zoe, which is Greek and means life. I couldn't get Zoe with the last name I wanted, which is McMillan for my ancestry on my father's side, so I brought some of my real life identity into SL by adding a capital B to Zoe: the initial of my real life last name. I wanted to present myself as a fiery Scottish woman full of life.
The other thing that Sant discusses which I find interesting is the difference between role-play and real-play. First, I had never heard the term real-play before. By definition, Sant claims that "if a truthful exchange occurs between Second Life residents, who known [sic] exactly who is behind the avatar they see in-world, then the suspension of disbelief that is essential in successful role-play is disengaged temporarily to enable real-play between the users" (161). I'm undecided about this. Not sure I buy into the "real-play" concept.
Even though I had to read 20 pages to get 1 1/2 pages of something I found interesting, it was worth it. If you don't know much about Second Life and the possibilities it offers for all types of performance, this is the article for you.
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