3/24/2007

FakeNature

SL_016.jpgI'm gathering tools and sources for an interrogation of depictions of nature in Second Life and could get two papers out of underwater sims alone. While most of SL Under fits Cephalopodcaster Jason Robertshaw's apt "stark abyssal plain" description, others are teeming with -- well, mostly two-dimensional uploaded scans-o-fish textures scripted in eternal 3-D orbits. But there are many choice depictions and I intend to create a resource page with SLURLs of some of the more interesting ones.

Toolwise, my epistemic will be redolent with hegemonies, articulations, and possibly Spectacles (Greek inventor of eyeglasses). Given SL's powerful ability to represent "real" spaces and create realities that are carried back to RL -- an environmental-awareness activist's dream, in one sense -- it's also possible that the immersive realism of these anthropocentric creations can be read in ways that do not threaten unfettered industrialism.

(For example, count the number of polluted sims, considering the amount of development that goes on. Just like in certain cultures in RL, the costs and waste are invisible!)

2 comments:

Lindsay Clark said...

"others are teeming with -- well, mostly two-dimensional uploaded scans-o-fish textures scripted in eternal 3-D orbits"

Ha ha. You're my favorite Dad.

-Lindsay

Anonymous said...

I'd be interested in seeing your list. Let me know what you find out. Assume you have heard about Svarga? http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2006/05/god_game.html