Is Virtual Identity Arbitrary?

Given the opportunity to shape your own appearance at will, what would you choose to look like? In "real life" one's control over such things as gender, skin color, body type, or height is limited to say the least. In "virtual reality," many of these limits do not apply. So in my mind, the interesting question is this: given almost total control over one's appearance, would the world end up being populated by people conforming to the lowest common denominator of beauty? Is the answer to that question already painfully evident in virtual worlds like Second Life? In her new blog, Doreen Garrigus, examines one dimension of this question, focusing on people's choice of height. Her query has provoked a fascinating discussion.
Original Detail: That's Me

Rave Me

New York Couture's "Rave Me" is the perfect clubwear for your Second Life avatar. See this outfit in action on our model, Charlene Myoo, dancing to the beat of Don Philip's "Sugar." This dress was commissioned by a customer who admires our design; IM us and we'll consider designing a special item of clothing for you too.

Down With The Virtual!

How did we ever get stuck with this misleading and maddening misnomer, "virtual reality." Surely it's a phrase popularized by people who aren't fully cognizant of the fact that virtuality is the stuff that life is made of. Take clothes for example. Here "virtual reality" sheds light on that other misnomer, "real life." There is no need at all for clothes in a place like Second Life. The avatar does not need to be protected from the elements, which, arguable, is the only "real" function of clothes. Yet fashion design is huge here. It differs from fashion design elsewhere only in being obviously unnecessary. But the fact is that it's part of the way in which people, aka, avatars, shape their identities. In this people shuttle back and forth between their worlds and clothes are central to their identity everywhere. Where ever humans congregate they create and at the same time cloak their identities via clothing. Are clothes any less "real" because they are the costumes people wear when they go on stage? "All the world's a stage," wrote Shakespeare, "and all the men and women merely players." Those lines were written long before the phrase "virtual reality" reinforced the myth that the roles we play are not real. But Shakespeare got it. Which is why his plays and poems are as real as anything else that constitutes the human. So, I repeat, "Down with the virtual."

A Tribute To Paco Rabanne

One of the metaverse's leading designers, Alba2 Rossini, recently indroduced a new outfit inspired by the legendary Paco Rabanne. We admire the direction Alba's work has taken and are happy to feature her latest.

More about Paco Rabanne

Alba's Gallery in world

Georgia O'Keefe's Ghost Ranch Inspiration

Start with this stunning painting by American artist Georgia O'Keefe. Take inspiration from the widerness terrain of Ghost Ranch not far from Santa Fe, New Mexico where she lived and worked. Then translate its colors and shapes into the form of a dress for Second Life avatars, and it not only makes for virtual couture, but also illustrates how passion moves back and forth from the real world to the virtual, and the other way round as well. Read more ....

New World Notes

Wagner James Au is one of the most perceptive observers of the metaverse. His blog is indispensible to anyone seeking better understanding about the importance of virtual worlds. His blog, New World Notes deserves a place in your "favorites" file. Check it out.

Peace Makers in the Metaverse

More than a hundred vendors in Second Life are lending their time and talent to a treasure hunt focused on world peace. Can a virtual world contribute to actual Peace on Earth. Check it out.

Our Mission

Exploring art, science, spirituality, and politics in the metaverse; identifying ways in which new media can enhance education and entertainment, as well as human relationships while building community across lines of difference.