March 04, 2007
UPGRADE! Second Life
Launches
The first UPGRADE! Second Life presentation occurred on Friday at the BitFactory Chindo gallery as a co-location with the Paris node, with consistent attendance of about 15-18 avatars from North America, Europe, and South America. Alain Della Negra and Kaori Kinoshita presented their documentary work on the lives of avatars in real life. Although there were the usual technical challenges (latency times on streaming, etc.), multiple contingencies were planned for, and attendees were able to see all media clips for the event. As with most SL events, the social milieu was a little chaotic, very lively, but there was abundant conversation about the work, and virtual attendees from France stayed ar t least 30-60 minutes after the meeting.
This was a very exciting event, and James and I are very excited about the level of enthusiasm for this first meet. Documentation is here.
Alain Della Negra and Kaori Kinoshita are artists working on virtual worlds. They present their last documentary about “Second Life” universe and users. Their movie questions the notion of the virtual life. For those who wishing to live in / experiment this virtual world(s), “Second Life” offers the chance to create, manage and develop their own alternate reality. With these possibilities, and a population that is in constant growth, “Second Life” has political ramifications. Who decides the rules applied in this virtual world? What laws, what measures need to be defined? Where is the frontier between the virtual and the real, and how is it transmuted? This documentary aims to elucidate the porous nature between real and virtual worlds.
UPGRADE! SL is a forum for the promotion and sharing of New Media art and critical discourse occurring in the online world, Second Life. Founded by Rubiyat Shatner (James Morgan / Ars Virtua) and Man Michinaga (Patrick Lichty / BitFactory / Columbia College Chicago), UPGRADE! SL is the first non-geographical node of Upgrade! International.
Patrick Lichty
http://www.myfirstsecondlife.com/upgrade-paris/
Posted by jo at March 4, 2007 06:21 PM
