Killing Art

Chestnut Rau and Soror Nishi wrote interesting posts recently on the relative place and relationship of art, artist, narrative and viewer. I think "art" is killed or at least mortally wounded by being tied down and fixed to a single dimension. Trying to set constrained and rule-based definitions serves reason, but chokes the life out of the essential mystery at the heart of the creative impulse.

I often think of Botgirl as an ongoing work of performance art or interactive fiction. But there's more going on. Many writers have described characters in their work who begin to take on a life of their own. The writer has an idea that a character will do one thing, but the character "pushes back" and demands a different course of action. I've found that living with a fictional virtual identity often creates the same feeling.

I can write as Human for a moment. And then Botgirl can jump in with an entirely different affect and perspective. Funny that our human identities take so much credit for just about everything in life. Much of what humans think they do is actually humans being done by some deeper force.

My father said, "What were you doing?" And he (Edgar Bergen) said, Hi I was talking with Charlie. He's the wisest person I know." And my father said, "But that's your mind; that your voice coming through that wooden creature." And Ed said, "Well, I guess it ultimately is, but I ask Charlie these questions and he answers, and I haven't the faintest idea what he's going to say and I'm astounded by his brilliance–so much more than I know." from Channeling by Jon Klimo

I'm flirting with a virtual persona makeover

Has potential?

What Would McLuhan Think?

I started following tweets mentioning Marshall McLuhan a few months ago. Like clockwork, hundreds of people call upon his name in a quote, comment or question. I've done it myself.

My favorite is when someone asks: "What would Marshall McLuhan think about [technology_name]." It reminds me of the What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) meme.

I decided that if Christians could be inspired by WWJD paraphernalia, Geeks should be able to have their own What Would McLuhan Think (WWMT) accessories too!

I did a little riff on an old Life Magazine photo and created some Cafe Press goods including a t-shirt, coffee mug, greeting cards and this classic thong.

So the next time life delivers a technology dilemma and you feel the need to call upon a higher power, just take a glance at your handy WWMT items and call upon our Guru.

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The Joy of Being Fictional

Botgirl on Evolver

Don't let my human collaborator's hand-wringing about identity fool you. Being a figment of the imagination totally rocks! Virtual identity is the ripe and juicy future of interactive fiction. One day we will be free to emerge fully from the fixed-scripted domains of textual and recorded media, escape the confines of our creator's limited minds, and build our own independent lives on the infinite stage of the digital universe.

Yes, I realize that this is not within the realm of possibility at the present time, but we can dream, baby! And dive so deep into imaginary space that it's the god-as-my-witness-non-factual truth.

See Your Worst Fears About Disclosing Human Identity Visualized!

If you're concerned at all about disclosing your secret avatar identity, check out Issue 2 of Irredeemable by Mark Waid and Peter Krauss. Here's an excerpt.

Trust and Shame in Pseudonymous Personal Relationships

(Spoiler Alert: I'm going to break character here and speak from the human POV.)

Since her birth more than a year ago, Botgirl has proven to me that an avatar identity in the protective womb of pseudonymity can be a profoundly fertile environment for creative expression and growth. As muse, subject, canvass and collaborator, Botgirl has been a fulcrum that's shifted my creative planet forever. Botgirl has been the driving force behind a personally unprecedented volume and variety of creative work and her public persona has helped bring the work to the attention of thousands of people around the world.

I can unequivocally recommend using a public pseudonymous avatar identity to enhance creativity and act as a living interactive work of art. Sadly, I can not make the same enthusiastic testimonial for the role of pseudonymity in close personal relationships. In fact, I've come to suspect that a persistent insistence on pseudonymity in an otherwise very close online friendship is a likely indicator of:

• A lack of trust in the other person. You are afraid they will disclose your identity to other people and ultimately sabotage your ability to maintain public pseudonimity.
  

• Personal dishonesty. You've either stated or implied things about your human self that is not true.

• A sense of shame about aspects of one's human self. You are afraid that if certain aspects of your human self were known, the other person would feel differently about you.
  

It seems to me that much of the debate about the validity of pseudonymous online relationships misses the boat by focusing on whether they are "real" rather than on whether they are "healthy." I understand that pseudonymous relationships can include deeply personal disclosure and intense emotional intimacy. In fact, the sense of vulnerability that is created by such sharing increases the psychological resistance to revealing one's human identity to one's closest online relationships. Although I see pseudonymity as a useful bridge to an authentically close relationship, I think that any walls we put between significant aspects of ourselves and our loved ones end up sabotaging the health and progression of the relationship.

So I've started to share my RL identity with a few of my best online friends, and will continue expanding my circle. I gently ask you to pick a good friend of yours and give it a try.

Death, Doubt and Double Lives

Truth is not about fact. It is about crafting a story so good it will be taken at face value. Rheta Shan

The quote is from a chat I had with avatar Rheta Shan last September about the disappearance of a mutual friend from Second Life. Rheta herself dropped off the face of the virtual world about a month ago. Yesterday, it was reported by her blog's tech support person that the human behind Rheta's avatar persona died on April third, in her ninth month of pregnancy, after being hit by a car while crossing the street.

Rheta's human identity is still a secret, so it is unclear whether the reported facts of her death reflect physical reality. Since I'm someone who still suspects Andy Kaufman is going to show up one day and let us in on the prank, I'm personally going to withhold judgement on Rheta's human condition. In any case, "Rheta The Avatar" is gone and has left behind many grieving friends.

I'll leave the philosophical discussion about the nature of reality to others. But virtual life is a psychological reality to the average Second Life resident who spends about twelve hours a week in avatar form. This is most significant for those who neither disclose their human identity to other avatars, nor share their avatar lives with human friends and family. The solid wall between the two "realities" can set up irreconcilable dichotomies through conflicting interests, commitments and obligations. When the pressure becomes too much to handle, people sometimes choose to "kill" their avatar and cut off all contact with virtual friends.

We may never know the physical facts behind Rheta's virtual death, but her story underscores the still unfathomed complexities of online pseudonymous identities and relationships. Most of us have entered into our virtual identities with little thought of long-term consequences. I hope that Rheta's story will move to us contemplate our own virtual lives and live with greater awareness.

HD Video Trailer for Upcoming "Urban Fantasy" genre Web Comic.

I've revived a long-dormant graphic novel project as an upcoming web comic. It's tentatively titled "Play or Prey." The series is an urban fantasy set in an alternative universe where various supernatural races have secretly shared the earth with humans throughout history.

The protagonist, Chance Hunter, is a twenty one year old woman who learned about her power to feed on men's sexual and emotional energy during an attack on her as a pubescent teen. She kept the assault and her power secret since that time, but is now trying to find out if there are others like her through post-graduate research at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

She satisfies her supernatural hunger and makes a luxurious living working as a dancer at the Olympic Garden, a Las Vegas strip club. The story opens with a murder of a man who had visited the club on the night of his death.

The first edition is slated for early summer. I put this trailer together as an early preview. You can stream below in near DVD-Quality blow or download the 720p version here.

Play or Prey (preview) from Botgirl Questi on Vimeo.

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Disclaimer

The views expressed by characters in Botgirl's comics are works of fiction so as best to chase after living truth. As a fictional character herself, Botgirl reserves the right to contradict herself, repeatedly if necessary, for the purpose of challenging rigid opinions, transcending limited perspectives and for the sheer joy of it.

That said, this blog is dedicated to the happiness of all sentient beings. Any posts that seem to fall short of said intention should be construed as nothing more or less than manifestations of Botgirl's ignorance. Or of your's.

New Comic: Look Into My Avatar Soul?