Digital Ethnography

and Virtual Worlds:

The Horus Art Gallery

in Second Life

Gabriela Angulo Avatar name:GA (GabrielaAngulo)

Professor Stokrocki

Spring 2015

DEFINITIONS• Ethnography: “The term ethnography has come to be equated with

virtually any qualitative research project where the intent is to provide

a detailed, in-depth description of everyday life and practice. This is

sometimes referred to as “thick description” — a term attributed to the

anthropologist Clifford Geertz writing on the idea of an interpretive

theory of culture in the early 1970s (e.g., see The Interpretation of

Cultures, first published as a collection in 1973). The use of the term

“qualitative” is meant to distinguish this kind of social science

research from more “quantitative” or statistically oriented research.

The two approaches, i.e., quantitative and qualitative, while often

complementary, ultimately have different aims.”

• Digital Ethnography: The practice of ethnography in a digital setting. A

digital ethnographer studies the cultures of the many virtual worlds.

• Source: http://brianhoey.com/research/ethnography/

STAGES OF DIGITAL

ETHNOGRAPHY•Stage 1: Data Collection •The act of gathering of information through questionnaires, interviews, observation of activities or situations, communication or findings through electronic devices and/or pre-existing records shall a person be able to answer their own research question, test hypotheses, and evaluate an outcome.

• Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_collection

•Stage 2: Content Analysis • Is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain words or concepts within texts or sets of texts. Researchers quantify and analyze the presence, meanings and relationships of such words and concepts, then make inferences about the messages within the texts, the writer(s), the audience, and even the culture and time of which these are a part.

• Source: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/pdfs/guide61.pdf

•Stage 3: Comparative Analysis •Method of analysis that compares and contrasts two things.

A JOURNEY BEGINS…

Being new to Second Life was completely

a challenge. Navigating was difficult

because there are infinity of things to learn

and explore. My first challenge was

creating my avatar, which I finally ended

up creating the perfect avatar for myself.

Exploring Second Life is a life experience.

Second Life really means what it’s called.

This world offers many similar things as in

RL, from your persona to objectives and

goals.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Be

mbecia/166/196/104

MY RESEARCH BEGINS…

After finding an art piece

that was very inviting, I

decided I would contact

its owner to be the avatar

I would interviewed. With

big differences in time, we

where able to meet each

other and navigate

together in Second Life.

http://maps.secondlife.com/second

life/Yemple/101/195/40

Research

Questions: 1. What artwork forms and

methods do they use?

2. What does their artwork

mean – expressions?

3. What are their art

preferences?

CONTEXT AND

ATMOSPHERE

THE HORUS ART

GALLERY IN SECOND LIFE

When I first discovered The Horus Art Gallery in Second Life

I really enjoy it. Its collection is very interesting including

many artist with lots of different mediums to look. The Horus

Art Gallery is 16,384 square feet, located in the region of

Yemple, home to Carlo Criscione’s Art. Its complex is a two

story gallery, which includes few spots to sit and enjoy its

modern atmosphere. In the center of the gallery you will find

a bar to enjoy some refresments. The gallery is full of

modern art, such as paintings and photography as well as

some installations of sculptures and Egyptian artifacts. Its

environment is very peaceful. If you visit during the daytime

you will also be able to enjoy its beautiful view sites the

gallery offers.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Yemple/101/195/40

DATA COLLECTION “THE INTERVIEW”

[2015/04/15 14:14] GA (gabrielaangulo): Hello, I am interested in interviewing you for a school assignment. I really like your work. Please let me know if I can interview you.

[2015/04/15 14:14] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.

[2015/04/15 14:14] GA (gabrielaangulo): Thank you.

[2015/04/15 14:14] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.

[2015/04/16 08:55] Xirana Oximoxi: (Saved Wed Apr 15 14:36:30 2015)Hello Gabriela! Thanks for your interest. I will answer any questions about my work you would like to know :) I suppose you are interested in my

experience in sl?...well...it would be great if you explain a bit more about your 'school assignmanet' too :)

[2015/04/20 22:37] GA (gabrielaangulo): Thank you for your response. I would like to meet so I can interview you. Please let me know when are you available. My time is mountain time zone, since I am located in

Arizona, United States. If you are not able to meet I can also IM you the questions. Thank you so much!

[2015/04/20 22:37] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): User not online - message will be stored and delivered later.

[2015/04/23 23:20] Xirana Oximoxi: (Saved Tue Apr 21 06:36:26 2015)hello GA... I usually come here about 11AM SLT...but it is also a good idea if you send me the questions…Thanks

[2015/04/27 11:17] GA (gabrielaangulo): hello Xirana, are you there?

[2015/04/27 11:18] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): hello Gabriella..yes..I am :)

[2015/04/27 11:18] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi) has offered to teleport you to their location:

"Join me in Cassowarry

Cassowarry (80,151,59)”

<icon>Parcel_M_Dark</icon> - Moderate

[2015/04/27 11:21] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): this is my studio in sl

[2015/04/27 11:21] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): I rent this peice of land

[2015/04/27 11:21] GA (gabrielaangulo): Wow! so you have more of your paintings here too?

[2015/04/27 11:22] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): yes...I have a lot of fun showing my paintings in SL and preparing exhibits

[2015/04/27 11:22] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): I have also at several galleries with other artists

[2015/04/27 11:22] GA (gabrielaangulo): So, do you sell them? Or just display them here?

[2015/04/27 11:23] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): I sell copies of them ...so I get lindens dollars to pay my rents :)

[2015/04/27 11:23] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): in SL there are some people that like to buy paintings for their houses too...or others that just buy to support artists in SL

[2015/04/27 11:24] GA (gabrielaangulo): What about in real life? Do you have your own gallery too?

[2015/04/27 11:24] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): I usually give a information notecard with my real information too...and websites...so, if someone is interested to buy in real life can contact me...but it happens rerely

[2015/04/27 11:25] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): in RL I have my studio where I show my works to people if they contact me...but it is not a public gallery

[2015/04/27 11:32] GA (gabrielaangulo): Thank you. So, where are you located in RL?

[2015/04/27 11:32] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): I live in Catalonia, Spain

[2015/04/27 11:39] GA (gabrielaangulo): So, you also said that you have your work in other galleries as well with other artist how do you do that? Is there a fee?

[2015/04/27 11:40] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): it depends...I will show you if you like... I rent some spaces , for exemple at Soho, New York SL...or Chelsy Gallery....but there are also people that build Art Galleries and invite

me to exhibit

[2015/04/27 11:44] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): we are up of my studio...in a platform :)

[2015/04/27 11:44] GA (gabrielaangulo): Nice. So you did these too?

[2015/04/27 11:45] Xirana (xirana.oximoxi): yes

INTERVIEW SUMMARY

SL Name: Xirana (xirana.oximoxi)

RL Name: Núria Vives

SL Location: Xirana's Studio

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Peeley/128/163/35

RL Location: Catalonia, Spain

SL Artform: Painting

RL Artform: Painting. Work with different mediums, oil, watercolor, acrylic, ink,

charcoal and pastel.

Inspiration: “My works reflect my concerns and my different moods. They are

based on my experiences and express a personal sensitivity nourished by

impressions from the external world and my internal world. In this latter sense, I

like to call them abstractions of 'mental landscapes'. The works reflect the

influences of impressionism, expressionism, abstract expressionism of artists

like Jackson Pollock and the in-formalism among many others. My creative

process is constantly evolving and those changes make it difficult to label my art

as one specific style. An idea, a painting, a sketch or a simple random spot can

open new ways of artistic research and the exploration of new expressive

possibilities.”

Other information: In RL Xirana is also doing illustrations for children's books

too!

CONTENT ANALYSIS

Comparative Analysis Interview

What is

your

name?

Who?

Avatar

Where?

SL

Location

RL

Location

What is title -

of his/her

artwork?

Why this

choice?

What is Art?

What kind of art

is this?

What style?

Why make it?

How made?

Material &

process?

Collaborate

with whom?

Núria

Vives

Avatar:

Xirana

(xirana.oxi

moxi)

SL:

Xirana's

Studio

RL:

Catalonia,

Spain

Red Poppies

at the Horus

Art Gallery.

Pleasant

Painting.

2-D Digital Art.

Sell copies

of paintings

to get lindens

dollars to pay

rents on SL.

SL Digitally.RL

usually work

with different

mediums, oil,

watercolor,

acrylic, ink,

charcoal and

pastel.

Own gallery,

guest in

other

galleries,

and renting

in few

galleries.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

AND CONCLUSIONS

In Second Life Xirana is a

painter. She has her own

gallery as well she contributes

in other galleries as a guest

artist.

Xirana’s own gallery includes

all of her art pieces she has in

other SL places.

Xirana’s gallery is very inviting,

as she also has a very

pleasant garden one can enjoy

and relax.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

AND CONCLUSIONS

The last exhibition of Xirana’s is up in her own gallery. When you get to

her gallery you click on a platform, which is in front of a poster

announcing her last exhibition that is called “Portraits For Peace.”

“I am showing some portraits of people that have devoted their lives to

fight for Peace and to make the World a better place. Their thoughts

and their lives help us to understand which is the nonviolent way to

change things”.

Xirana’s includes portraits and quotes of the following: Nelson

Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandi,

Tawakkol Karman, Albert Einstein, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah

Gbowee, Mother Teresa, Kailash Satyarhi, and Malala Yousafzai.

While being very successful in SL, Xirana’s as achieved contributing

with other artist and displaying her art in many galleries. Xirana also

states that she has devoted many hours in SL to accomplished what

she has now. As Sanchez states in his writings, SL can be very time

consuming; it can open up possibilities for more creativity; and overall

artists enjoy building in Second life.

MY TIME HERE ON SECOND

LIFE…

Being part of Second Life has been an

adventure. I have learned that this world

offers many things, for example it offers

things we are somethings afraid to try in

RL and by trying it here in Second Life we

are able to know that there is no reason

to be afraid of. We are able to speak to

others more easily and there are also

things we just can accomplished in the

RL and SL offers it. Overall, Second Life

is very enjoyable and very neat as well.

SECOND LIFE URLS

The Horus Art Gallery

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Yemple/101/195/40

Xirana’s Art Studio

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cassowarry/80/151/59

Virtual Soho, Manhattan NY

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bembecia/166/196/104