Flippin through Flickr

There are many second life pictures on flickr. Some of the pictures are similar to the ones shown in lecture where you can see how much an avatar looks like the real life person. Other pictures show businesses, people, architecture, and advertisements. There is also pictures of people in real life at SL conventions or meeting others they know from second life. I absolutely love second life pictures.

These pictures of avatars who look very similar to their creators can be situated within the debate about Virtual Worlds and Cultural industries because these pictures are reproducing images from real life. Since the term culture industry implies that popular culture standardizes goods and ideals, it is easy to see how these pictures are promoting and reinforcing particular ideals. As well, even on second life, avatars express themselves through consumption. I was just in a clothing store called Chalet Bazaar and they were having a model search, which I found soo interesting! Especially since people have complete control over what their avatars look like...so really, everyone could be a model..Too fat? Edit Appearance. Nose too big? Cut it down! How can there be model searches when everyone has the potential to have the ideal look. However! It is clear that those with more money, more often than not, have better looking avatars because they have the expensive clothes, hairstyles and even skins! Also, I found that a lot of these pictures had avatars who were scantily clad, if wearing clothes at all. This could be explained for numerous reasons –people wanting to show off their avatars body, being more comfortable in SL since it’s not really “you”, to live out fantasies or ideals etc.
What was also interesting about these pictures was the photos of avatars in big office buildings or mansions. People are able to create the life they may want in RL. This also ties into the idea of true and false needs. False needs are needs that are created and maintained through capitalism. These are needs such as appearance and entertainment. SL reflects ideas of success that are portrayed in RL. In order to become successful in SL you must obtain an attractive appearance (debatable) and acquire things such as property. Second Life itself is just very visually based. You are able to talk to people, but a lot is lost from lack of body language, eye contact ect. This emphasis on the visual reinforces dominant worldviews such as the importance of appearance and aesthetically pleasing housing, buildings, work environments etc.

Also while searching flickr, I saw pictures of SL weddings! I am still amazed at all that happens in this virtual world. Someone could be married on virtual world to one man and to a different man in RL. Even ideas of marriage and having kids are continued into Second Life. I’m not going to say marriage is a false need it’s just interesting how every detail of real life has poured into the second life.

Absolutely, however, Second life can be placed within the culture industry debate. It undeniably reinforces dominant ideologies and emphasizes false needs and uses these false needs to further a capitalist economy.