Media Mindfulness

While I agree with the sentiment of this Second LIfe parody (it makes a fine point about being engaged with your physical reality), I still think it’s a false dichotomy to say one world is real and the other is virtual. It’s all real, and what happens in computer space and non-electronic space influence and affect each other.

We misunderstand “virtual,” which doesn’t mean “false” or “unreal,” but rather is an externalized, networked interface that transcends normal geographic space. Moreover, “virtual” spaces remediate; that is, all newly created electronic media incorporate old media. Second LIfe, for example, uses a lot of old media conventions- such as camera angles, linear perspective and cinematic lighting- to make its world believable and navigable. In other words, users cannot be totally disoriented by something completely new and alien. There needs to be familiarity.

Ultimately if I were given a choice, I’d rather spend the day in a forest than on a computer, but I believe it is unwise to completely dismiss something just because it is electronically generated. What do you think?

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