Interfictions 2 Reading in Second Life - Update

[pameladlloyd]

This was a lot of fun, but also had its frustrations. Since I was new to Second Life, I'd signed up* earlier in the week in hopes of making sure that all would go well. It almost worked. Since I'd already visited the reading location, Lacamas Reading Hall, my arrival went off without a hitch—and would have anyway, thanks to the easy to use SLurl. However, at one point in my earlier explorations, I'd toggled one of the settings that allowed streaming music, and the readings (except, apparently, the first) could only be heard if streaming music was on. So, attempting to adjust the visible controls for streaming music wasn't working and the long suffering and extremely gracious individual who spent almost the entire time IMing me to help me troubleshoot. Unfortunately, it was only when we reached the correct settings that I realized my own complicity in the whole mess.

Still, I heard Cecil Castellucci's reading and the panel discussion that followed the readings. Much of the discussion involved, naturally enough, the use of Second Life, new media, and similarly technical topics, as settings for, or components of, various art/fiction/music projects.

Following the panel, someone thought to play some of the music in which various participants had been involved and a spontaneous dance party started. Thanks to Michele, whose generosity I much appreciate, I received a dance pattern that allowed me to join in. (In Second Life, it's all about patterns—I hope I'm using the correct technical term—so whether you want to wear a new outfit or learn a new action, you need a pattern object.) You can hear NF. Brett Cox' song, Nylon Seam, and read the story he wrote that incorporates the lyrics on the Interstitial Arts Annex.

I didn't think to take any pictures during the event, but here's a recent snapsot of the Lacamas Reading Hall. That's my avatar (who is not much changed from the standard avatar, as yet, and will almost certainly get some modifications) in her Interfictions 2 t-shirt.



Now that I've got things running, I anticipate that I will be much better able to relax and enjoy Second Life events. Now, if I can only figure out where to get the perfect outfit.

* Second Life allows you to enter a first name of your choosing, but requires that you select your last name from a limited list, which changes periodically. I discovered that if you sign up through SL Name Watch, rather than directly through Second Life, you can find out ahead of time what last names are available and make your selection in a more thoughtful manner. So, now, in Second Life, I go by the name Pemala Galaxy (Pamela Galexy is out there somewhere, apparently).

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the glimpse into SL. I do have an account and set up a basic avatar, but when I tried to explore, my computer crashed so badly it switched off! Never had that happen before. I suspect my computer is too old to cope with the graphics.

The Open University do stuff in SL though and one day I might get around to experimenting a bit more.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm fascinated by all the ways in which computer technology changes, and the ways in which it changes our social reach, but it can be frustrating trying to deal with the expense. I'm fortunate enough that I was able to buy a "media computer" three years ago and that it has been adequate for most things I want to do.

The Open University do stuff in SL though and one day I might get around to experimenting a bit more.

I'll have to look into that. I noticed ads/links to "universities" in SL, but they seemed to be geared to helping people learn in-world activites, such as how to create and build SL objects (buildings, clothing, avatars, etc.).