Ok - in order to make the groups' upcoming presentations more fair, I want the INDIVIDUALS in GROUPS # 3, 4, and 5 to complete this assignment by APRIL 20th. You will then have the following week (of April 27th - May 4th) to complete your final group ethnographic projects, to be presented on May 4th.

Those INDIVIDUALS in Groups # 1 and #2, since your presentations are first (on April 27th), I want each of you to complete this wiki assignment by May 4th, which will give you the week of April 20th - April 27th to complete your final ethnographic research projects. You can work on this wiki assignment, then, after your group presentations.

THIS WIKI ASSIGNMENT is not a group project, but an individual one, and it will count as TWO assignments. I just wanted to make sure there was more of a balance of time alloted to those people within the groups presenting, so that individuals in a group do not have to work on this AND their project at the same time. If you are confused, email me.

For this assignment, you will be going back into Second Life. I want you each to explore some area, object, or phenomenon within Second Life that we have not yet discussed (or perhaps just touched upon) - something that is of interest or that you have not had a chance to fully explore but would like to. Rather than merely describing what you see or experience (though this will be a part of your response), I want you to provide a thoughtful analysis of your place, virtual object, or phenomenon using the analytical tools you have developed in this class (i.e. considering your place, object, or phenomenon through a particular framework - i.e., gender, sexuality, nationalism, identity formation, community, concepts of hyperreal/reality, political economy, bodies, race/ethnicity, cyber-pleasures and addictions, etc.). You will need to create an individual page (that links from your profile page) and include at least three photos, a sample IM or interview with someone within that "culture," and an analysis of your experiences and observations.

Below are just a few ideas, but you could add nearly anything else to this list - just as long as it is NOT something we've explored in-depth already within Second Life: 

• Performances of nationalism or cyber-colonization (as per the most recent readings); perhaps you visit a number of geographical-based locations and discuss the virtual representations of national identity or the ways in which certain groups or areas are being "colonized". This would, by nature, likely entail a brief discussion of political economy (just to give you a few examples of framework).
• GLBTQ culture in Second Life, which would necessarily entail a discussion of virtual identity formations, cybercommunities, or sex/gender issues.
• Virtual hookah bars (cyber-pleasures, concepts of hyperreal, community formations).
• Practices of mediation, yoga, and other similar activities (i.e. mediation culture in SL).
• Virtual education; classes or educational programs in Second Life (political economy, community, education).
• Religion/Spirituality in Second Life - churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. and virtual religious and spiritual practices.
• Second Life marriages - commitment ceremonies, weddings, practices of virtual relationships and family building (identity, sex/gender, community, etc.).
• Griefers, cyberterrorism, and/or virtual harassment in Second Life (identities, community, political action?).
• Political resistance and/or action in Second Life.
• Furry culture (what does it mean to be a furry? what kind of community-building is involved, etc.)? Also other subcultures such as Tinies, Greenies, etc. (body, identity, community, etc.).
• Medieval, Gorean, or other types of roleplay (community, identity, gaming, etc.), but NOT vampire, since we've discussed this one in class.
• Virtual art and artistic expressions in Second Life (identity, political economy, hyperreal, etc.).

The list could go on an on. And I'm not putting any limits on what you explore, just as long as you approach your object, areas, or phenomenon from a thoughtful and analytical framework.