Æliens

Second Life seems to be overtaking the world. In the whole range of cummunity-building platforms, Second Life stands out as an immersive 3D world with an almost stunning adoption, by both individuals, companies and institutions, followed attentively by the Press. Not entirely without an understanding of the value of press coverage, the VU University Amsterdam decided to create presence in Second Life, by creating a virtual campus, to realize a (virtual) community of learners,  [VUSL]. And, indeed, we succeeded in being the first university in The Netherlands with presence in Second Life and, as hoped, this was covered in the 8 o'clock nation-wide TV news.

attempt(s) to link the arts, literature, media studies, politics, sociology, antropology, philosophy and technology in an interdisciplinary search for relevant concepts and frameworks with which to understand the current world.

... in the contemporary world, the perceptual task has changed, in both leisure and work, to monitor data displays, ready for events.

... the new faith has emerged from a bizarre fusion of the cultural bohemianism of San Francisco with the high-tech industries of Silocon Valley...

and, to further de-construct the digital utopianism:

... the californian ideology promiscuously combines the freewheeling spirit of the hippies and the entrepeneurial zeal of of the yuppies

... the shadow side of the digital class's freedom and individuality is a lack of connection ... and an unrealized acceptance of work as the main life value.

... empowerment of women in the field of new electronic media can only result from the demystification of technology and the appropriation of access to (these) tools.