Stephen Hodge’s contribution to snapshot #10

Today, it’s the turn of Stephen Hodge, a Senior Lecturer and member of the Centre for Intermedia at the University of Exeter. Here’s his contribution to snapshot #10.

+ + + + +

1. What are you doing with virtual worlds? (And how long have you been doing it?)

We have been active in virtual worlds since mid 2006…

As curator, I have been running the Arts Council England funded 2ND LIVE programme in Second Life, to complement my real life role as performance curator at Exeter Phoenix.

As an artist, I have been exploring walking and site-based practices in Second Life and real life (e.g. commission for ANTI Festival, Kuopio, Finland). As an educator, I’ve been teaching in Second Life as part of ‘Interdisciplinary Spatial Practices’ (level 2 UG module). And as a Knowledge Transfer possibility, I’ve been running workshops for other artists (e.g. 3-day workshop for Live Art Development Agency as part of DIY programme).

2. Which virtual worlds are you using? Why those in particular?

Second Life – it was the easy (and intriguing) option when I started.

3. What support do you get in your institution in your use of virtual worlds?

None to date. There has been one other active member of the University (in European Law). There has been a little more activity very recently, through an interdisciplinary ‘Bridging the Gaps’ initiative (the impact of this is not clear yet).

4. What do you like/dislike about the virtual worlds you are using?

Plus:

• Creative possibilities (in terms of space and event) not available (for reasons of cost or practicality) in real life (‘not possible in real life’ attitude).
• Offers a side-step to examine real life methods afresh.

Minus:

• Cost – I jettisoned my island after 2.5 years and significant personal expense.
• Steep learning curve for new participants.

5. If teaching using virtual worlds, what’s the experience been like, for you and/or the students?

There’s a mixed reactions from students – some fly, some don’t. Students are also often surprised by the ‘ghost town’ nature of Second Life. Experiencing the virtual world really needs more time than really able to give it.