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=Welcome to our class site=

==Our class has spent ten weeks studying issues of gender, race, class, age and ability while exploring the virtual world Second Life. Our site presents our concerns for women in the actual world as well as our thoughts on what gender means in a world where gender itself is merely one of many individual choices. On this page you will find some of the reactions the students had to places we visited in the virtual world. Follow the links on the left to see student work.==

==//The 1920s gave birth to what is known as the Harlem Renaissance. Harlem was a city divided by race and class. The most surprising idea I heard was about the Cotton Club. The Cotton Club in the 1920s did not admit African American customers and yet most of the performers were African Americans.//==

==//I first visited Paris in 1900 (which is, by far, my favorite place that I have visited in Second Life to date). Europe has always been far ahead of America in terms of sexuality and that is evident here. Though the women on the street dress in a conservative manor (i.e. long dresses, big hats and elegant gloves), the stand next to posters for the Moulin Rouge advertising scantily clad women. They stand next to an art gallery with images of women in lace tights staring provocatively at the camera. They stand next to a souvenir kiosk that is selling the bustiers you see on the Moulin Rouge women and the women in the gallery. It does not come off as hypocritically though, it just seems open. The Parisians are more open to femininity and feminine sexuality.//==

==//I initially thought “day of the dead” was similar to Halloween and was another chance to celebrate the ghouls and goblins. What I did not know was the history behind this day of celebration for those who have loss their lives and the return of their spirits.// //The festival included many kinds of events and activities in which to celebrate in Second Life, from story telling workshops and poetry reading to dance parties and live performances. There were also nine screens in the film festival section that had a variety of shows available for viewing. I was quite taken with the time and care put into making such a memorable event. The LMV altars were awesome and totally unexpected. I was able to learn tons about one of my favorite singers, Celia Cruz. It was quite exciting being able to gain so much from a virtual world.//==

==Laney Fang toured art galleries in Second Life. She records her reaction to a sculpture called "Jopsy's eyebrow:"==

==//This is exhibit is interactive; it changes color and moves when you touch it. I attempted to sit on it, but ended up falling. Whenever it is touched, the colors change slightly but it also changes colors every few seconds on its own. It cycles through every color I can think of, whether it is blue, yellow, fuchsia or brown. When doing a full color change, the exhibit makes a phoenix-like (at least to me) transformation.//==

==//I visited many of them in order to hopefully get my credit for my field trip. I actually belly danced for a while and it was hilarious because I couldn't figure out how to get her to stop! ha ha I laughed out loud because it was hysterical! I danced later which i loved! Mercedes can really move & she can do the splits!!! I am going to miss her when second life is over...is that weird to say?//==

==The work of art, however, that interested me most on this island was the one I found when I wondered away from the art gallery. I found a memorial for the Stonewall Riots which was very interesting to me. These riots were a huge moment in the struggles of gays and lesbians. I thought it was very interesting that while most of the things in the memorial were rainbow colored, the actual monument was black and white.==

==//At Info Island, I found a display of happy looking women and it was talking about women’s rights. Soon after I found this good display, I found a photograph of a girl in very revealing clothing. It surprised me that the same place would have such different content only a few feet away. One thing represented women very very well, and the next was rather exploitive.//==

==//This spoke to me, because many women today want to depict themselves as perfect in every way; I, however, find myself in unladylike positions on the floor on a regular basis. Her facial expression is longing and whimsical. She is grasping her wine in a way proper etiquette would question. The leopard print attire is a bold statement for a woman, and connotes aspects of personality that are wild and unpredictable. Although the subject of the artwork is wearing a man’s blazer draped over her shoulders, she appears to be enjoying a moment alone. I think women today need to spend more time by themselves, being introspective and not clingingly attached to a man at all times. The perspective in this artwork has a shadowy figure at the end of the hall, of which the woman appears to be oblivious. It is unclear whether or not the figure is a man or woman, but the person is approaching the woman at the end of the hall. To me, it seems like the woman will be startled by the approaching person who will disturb her moment of peace and thought.//==

==//The community center had a lot of wonderful arts and crafts to help portray the native cultures. There were many booths set up and many had native head dress, shape changes, jewelry and animal skin rugs. I really enjoyed the native jewelry section. I think there were many beautiful pieces that I would love to buy in the real world if I ever found native jewelry//==

==//I did witness what seemed to be many diverse art, housing and dress. However, I was not quite able to notice the differences unless they were pointed out in the signage. This was not a result, however, of any “flaw” in the design of the virtual islands, but most likely the constant inaccuracies portrayed in//==

==//Can virtual worlds help us deal with real life problems? I say yes they can. A lot of problems we have today are mental. By using these places, we can do and learn things that we normally could not in real life. Possibly we could do them in real life, but we just do not have the time or resources to. At the Asagao Memorial park, People can go and light a virtual candle for a loved one and write them a message.//==

==//In my opinion, the purpose of this site is to get you away from any troubles or worries and allow you to have fun and enjoy yourself. The very first photo of me in Second Life as Wynter, standing close to the water. For some reason, water gives me a sense of relaxation. Just standing there helps me to think about issues in my life. The water is soothing so it can help calm people when they are going through something//==

==//I found several organizations for learning about new opportunities (Massachusetts Bay Organization Development Learning Group), the Green Peace group discuss opportunities and information about the climate and the environment.//== ==//During my exploration on Commonwealth something I found interesting was the PDN community and opportunities to join a change needed in the real world. Giving second opportunities to former felons who paid their debt to society and are looking to restore their lives and began a positive trend.//==

==//Real World organizations that are involved are www.organicworld.com, The National Multiple Sclerosis society, Veterans for Peace, the American Red Cross and the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Relief Organization//==

**Abi Darkward// : //**
=// The project that really caught my eyes was the, “Sharks Keep Our Planet Balanced,” because when most people think of sharks that aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. Possibly cold blooded killer would fit better; it is very hard to find advocates for the fish these days. The color scheme is pretty mellow, blues and whites which gives you a feel of the ocean, or any body of water. The orange words give a break in the white, so your eyes are immediately drawn to the words before the actual images themselves. The only real texture in the image is the lines meant to imitate water that break up the actual image. The sharks range from big to little, with the smaller sharks just boarding words. The larger sharks are more the focal point, and don’t look “scary” at all, most images of shark include blood, gore, and pointy teeth. The sharks look docile in nature. //=