A recent article in the New World Notes analyzes an academic paper by Eiko Ikegami and Piet Hut, which was published in The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research.
The authors of "Avatars Are For Real:Virtual Communities and Public Spheres" compare the Tokugawa era of Japan (1603-1867) with the virtual world of Second Life and find many parallels.
There were many artistic circles and haiku/poetry networks that provided alternative realities where people could develop a second life, not within their prescribed roles, but as individuals liberated from status and gender restrictions. Each person could express his or her love of particular cultural pursuits, unhindered by their formal background.
"Through tea ceremony and flower arrangement to haiku and the game of Go, Tokugawa citizens could escape political pressure and meet each other freely in the safe realms of the virtual worlds of art."
That sounds much like what the friends of Shin Tao do now. But I'm not sure if there really is a connection. Maybe it would work with other periods in history too. And artsy people always try to create their own society and culture in opposition to mainstream politics and restricitions.
Perhaps DanteOsaka knows more about the Tokugawa era and can give us his opinion.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Second Life HAIGA contest winner
Congratulations to the winner of the 2008 Summer HAIGA contest at Shin Tao: LEHUA LAMINGTON! --hibiscus blossoms
flash their red petals at me
stoplights on sidewalks--
And thank you to everyone who participated in the contest and in our celebration.
Among the contest entries were traditional haiga with drawings but also haiga with high quality SL-photography.
The participating haiga in the 2008 Summer Shin Tao Haiga Contest are on display near the Zen garden in the courtyard of the Haiku Library in Shin Tao Haiku Retreat Two in Ophelia.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
RIVERS display celebration on Friday, August 8!
Shin Tao is proud to announce the opening of our RIVERS display, celebrating the wonder of flowing water in haiku, haiga, and art. We will have an Open House all day on Friday, August 8, and a haiku workshop announcing the winners of our haiga contest at 7pm slt, followed by a dance at 8pm. Come join us! -- Dante
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