Power Point

1. Digital Ethnography in Virtual
Worlds
By: Crystal Conover
August 2012

2. What is digital ethnography?
• A qualitative research design
which includes three stages; data
collection, content analysis,
comparative analysis I will explain
these throughout the slide
• The study of other cultures; in
this case the study of the second
life culture
• Employed to gather data ;
through interviews and
questionnaires

3. Context and Participants
• The Art Ark
• The art ark is a building made from
various simple shapes that have
been twisted to look like an ark
• It is a place to learn and a class
room to Mary Stokrocki . It is
located in Arizona State University
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• The meetings here are to learn
and examine art. In the picture
here I am examining the Ark rug
from Turkey. I like this place
because it is easy to navigate and
has tools for learning; such as this
rug.

4. Participants
• I chose to interview Mary Lou
Goldrosen because she has been
on SL for a while and understands
the concepts
• The art work shown is her
sculpture called Fusia Funk
• Marylou is an art educator and
ethnographer. Her birthday is
April 10th 2008 in SL. She is a
Caucasian avatar and sometimes
dresses grunge and sometimes
classic. In this picture she is
wearing some grunge and
cartoon tail.

5. Participants
• Masako she is an artist who has
work in Space for art
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• Cranes is an oil painting over gold
leaf
• Oriental brush painting
• What can you discover, what is
your favorite art here?

6. Data collection: the process of
gathering information
Masako Marylou Goldrosen

7. Interview
Masako MaryLou Goldrosen
• In this space you find many artist who are on • I chose Marylou Goldrosen because she is
display. I chose Masako. I wrote to the artist interesting and understands the concepts of SL
with little response and collected other data and is art educator. I interviewed her in the Art
from SL as part of an interview. This painting of Ark in SL. We spoke about her sculpture called
the cranes is done by an artist named Masako. Fusia Funk. The art is made of simple shapes
Masako is originally from Osaka, she paints in that were twisted. She usually makes abstract
oil, oriental brush painting. This particular work art digitally. This art was made in Alti Island and
is painted on gold leaf. I chose Space for Art moved to Art Ark. Marylou was mentored by a
because it has interesting art in it and each PhD teacher in SL and now understand the
artist has a space, just like a gallery. I discovered concepts of how to create art in SL.
artists also can put art up in here that isn't done
but they can work on...like live art.

8. Content analysis
• Search for conceptual themes
and patterns, gather information,
write a story
• Through the Looking Glass by Su
Blackwell. I chose this art work
because I enjoy the
monochromatic colors, the texts,
and think the story behind the
art is based of Alice in
Wonderland. I like that is a floor
relief as well because you can
become part of the work. The
artist sold this in 2007. The artist
shows the precariousness of life.

9. Question Masako MaryLou
Goldrosen
Type of Art Fine art- Painting Sculpture- digital
design
Expresses what? Images of nature Feeling of emotion
with simple shapes
Benefits in SL? Exposure Teaching tool,
Making contacts exposure
Gallery shows
SL collaboration ? Gallery shows Mentored by PhD
Art for art gallery Works with artist
Demonstrates in SL

10. Comparative analysis & conclusion
Comparative analysis is to relate findings from sessions spent in digital world and coming up with
insight. Within comparative analysis you have internal analysis which is how you interpret
and external analysis which is how the other side interprets and analyzes. Ethnography is a
qualitative research design which includes three stages; data collection, content analysis,
comparative analysis.
The study of this culture was interesting to say the least. In the end I've collected data, analyzed
it, and interpreted that data. Second Life, a virtual world in which you can create a avatar(
you) and live in a world all of your own making. There are many benefits to this way of living.
You get exposure, learn new ways of thinking (digitally), and you can use as a learning tool.