Disorientation is good for you

Check out this bit of personal interpretation from Carton Bristol.

I spent some time at the Hotel Dare at Poetik Velvets (I really can’t get enough of that ever-changing sim) and I came across a room that was sort of confusing to me. I didn’t get it. Little presents teetered down and up Willy Wonka styled conveyor belts, the Eraserhead-like sound of machinery burdened my ears, the colors were jarring.

Sometimes going into an SL environment can be disorienting. There aren’t always notecards explaining the who, what and why of an experience. This is good! Where else in any world can a visitor be given such respect for their own interpretation? These days, in the actual world, everything is over-explained with statements, exhibition panels, labels, accompanying videos...we’ve become such a service culture that we don’t allow people to think for themselves. Museums are terrible culprits in this area. Writes Stephen Weil, “the idea that a museum transmits information to visitors is, let’s face it, a bit condescending. The visitor may not share the same agenda as the creator – they may be visiting a [site] for frivolous distraction, consolation, or intellectual curiosity...” What I mean to say is, any disorientation we may feel is our own personal experience, and our individual interpretation of it is more valuable than anything anyone will ever try to s/tell us.

Poetik

One day I was approached by a newbie in a superman outfit who shouted in my face (even though he was standing right next to me) “Where’s the party at?!” I’ve been to some really great parties lately – the closing for the Pornosophy exhibition organized by LogLady Loon (you can imagine what went on there) and most recently at Poetik Velvets.
The Poetik sim was conceived by Nur Moo and Juju Dollinger, patrons of some of the best artists on the grid, as a place to immerse visitors in art, “concept sound and light reveries” (as described by Bettina Tizzy). Artists are chosen to create something site specific, like the sculpture above by Bryn Oh, and the work is celebrated, animated and complimented with music and visuals through Poetik Parties. This concept works better in SL than at a RL art opening. In the actual world, at an opening that purports to support both art and music, crowds press up against the art so works can’t be regarded, damaging wine is spilled at the feet of sculptures, and no one can hear each other over the booming echoes bouncing off white gallery walls. People self-consciously tug at their short skirts and trendy beards, distracted by everyone but the person right in front of them. And when the booze is gone, so are the peeps. At the Poetik Party the other day I could cam the craquelure of Oh’s sculpture at my leisure, chat to individuals and the group, and boogie all at the same time. And I only spilled wine on my typist. Satisfying!