My Metamorphic Avatar Journey

Christine L. Liao

Christine L. Liao Penn State University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the meaning of the gendered body in the Second LifeÂ® virtual environment by creating gender ambiguous avatar bodies. This autoethnographic inquiry is weaved with my stories about body image, online avatar experience, and the attempt to create gender ambiguous avatars. These three elements provide a critical understanding of the gendered body images in Second LifeÂ®. My difficulty in creating a gender ambiguous avatar highlights the importance of critically and carefully considering the meaning of avatars and their visual presentation.

Author Biography

Christine L. Liao, Penn State University

Christine L. Liao is a doctoral candidate in art education in the School of Visual Arts at Penn State University. Her research focuses on new media, technology and society, contemporary art, pedagogy, identity, and the body. Her article, Avatars, Second LifeÂ®, and New Media Art: The Challenge for Contemporary Art Education, was published in the March 2008 special issue of the Journal of Art Education. Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to the author at cll212@psu.edu