AVATAR: An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself or alter ego whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, or a two-dimensional icon, or a ScreenName used on Internet forums and other communities. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.
Introduction
Influences: In digital media identity can be fluid and fluctuating. Early video art experiments often turned the medium on the performer and addressed concepts of identity and self-representation. The potential of media as a lens through which we might better know ourself is nothing new. There are many ways we daily perform/represent our identities through/in media, whether it is online in social networking sites, when we chat with friends through an alias, or control a representation of ourselves in a video game. After the ideals of the 60s, many performances turned from outward focus on community to an inward focus on the self. Performance Art was somewhat obsessed with the self, often to the point of narcissism. For this exercise we are going to start where we are most familiar: performing the self. We are going to make an ultimate avatar that is an amalgam of all our virtual identities and bring it into the very real space of live performance and the body.
You may answer the prompt literally and create a “character” that will be performed online or in class. I'd prefer a form of performance for this assignment made in live space because I think it could offer an interesting parallel of bringing the virtual representation of ourselves into real-life flesh. However, if you are uncomfortable with that idea for now I would accept a performance online. I will give an example of this below. As long as it is well thought out, addresses the concept, and is in an advanced stage of execution. I'd prefer something more flushed out than a text description.
You may generally respond to the concept of AVATAR as long is it includes clear aspects of your online “selves”
Concrete Approaches:
Here are some quick concrete examples. However, I encourage you to think creatively and bring your own spin to this assignment.
Create a character Script/Profile/Persona Using compilations of images, scraps of found text, and other data that comes up when you search for your “name”. Consider, your name no longer represents only you, but is a unique digital handle for an avatar, that describes and incorporates all the John Does online. Write a Script and create some slides that blend and merge the faces for your portrait. Perform the script you have written as your ultimate character. You may do this anyway you like. One simple way would be to interview yourself using sound files or another student as the interviewer. Stay in character and answer details.
Mine google and websites such as 23 people for text. Log onto facebook make a new profile for the ultimate you using only snippets of text/image that are available to you in the constraint of your searches. Friend all the other yous. Engage in wallposts/messages to them over the week using only material available for your searches. Document the performance of your avatar through screen captures, and or live-reading of the facebook profile/results to the class.
Pick a community forum to infiltrate. Create two alternate characters with different personas but your same name. These characters should be diametrically opposed and can represent multiple parts of yourself. Post as both characters, imagine how they would respond to other people's post differently. Have the characters acknowledge the same name coincidence. Insert yourselves In the forum. Argue amongst yourselves on the forum about who has the most authentic interpretation/better responses. Rinse, lather repeat until someone calls your bluff.
Alternatively. Create one character to infiltrate the forum. The type/nature/purpose of the forum is key. Within your responses change a key aspect of the character with each post: voice, prose level, gender, race, ethnicity...take inspiration for the multiple voices from the lives of the people you find who share your name.
Think about the qualities of body movement as an avatar. Compose a Dance piece in the vein of Foofwa's avatar performance. Title it your name. Project as a score the avatar photos that come up with google search. How would these people move in space? Study a series of different walks for some additional clues. Use very close zooms of the pixils in the photos as a visual score if you are stuck. Feel free to use the advanced image search tools. What clipart are you?
Find your name soul mate. Create a performance based on one other person that shares your name. For example. Discover you're a toddler since the late 90s imagine what your life might be like now in photo-diary form. Keep the leaping dolphins for dramatic emphasis. EXAMPLE
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