joaoflux / digital / analog / culture

I never had a book signed by the author in my first life so far. Yesterday I got my first book signed in Second Life. In order to get signed I had to buy it first. Instead of buying it at Amazon I had to go to a book shop in Second Life. This was quick and easy since clicking on a link on the web page where I read about “Play Money” by Julian Dibbell teleported me (that is my second me Rob Habsburg) not just to the shop, but to the right shelf. There were two offers: The Second Life Edition for 750 L$ (about 2.25 $ at current market rates) and a bundled version containing both, a Second Life and a first life edition for 6250 L$ (about 18.75 $).

First I couldn’t figure out how to read the book. Only after having taken it apart and not being able to reassemble it, I went to a help page where I found I had to sit down in order to read. Sit down before you read - that makes sense. I went to buy another copy beamed myself to a nice place, sat down and read. I expected it to be clumsy, but it was actually really nice.

So I signed up for the book-signing party. I was a bit early. A handful of people were sitting in the theatre when I arrived. Messages were scrolling across my Screen, it seemed like people knew each other. I tried to sit down near them, but those seats seemed reserved, so I sat down a bit further. In my first life prepared dinner while waiting for Julian Dibbell to appear (the book signing was at noon PST which is 9 pm in Berlin). When I got back Julian was already signing books. There was a red circle on the ground around him and chat messages reading “who’s next?”, “me me” were popping up. Being a bit shy at first I finally typed “me” and stepped in the circle and got my book signed.

There is much to be said about this event. Book-signing is quite a remarkable thing anyway: By signing an industrially produced item, it becomes unique and acquires a value for collectors. The signature gives it the aura of an original. In a digital environment of course the signature itself is only a file that can be copied infinitely and is just attached to the book. I cannot attach it myself, because I do not have the permission to do so. Just like I did not have the permission to reassemble the first copy of “Play Money” I had bought (I was a bit surprised I had the permission to take it apart in the first place).

Of course the actual book-signing is nothing but a collective pose to induce the event. Events - or should I call it collective improvised performances - are the only art form where there will always be a significant difference between the original and a reproduction (documentation or reenactment). Always is of course a risky term, but I think it is almost save to use it here. Events are real in Second Life as in first life. Signing of items that can be reproduced and copied is just a crutch in Second Life as in first life. It’s used to create an irrational value that we don’t seem to be able to do without yet.

I think the reason for this is that our economy has not adjusted to the environment that we have created during the last centuries. Going into the copy right and software / music / film pirating discussion would lead a bit far now and I frankly don’t think that I can add much to that discussion which hasn’t been said a million times, but it still is quite remarkable how much our economical leaders live in denial. And how much we’re all junkies to the fascination with the original - a belief that is usually not seen as a religion but has all elements of it. I also think that it’s effect is quite damaging to the project of civilization. That may once have been different, just like all those obscure beliefs we’re dealing with may once have had a positive impact an advancing civilization. It’s time to move on. Keyword: Attention Economy

Technorati Tags: economy, MMO, MMORPG, Play Money, Second Life