Digital ethnography involves using modern technology to study small-scale social interactions within cultures, such as virtual communication or online fan communities. The document discusses how digital ethnography is conducted, including collecting data through various observation techniques, analyzing the collected content both objectively and comparatively, and using digital ethnography to study aspects of contemporary social life. It provides Ethnographia Island in Second Life as an example of a space where digital ethnography is applied to understand the experiences of people with disabilities in virtual worlds.

1. Digital Ethnography
Arturo Rivera Valenzuela
Spring 2017
Stokrocki
Ethnographia

2. Ethnography:
is an analysis and recording of a society or
culture by observing aspects of daily
occurrences for a community of people. The
participating observant will usually be guided
by a current member with expertise in the
particular community/society, who will
elaborate the inner workings of structures
within that community/society.
(discoveranthropology.org.uk).
Digital Ethnography:
Is the modern application of this method
of investigation. For example, today we
are able to look at particular (Micro-
Level) aspects of contemporary social
life, such as virtual communication, or
being a fan of a sports team. So in other
words the dynamics of small-scale
interactions within a modern culture.
(Stokrocki, Schaefer).

3. 1 . Data Collection: The action of utilizing
various methods of study, analytics, and
means of acquiring information. In
ethnography various techniques have pros and
cons, such as observation. Observation is key
to explore an environment in its most
naturalistic state. Immersion in the content is
also a viewpoint that may yield new
information from within the community/culture
in question (Roger Sapsford, Victor Jupp,
2006).
2 . Content Analysis: Interpreting the data
collected means objectively analyzing all facets
gathered and constructing a framework for a
pattern within a community/culture (Roger
Sapsford, Victor Jupp, 2006).
3 . Comparative Analysis: Strategy that
involves analyzing various content, to find
similarities or differences.
Ethnography and its
stages

4. Research Questions
1. What artwork forms and methods do they use?
2. What is the purpose of their art?
3. What are their art preferences?

5. Context and atmosphere:
Ethnographia Island, Second Life
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ethnographia/8/94/24
An island in the expanse of Second
Life. Hills and ponds scatter the
island, seemingly attempting to
engulf the galleries within. This is a
multiverse of ideas with various
creators constructing their own
monuments of their talent to house
their own art. Various structures
ranging from the abstract, to
realistically sound, are nestled in
this oasis of ideas; Some of these
are culturally inspired structures,
such as Japanese iconography,
Indian and Greco-Roman stone, and
Medieval. Truly a sight to see.

6. Community and Impact on learning
Ethnographia is a research project supported by a grant from
the National Science Foundation (Cultural Anthropology and
Science, Technology, and Society), the project has two main
investigators, Tom Boellstorff and Donna Z. Davis. The project
aims to analyze the experiences of people with disabilities in
“Virtual Worlds”.
The SL13B Ethnographia exhibit showcases the works of
participants in the Ethnographia project. The focus of the
project is on the ways in which being in a virtual world have
influenced the lives of of the participants as people with
disabilities. Many of the participants have said that the
wonderful thing about Second Life is that their disability is not
the first thing people see about them. It gives them a sense of
inclusion not felt in the real world. The exhibition is fantastic
because they have information hubs near most exhibits and
instantly link to their website.
http://www.ourdigitalselves.com/about/

7. Avatar: Slatan Dryke
I contacted this avatar by visiting
an exhibit and being drawn to
one of his abstract sculptures.
His information led me to his
flickr, where I found out he
focuses on photography on
Second Life. He has many avatar
portraits, but this one has the
rays of light captured brilliantly
to create lines that create an
otherworldly pattern.

8. Data Collection
[23:06] Artrival: (Saved Fri Apr 07 04:15:26 2017)Hello! I
am a student at Arizona State University and saw your
"Diaphanous" at UWA Immaterial. The shifting form is a
great experience. I would like to know if it would be
possible to interview you in SL, avatar to avatar, or IM
whichever works for you. From What I saw on your bio, it
says you are in italia? Thank you for your time. If I may, I
will pose you these starting questions.
What kind of art do you make on Second Life? (Real or
abstract, sculpture, drawing, digital, architecture,
fashion,etc)?
What I do is mainly 2D and 3D art: I am a photographer in
RL and in SL and I like to create sculptures most of them
with abstract shapes.
Why do you make it on Second Life? What are the benefits?
My main benefit is the pleasure to create something, and then
SL and its opportunities are part of a personal therapy to deal
with my PTSD
What kind of artist are you in Real Life Artist? What do you do
in Real Life?
I am not an artist in Real Life, just an amateur photographer.
I am retired from the Navy.
How did you make this artwork? Again, thank you for your
time.
I start to create a abstract shape or more than one, then I
choose with attention the right texture to add, looking for a
good shade or light. The last touch is a motion that gives to the
sculpture its intriguing style.

9. Diaphanous by Slatan Dryke
At the UWA show “Immaterial”

10. Similar sculptures
Oxford @rts Gallery
Ethnographia Island and University of
Western Australia Gallery

11. Content Analysis
What is the art? Second Life and RL photography and abstract sculptures. Sculpture
in question named “Diaphanous”.
What is the title?
Favorite artwork,
why choose?
Doesn’t have a favorite, but he prefers his photography.
Why make it? He treats as a therapy to deal with his PTSD.
How made? When making his sculptures he begins to create abstract shapes,
then chooses the right color texture for each one. Finally he adds the
animation to give the effect that the shapes are churning and
changing colors.
Where from? He resides in Milan, Italy and is retired from the navy.
Expression:
Color, line, etc.?
His sculptures are animated to churn, spin, and change colors. His
photography focuses on sightlines and capturing the mood of his
fellow avatars creations.
Collaborate with
whom?
Ethnographia island which focuses on people living with disabilities.

12. Comparative Analysis and Conclusions
The methodology for the avatar in question, was to merely involve himself in
his appreciation for the classical arts such as drawings and paintings. In RL
Slatan loves Art in every expression, but he is most fond of paintings and
sculptures, following his classical education. Slatan is also a photographer in
RL.
"Photography... My Photography is not an Art Expression. It's only a way to bust
from myself... however, being closer to my Kernel". Slatan Dryke
Slatan loves to journey around Second Life vigilant, for beautiful compositions
from his fellow avatars. Traveling through that virtual world can be tricky
especially when taking screenshots of others creations, but the community has
an understanding that this is a physical world to be experienced like real life.
Slatan is a self-proclaimed perfectionist and prides himself on finding the right
image in his viewfinder and rarely uses an editor to modify his pictures. When it
comes down to his sculptures, he has admitted his limited ability in building,
but I analyze otherwise because of the simple drive one must have to simply
create. He justifies his creations by following his instincts and love for abstract
forms. I believe that is all we need, whether we are skilled or not.

13. Comparative Analysis and Conclusions
For Slatan, his photography is that of amateurish wanderlust.
He seeks to find, rather than create photography
opportunities. He seeks to combine his abilities in second
life to create compelling conceptual art with thought
provoking messages. An Excerpt from “Yonder”, Figure 1.
"The human essence is what portrays each person, it does
not matter if it is caged in a different body or mind. It is like a
gorgeous flower ready to blossom, to show its beauty,
despite the daily physical or mental challenges. Second Life
offers the great opportunity to free our essence, with an
explosion of feelings, socializing, activities, colors and
creativity, beyond our imagination. Our essence takes shape
following a path in Second Life, whatever it is, revealing
hidden ability and often talent... a colorful, flamboyant coil
cracks the cage and shows off its powerful freedom. I am
what I am, but in Second Life I am what I wish!"
- Slatan Dryke
I included Figure 2, which is an abstract piece floating above
“Yonder”, because the words “I am invincible” really give the
first figure substance especially with the narrative.
Figure 1, Yonder.
Figure 2

14. Comparative Analysis and Conclusions
In Second Life we are provided with a universe
of new experiences and methods with which to
express ourselves. Joe Sanchez in Implementing
Second Life: Ideas, Challenges, and Innovations,
talks about storytelling and roleplaying.
Storytelling is huge especially in a world as
massive and exotic as Second Life because of
the vast amounts of people from the furthest
reaches of the real world earth. Finding
communities over projects, ideas, and interests
is a catalyst for a person's happiness and well-
being, and Second Life allows for messages to
spread and be viewed in real time by a multitude
of people. It is truly surreal in its most purest
sense that realistic creations come alive in the
least physical state imaginable and yet have
such an impact on those inhabitants of the
physical world to continue to nurture this virtual
garden.

15. Going through an online community with
various interests and ideas is not new to me,
but this new method of virtually creating
everything in the world around you is an
inexplicable marvel. Art is everywhere, and
truly must be for Second Life to thrive, and it
manifests on the inhabitants passion and
spirit to create intoxicating dreamscapes. I
tried my hand at creating and found it very
fun and found my first attempts very
satisfying, almost when creating something
with clay, you mold it and “fire” it by adding
textures and techniques to give it character.
“ Even if our fire is dim, it can surge with the
right catalyst”.
- Artrival
Final Thought
Stylized initials and Tiger Head, Builders Workshop, Artrival.

16. References:
Discover Anthropology https://www.discoveranthropology.org.uk/about-
anthropology/fieldwork/ethnography.html
Ethnographia SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ethnographia/8/86/24
Richard T. Schaefer. Sociology, 2008.
Roger Sapsford, Victor Jupp. Data Collection and Analysis, 2006.
Sanchez, Joe, and Jane D. Stimpson. Implementing Second life: ideas, challenges, and innovations.
Chicago, IL (50 East Huron St., Chicago 60611-2795): ALATechSource, 2009.
Stokrocki, Mary. Exploration in virtual worlds: new digital multi-media literacy investigations for art
education. Reston, VA: National Art Education Association, 2014.