Marylou Goldrosen is an artist and professor who uses her avatar in Second Life to teach students about digital culture and art. She created the Art Ark and Lizard of ARS installations to display student works. The Art Ark is a twisted sculpture-like structure that changes appearance using wrapped images. Students visit to install sculptures and analyze meanings in rugs. The interviewer toured the installations, learned how they were made from a past student's work, and was gifted wings representing completing the course on digital ethnography.

1. DIGITAL ETHNOGRAPHY
AND VIRTUAL WORLDS
Exploring the virtual world of Second Life’s cultural and educational benefits.
By: Amy Gaston
Avatar Name: Amycg5
ARE 494
Dr. Mary Stokrocki
4-27-16

2. DEFINITIONS
• Ethnography- is defined as the
study of humans and their cultures.
This is similar to anthropology
however, it differs by studying the
culture from “the inside out,” by
actively being involved in the
particular culture.
• Digital Ethnography- is defined
as studying and participating in
cultures that use digital methods to
exist and socialize.
My avatar dancing at “Greased Lightning” day and nightclub on Second Life.
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Greased%20Lightning/31/206/22

3. STAGES OF DIGITAL ETHNOGRAPHY
• Stage 1: Data collection- is defined as
collecting information that can be used for
understanding and research.
• Stage 2: Content analysis- is a way of using
the collection of data to categorize by theme or
to find a pattern with in the observed
information.
• Stage 3: Comparative analysis- is the process
of using the found themes within the data to
compare and contrast the information.Behind my avatar is a digital painting by Mathilde Vhargon titled "Arrows and
Targets". I found this piece at The Horus Art Gallery on Second Life.
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Yemple/60/223/53

4. MY PERSONAL ADVENTURES ON
SECOND LIFE
Second Life has given me the
opportunity to explore worlds, cultures and
art I would have never been able to go in real
life. You have 24 hour access to anywhere and
anything you could possibly imagine. You can
look like or be anyone you want through your
avatar. I have even found that you can act
anyway you want, which can be good or bad.
In my travels I have encountered enchanting
laughing flower gardens, floating moving sculptures, open air
dance clubs, created my own sculptures and visited some of
the worlds most famous art galleries.

5. RESEARCH
Research Questions:
• Who is the avatar artist?
• What is the artwork title? Name one on SL and where can
we find it?
• Why did you choose it?
• How did you gain access to reach the avatar?
• What is it’s style?.
• What kind of art does s/he make on Second Life?
• Why do you make it on Second Life?
• What kind of artist are you in Real Life?
An image of Marylou posing for a picture next to her Art Ark.

6. ARTIST/ PROFESSOR/ AVATAR
I was very fortunate to interview Dr. Mary Stockrocki on Second Life. She is the professor of Art
Education at Arizona State University. She is an artist who’s work has been published as illustrations in
children’s books. She has also created the avatar “Marylou Goldrosen” and in using her avatar she created the
“Art Ark” on Second Life to embrace technology and encourage digital education.

7. RESEARCH ANSWERS
Research Questions:
• Who is the avatar artist? I chose to interview “Marylou Goldrosen”.
• What is the artwork title? The “Art Ark”.
• Why did you choose it? I chose the Art Ark because I found this education tool to be interesting
and convenient way to teach students. This is also a way to embrace technology and use it to your
advantage.
• How did you gain access to reach the avatar? I contacted Marylou through email.
<MARY.STOKROCKI@asu.edu>
• What is it’s style? The style of the Art Ark is very natural with contemporary structures.
• What kind of art does s/he make on Second Life? As an avatar, Marylou has created the Art Ark.
In this ark is the Lizard of ARS and the floating classroom which contains sculptures from the avatars
of her real life students.
• Why do you make it on Second Life? Marylou utilizes Second Life as a tool for teaching.
Students learn about the culture of having an online persona as well as a vehicle for
learning about and how to create art.
• What kind of artist are you in Real Life? Marylou has painted and drawn pieces that have
been published in children's books such as: Tj’s Desert Surprise, Sarah’s Desert Surprise,
and Lindsey’s Desert Surprise.

8. CONTEXT
The Art Ark
The Art Ark is
located on an island in Second
Life. This a space where
students come to meet as well
as install their sculptures and
kitschy art masks. Located
under the ark is a rug with
special meanings. The rug is
woven and has different
symbols that represent land,
animals and even spirits.
Students are required to
describe, analyze judge and
interpret this rug to find a
deeper meaning.

9. CONTEXT
The Lizard of ARS
The Lizard of ARS
is a space located
across from the Art
Ark where students
post images of their
“punny” masks. The
Lizard of ARS is a play
off of the movie “The
Wizard of OZ”.
Students create a
funny mask that is a
satire off of the movie,
an animal and kitschy
art!

10. CONTEXT
Sustainable Architecture
Near the Art Ark is a large panel with an image of a
past student who created a twisted sculpture in Second Life.
This image gives a short description of how the sculpture was
created and who the student was. This sculpture was created
by Warrior Levi who was 18 yrs old at the time. He titled this
piece “Awesome Twisty”.

11. DATA COLLECTION AND INTERVIEW
I met Marylou Goldrosen at her Art Ark. She wore her amazing Lizard of ARS outfit and
even her hair held the shape of a lizards spikes! She led me on a tour of her ark and she informed me
of how it was created. She told me about how the ark was formed by using the same techniques as
Warrior Levi. I was also informed that she changes the appearance of the ark by taking an image and
“wrapping” it around the ark itself, allowing for different looks.
I allowed Marylou to lead the
interview, while I asked occasional
questions. After her tour of the ark, she
teleported me to Floaters. This is an
island on Second Life where college
students from a variety of classes come
to learn, build sculptures and attend
class. Here, Marylou went into detail
about some of the sculptures and come
of the real life art she does. Towards the
end of the interview she congratulated
me for completing her course and gifted
me with a pair of butterfly wings. She
showed me how to attach the wings to
my avatar and I will proudly show them
off to everyone on Second Life.

12. CONTENT ANALYSIS
Avatar 1
MaryLou Goldrosen
What is Art? The Art Ark and Lizard of ARS
What is title -favorite artwork? Why choose? Art Ark and Lizard of ARS. This was chosen
because it is a unique place to display art.
Why make it? It is made as a tool to teach students about
digital culture and art.
How made? The ark is made from a twisted sculpture
with an image wrapped around it.
Where from? The ark itself was inspired by a past student
who created a twisted tent.
Expression:
Color, line, etc.?
The ark appears to look like a red jello
mold. It looks clear with lots of shadows
and highlights. The overall feel is very
contemporary and light in design.
Collaborate with whom? Marylou shares the island with other
professors that teach classes on Second
Life.
Evolving Question? The question I have that I did not ask is do
you think that Second Life will be an
evolving and relevant tool for people to
socialize and learn?

13. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Second life has given Marylou
away to connect with colleagues, students
and other artists. Not only has she posted
and used her own artwork to display, but
she uses Second Life as a tool for teaching
about digital culture. She also assists in the
learning and creation for students to build
their own sculptures. Once these sculptures
are built, they are installed at the Art Ark
for future students to view and learn from.
In using Second Life Marylou is “thinking
outside the box” or outside the classroom
(literally) to educate her students as
opposed to using a traditional classroom
setting.

14. MY CONCLUSIONS
In this interview and in this course I
have developed a deeper understanding of how
and why people use digital media and form
different cultures. I have learned that the people
on Second Life take their avatar persona very
seriously and in this seriousness becomes a very
intricate and unique world where literally
anything can happen. I have also found that
most of the time the people you meet on
Second Life are extremely friendly and inviting.
In my interview with Marylou Goldrosen I
learned how you can use Second Life as a tool
for education and art. Learning doesn't always
happen in the classroom and you can travel the
world and meet new cultures from your
computer!
My avatar trying on my first set of wings.
They were a gift from Marylou Godrosen.

15. REFERENCES
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnography
2. http://brianhoey.com/research/ethnography/
3. http://www.public.asu.edu/~ifmls/mlpaintings/pages/coyotedog.htm
4. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Teaching%2010/65/225/23
5. http://www.public.asu.edu/~ifmls/mlpaintings/index.html