h1

Identity with Intent

In this class we explore the nature of ‘self’ and consider our online presence – whether through an avatar in a virtual world such as Second Life, or through our engagement with social media. Who we are in the physical world is a philosophical question that doesn’t have any clear answers. What we do know is that the development of our ‘self’ is a lifelong and ever-changing process. Thus, the idea of developing and maintaining a virtual online self, a personal online brand, is a more complex task than it might at first appear. However, managing our professional persona is of fundamental importance.

‘It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute.’
—Will Rogers (1879–1935), American actor.

https://virtualenvironmentsmodule.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sitearm-identity-talk.png
Sitearm Madonna presenting on Identity. Photograph courtesy of Barbara Collazo.

Preparation for this class

Please read the text,
This should be completed before class where we will be discussing the following questions:

  1. What is meant by ‘speech actions’?
  2. What impact does my avatar have on my idea of myself?
  3. How can we manage our identities online to impact our selves in the natural world?

Essential Reading

Additional Reading

Sitearm Madonna and John O’Connor / Acuppa Tae present ‘Identity with Intent’ to the class during the Autumn 2024 semester. Recording courtesy of Sitearm Madonna. (Viewing time 40 minutes.)

Conclusion