AN347 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Sherry Turkle, Teleology, Abstract Theory
Document Summary
The idea of virtual life" is less about representation and more about social activity. Virtual life as social activity involves living in the electronic domain as if it were as important as the material domain: virtual life is parallel, to what extent is it separate. Virtual lives have been linked to addiction (i. e. unhealthy fascination). Another way to see it is to understand virtual life as an extension or new realm of human existence. The tension between real life" and virtual life" is that the two may not be able to be reconciled in terms of energy, time and other forms of investment/maintenance : elision is key. In other words, it is difficult to fully live in two worlds at once : the virtual world(s) are increasing. Couple was so wrapped in carrying for the virtual baby, they neglected their real baby for upwards of 2 days: they were obsessed/addicted/consumed by a new life a virtual life.
