Traveling through Cyberspace: Tourism and Photography in Virtual Worlds
Betsy Book
"Virtual worlds easily lend themselves to travel and tourism metaphors because, much like
offline holiday destinations, they also serve as places of escape from the humdrum reality
of everyday life and workplace."
In this paper, Book explores the use of virtual world platforms such as Second Life, There and Cybertown as an extension of travelling. She highlights the existence of multiple worlds or destinations within these platforms, and the ability to explore each of them in some way or another. The use of multiple travel references within these areas is emphasised, such as the recreation of famous landmarks, visitor information booths at the entrance points of these areas, guided tours of individual areas or of a series of maps, and even in-world items such as tourist outfits and souvenirs for visitors.
The senior design artist for There, Don Carson, is quoted as comparing the Disney World theme parks he assisted in design during his time as a Walt Disney Imagineering show designer to the worlds built within There. Offline theme parks have a linear story, designed for visitors to interact with and follow as they venture further into the part. There is a free form interactive narrative, which also allows visitors to participate in the creation of the story. Though they lack the central storyline and the settings constantly change, platforms such as There carry the same branding as an offline destination such as Disney World - a tourist 'getaway'.
World tours also exist in these platforms, whether they exist as actual organised guided tours held on specifics dates at specific times, are run by volunteers who simply wish to show others around their favourite maps or sims, or even the teleport tours that exist in Second Life allowing visitors to explore alone.
Book highlights an interesting similarity on the view of tourists both in the offline world and the online worlds. It is common for locals to look down on tourists in both of these cases. However, while in the real world, tourists are considered a temporary visitor, virtual world tourists are often looking for social diversions and places to visit. Often times, they find their favourite places and visit often enough to move from 'tourist' to 'resident'.
Screen Captures as Tourist Photography
'Virtual tourists take photographs for the same reasons offline tourists take photographs.'
When it comes to screen captures (or virtual photography), there is a noticeable mimicking of the skills used in typical tourist photos in real life, such as taking photos of oneself in front of landmarks or having big group photos together. With virtual photography, the combination of offline photography skills are combined with the knowledge of online camera controls to produce photos and compositions that are otherwise impossible in real life. These also offer tourists the abilities to take self portraits, allowing for solo exploration.
Some tourists then share these photos, whether it be in-world or in other online platforms such as Flickr, Facebook or blogs, to share their experiences with family and friends - the same way a tourist would in an offline tourism experience.
Book, B. (2005). Traveling through cyberspace: Tourism and photography in virtual worlds.
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