The Alphaville Herald

Caliah Lyon – Post 6 Grrrl

by Pixeleen Mistral on 28/10/06 at 9:12 am

[Editor’s note: Marilyn Murphy is the artistic vision and photographer behind Players, SL’s in-world erotica magazine. I was lucky to chat with her thursday at the Herald birthday bash- and even more lucky to be introduced to the subject of Marilyn's latest photo shoot. I'm sure our readers will be thrilled to meet this week's Post 6 Grrrl -- Caliah Lyon.]

Upon first entering SecondLife, I wasn’t immediately aware of the possibilities to be found here, only struck by how radically different it was to the virtual worlds I’d attempted to explore thus far. Although it remains so, now I’m of the belief SL presents more concentrated opportunities for creative self-expression than can be encompassed by many other forms of media available online. Admittedly there’s still a long way to go, namely in the control we have over the creative process in-world, and the tools we use, but so far it’s been revolutionary in allowing the average user to appreciate the talent of many artists he or she would never have known of otherwise. One can only admire the the talent and perseverance of those such as June Dion, Frogg Marlowe, Keiko Takamura, Ambyance/Lost and others who have enriched the SL experience with their contributions. The appeal of SL lies in the fact that you, too, can aspire to add a little colour to this world with your own artistry.

The avatar itself, as it’s a representation over which we have far greater control than our own appearance in real life, can be more fully realized as a vehicle, not only for self-expression or creativity, but for a particular statement we’d like to convey. We have the option of choosing what role our real life race or gender will play in the choice of our avatar, and for some it has little to no impact on how they choose to appear. I personally had a minor struggle deciding whether or not either would factor in the creation of mine; race proved difficult, since I do have considerable pride in my ethnic make-up. Due to the fact I’m rather particular by nature and was dissatisfied with most choices for Asian avatars, I decided on creating one that would satisfy my aesthetic sense independent of race, yet remain unique to myself. Many here, just like in RL, attempt to project beauty or desirability rather than their own individuality, but one need not be sacrificed for the sake of the other. I was glad to note that there are Post Six girls that exemplify that, and I am honored to be chosen by Marilyn to be this week’s Girl.

Prior to SL, I’d been immersed in other forms of gaming, and have been intrigued by the dynamics and heuristics inherent to the communities that form around various online games. Richard Bartle happens to be one of my favourite reads on the subject, and I was pleased to learn he’d actually paid us a visit. Besides engaging in online geekery I’ve a passion for reading (anything from Decadent poets and authors to modern novelists) and art from neoclassical and Pre-Raphaelite artists to contemporary and digital noteworthies such as Yoshitaka Amano and Linda Bergkvist. I also tend to dabble in various creative pursuits, and in SL this has translated itself to learning the ins and outs of clothing creation and shoe design. I’ve still much to learn, but I’m looking forward to the day I can share my creations with the rest of the SL community.

I thought to do some modelling in-world, primarily in order to enjoy all the possibilities that SL has to offer in terms of fashion and design, as well as to meet like-minded people; I can be most often found relaxing in my own house or the homes of friends, just hanging out or creating items. I make it a habit to attend live performances when I hear about them, and to visit stores for new releases. SL is a safer way to feed one’s own acquisition fetish than RL, admittedly!