BLOG 12: Viral Videos (Extra Credit)

Burgess’ article relates to Drax’s work because Drax has essentially cultivated cultural practices within a social network; Drax has turned Second Life into a political tool to express political ideas. Other people have adapted his political practices in Second Life and have emulated him. There is now even a group of Republicans on the game who support Obama, and they even campaign for him through Second Life. Because Drax has participated in contributing his content to Second Life, he has been able to exercise Burgess’ idea of engaging in cultural conversation around online video; other users in the network have responded to his work. The response to his work on Second Life could not be predicted when he first started his work, but it has evolved into a cultural practice within Second Life; he has installed political consciousness within the social network. His work has acted as a hub for others to create similar work, such as the Republican Group for Obama that has emerged since then. A wide range of participants now engages in political activity within Second Life. Drax’s influence within Second Life as a political force has retained itself within the social network of Second Life. Although Second Life was first created with the intention of merely being a social network, Drax has helped it evolve into a political sphere as well; now thousands of users are doing the same, and this cycle of exchanging political ideas within Second Life continues.