JVWR Newsletter

JVWR updates and newsletter.

Name:
E-mail:

JVWR Previous Issues

Vol. 1, Issue 1 - Virtual Worlds Research: Past, Present & Future

   Editor:

  • Jeremiah Spence, University of Texas at Austin, USA

 

Vol. 1, Issue 2 - Consumer Behavior in Virtual Worlds

   Guest Editors:

  • Natalie Wood, Saint Joseph′s University, USA
  • Caja Thimm, University of Bonn, Germany

 

Vol. 1, Issue 3 - Cultures of Virtual Worlds

   Guest Editors:

  • Mia Consalvo, Ohio University, USA
  • Mark Bell, Indiana University, USA

 

Vol. 2, Issue 1 - Pedagogy, Education and Innovation in Virtual Worlds

   Guest Editors:

  • Leslie Jarmon, University of Texas at Austin, USA
  • Kenneth Y.T. Lim, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore
  • B. Stephen Carpenter, II, Texas A&M University, USA

 

Vol. 2, Issue 2 - 3D Virtual Worlds for Health and Healthcare

   Guest Editors:

  • Maged M. Kamel Boulos, University of Plymoth, UK
  • Susan Toth-Cohen, Thomas Jefferson University, USA
  • Simon Bignell, University of Derby, UK

 

Vol. 2, Issue 3 - Technology, Economy and Standards in Virtual Worlds

  Guest Editors:

  • Yesha Y. Sivan, Shenkar College & Metaverse Labs, Israel
  • Jean H.A. Gellissen, Philips Research, Netherlands
  • Robert Bloomfield, Cornell University, USA

 

Vol. 2, Issue 4 - Virtual Economies, Virtual Goods and Service Delivery in Virtual Worlds

  Guest Editors:

  • Mandy Salomon, Smart Services CRC, Australia
  • Serge Soudoplatoff, ESCP-EAP / Hetic, France

 

Creative Commons License

CrossRef Member

On the Dark Side: Gothic Play and Performance in a Virtual World

Mikael Johnson, Tanja Sihvonen

 

Abstract

This article investigates gothic play and performance in Habbo, a virtual world for preteen children and teenagers. In addition to analyzing the aesthetics of the environment and its player characters, the authors seek to ask how gothic players figure in its appropriation and redevelopment. Countercultural player activities, such as playing goth in Habbo, are often treated as disruption, but here it will be argued that gothic players are in fact rather resourceful and productive members of the community. Observations of player-generated content, events, rituals, appearance and group discussions indicate that goth is more than a style – it is also play and performance. Gothic players are not only consumers, but also content providers, who inspire the developers at Sulake, the company behind Habbo. The influence of Habbo goths is evident, as emergent gothic player-created content has repeatedly been incorporated in newer releases of the game platform.

Full Text: PDF