REV-

\MIXED REALITY TALK SHOW\ Best Practices in Banana Time

What happens when Oprah and Karl Marx collaborate on a Japanese game show?

Best Practices in Banana Time is a mixed reality talk show that explores life, and work, between worlds, the real and the virtual. The talk show takes place in a real life venue and simultaneously in the 3D virtual world of Second Life on Eyebeam Island.

Hosted by artist Stephanie Rothenberg’s virtual doppelganger, Doctor Rodenberger, "Best Practices in Banana Time" explores new forms of online labor in the global, digital workplace. The talk show features virtual Second Life guests, people at computers around the world controlling avatars, who work the same job in their real life as in their virtual Second Life. Previous guests on the show have included real life/Second Life medical practitioners, musicians, architects, activists and even ministers.

Produced and Directed by: Stephanie Rothenberg
Co-hosted by: Stephanie Rothenberg’s virtual doppelganger (aka DOCTOR RODENBERGER), co-host Alice Alexandrescu (aka ROBIN HOOF), sound engineer Marc Tomko (aka MT Bigboots) and special guest Alexis Bhaghat

Venue:
MASS MoCA, Dec 3, 2011
Empire Drive-In South Hall
San Jose, California, Sept 10, 2010
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in conjunction with the exhibition “Conversation Pieces” curated by Miriam Ghani and Sean Donaher
The Sanctuary for Independent Media
Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros (Siqueiros Public Art Forum)in conjunction with the exhibition “En cada instante, ruptura” curated by Carla Herrera-Prats

Support: Creative Capital and Eyebeam

During the one hour show, Doctor Rodenberger questions the potential of these thriving socially networked virtual environments. Can they really be considered a viable source of job income in a recessed economy? What is the translation of skills, values and ideologies between worlds? What is the impact and potential of these digital environments on our everyday real lives?

Following the interviews, a live streaming webcam enables the real life audience to participate in a Q&A session with the virtual guests.

View a clip of a previous show
Visit our virtual TV studio in Second Life on Eyebeam
Read or see more info about the project

BIO

Stephanie Rothenberg creates provocative interactions that question the boundaries and social constructs of manufactured desires. Through participatory performance, installation and networked media, her work investigates the mediation of the physical, analog body through the digital interfaces of
commodity culture. Rothenberg’s exhibitions and lectures include the Whitney Museum of Art web portal, Zer01 Festival, Banff New Media Institute, Amsterdam International Film Festival, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, ConFlux Festival, Interaccess Media Arts Center and Trampoline Radiator Festival New Technology Art. Recent awards include a 2009 Creative Capital and a 2008 NYSCA. Rothenberg has been a resident artist at Eyebeam Art & Technology Center and Harvestworks Media Art Center in NY, NY. She is Associate Professor of Visual Studies at University at Buffalo.