The Real in the Ethereal: Creating Space, Meaning, and Power Online

23 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2020

Date Written: June 3, 2020

Abstract

Within the context of virtual worlds, this paper aims to build and frame issues of inequality, access, and meaning, within the world’s rising economies. What we can draw from is an idea of built communities, and meaningful interactions, that have set the stage for economic participation. Virtual economies therefore are fueled by spaces that people participate in, and how these have transformed structures that use them for economic extraction. This can be best seen in the form of ‘gold farming’ which has produced virtual sweatshops. I evaluate these practices, alongside ideas of how governments are considering these economies, as well as how in the future these issues can be addressed with further research.

Keywords: Virtual, Community, Economic, Extraction, Gold Farming, Video Games, Imagined Community

Suggested Citation

Ihalainen, Tomi, The Real in the Ethereal: Creating Space, Meaning, and Power Online (June 3, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3617689 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3617689

Tomi Ihalainen (Contact Author)

UBC - Department of Geography ( email )

Canada

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