Ars Virtua artist Thomas Asmuth is spearheading the creation of a Temporary Autonomous Zone (TAZ) in the online realm of World of Warcraft; December 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm PST (details below).

“Performance art in WoW is not really that big a stretch if you consider the social arena that is already in place in-world. We are interested in experiments of self governance that go beyond the Guild Structure. Is it possible to maintain a small mobile ‘geo’-political faction in WoW? As an experiment in governance … we are proposing Temporary Autonomous Zones (TAZ). We will band together with a nod toward the feudal structure that WoW quotes so often. Can we hold our ‘fiefdom’? Can we protect it from poachers and those who wish not to align with our mobile zone of autonomy?

As part of our mixture of part art practice through gaming and play, the Ars Virtua Guild will be holding a number of sessions to build a team to carry out this experiment and create a film about the experience. We need willing Horde on Demon Soul server to Join Us in the pursuit of Glory! For more information please email thomas.asmuth [at] gmail.com or go to the Ars Virtua guild blog and forum site; there you will find an extensive page on TAZs and our plan to ramp this up. See this too.

Based on the theories of Hakim Bey, the anarchistic writer who wrote about the courageous acts of art making and intervention without arrogance or ceremony. The text is a beautiful description of those who take the chance and create for the sheer thrill of being in it. The idea behind TAZ is to take charge and be in the moment. Coupled with the critical reflections about the romanticisms of neo-medievalism* inherent in the platform and in our suburban communities and lives, I am interested in really engaging the platform and expressing the culture and power structures of the fiefdom.

*I owe a great debt to the writings and work of Eddo Stern, who first brought my attention to Humberto Ecco’s writings on neo-medievalism. Please see Touch of Medieval: Narrative, Magic and Computer Technology in Massively Multiplayer Computer Role-Playing Games.” - Thomas Asmuth

The event will take place on December 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm PST. It is our intention to play in the traditional AV lan party style and invite people local to San Jose to come into the CADRE Lab to join us IRL (In Real Life) or online.

In preparation of this event we are running a series of “office hours” to welcome new players (noobs) and to help acclimate people in preparation for the event. Blizzard makes available a 10 day free trial period to new players so it is possible to download the game, and participate at no cost. This is a great opportunity to join a group of artists in the online sensation that is World of Warcraft, experience the system and make art.

Be aware though, that WoW is divided into two factions across many servers. We will be running help sessions on the “Demon Soul” server for the Horde faction. If you create an alliance character you will not be able to communicate with Ars Virtua helpers. Check our calendar for available hours and feel free to private message the following characters: Cretivcowman, Felonious, Silverlights, Elah, Tookis, MyriamMoore.

Ars Virtua is a new media center and gallery located in the synthetic world of Second Life. It is a new type of space that leverages the tension between 3-D rendered game space and terrestrial reality, between simulated and simulation. Ars Virtua is sponsored by the CADRE Laboratory for New Media.