Virtual Adultery and Cyberspace Love
Film Analysis
Synopsis: There is now a new world which has welcomed over four million inhabitants in the last three years. Its name is Second Life and it’s accessed through the Internet. Here in this virtual world, each inhabitant is an entirely unique avatar, a fantasy creation that’s usually taller, stronger, fitter, and more attractive than the person controlling it on the other side of the screen…but Second Life isn’t a game, it’s a virtual life fueled by real wants and desires. And for some, when life and love are less than perfect, the escape it offers can be more seductive than the real world.
Instructions: According to the film, “Virtual Adultery and Cyberspace Love” observe and respond to the questions below. Each question must be discussed in detail. You should include examples from the film and apply them to what we have learned in class regarding several sociological concepts. This assignment will be worth a total of 5 points.
- What are the perimeters (issues so far) of this marital relationship, according to Carolyn’s husband, Lee? Also, refer to page 265 and read the section “Types of Marriage in the United States.” Identify and discuss what type of conflict does this marriage portray. Be specific.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Why is there a need for Carolyn to spend long hours on Second Life? What does she say she gets from this virtual world? Why is it important for her?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Identify and discuss what type of love is this, according to Lee’s style of loving regarding Carolyn and Lee’s marriage? Discuss why you choose this style of love and how would Sociologists view this style of love as well.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Identify and discuss the elements of love, according to Sternberg’s Theory of Love,regarding Carolyn and Lee’s marriage? Recall the triangles we discussed in class. Draw and discuss why what triangle you choose this type of love?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Assess Carolyn’s emotional and psychological state of mind when her and her virtual lover would have intense arguments and at one time break up? Do you think this will affect Carolyn’s ability to care and nurture her family? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- What is Elliott’s (virtual lover) perspective, on whether or not him and Carolyn will be together? Does he believe the Cyberworld should of connected them in the REAL WORLD together?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- How does Second Life appear to affect the family unit as a whole? Conduct research from EBSCO HOST, via GCC’s Online Resources (through the portal) regarding how families are affected negatively from technology. Use brief key words to search. ATTACH THE FIRST THREE PAGES OF THE ARTICLE. Points will be deducted if you do not attach this research. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- What sociological factors were you able to analyze regarding the family unit in this video. Do you think social class, race/ethnicity, or any other factors caused Second Life to become so prominent to Carolyn?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Conduct more research regarding technology. Discover what populations primarily are interested in Virtual Worlds, such as this one in the United States. List a few reasons why it very popular in the United States? NO ARTICLE NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED FOR THIS QUESTION. Just support your response with the research you found.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- What do you think will happen to their marriage in the long run? What did you assume that Carolyn’s husband meant at the very end of the film, with his analogy with Forrest Gump?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
