Syncretia: a virtual geography for narrative playfulness

This paper examines the strategies and theories involved in the creation of a virtual habitat; the island Syncretia located in the virtual world of Second Life®. The island is comprised of a series of narrative/play installations, which can also be considered as "artistic environments". Syncretia should be seen as an endeavor for providing a context for play, storytelling and metaphor; involving an examination of virtual geographies, cyberpsychology/Presence studies, ludology and their relationship to objets trouvé or ready-made art/architectural objects which have been utilized to a substantial degree in the structuring of the visual/narrative language of Syncretia.