What's in a name?
Gracie Kendal is working on a fascinating project which explores the connection between the avatar and the human self. Today's post in particular was very thought-provoking.
One of the questions she has asked of herself is "what's in a name?"
That got me to thinking about my own name, Princess Ivory. Why did I choose it? What does it say about me to others?
In the actual world, girls who are called "princess" are often spoiled and wealthy. They have perfect makeup, perfect manicures, and a membership at the tanning salon.
In the actual world, I am neither spoiled nor wealthy. I don't wear makeup, I clip my nails short and eschew nail polish, and do not believe that "tanning" should be an activity to be scheduled.
Princess is also used as a title, for a person who has an actual first name and surname. But I do not use it as a title. I chose it for my first name. Ivory is my surname. Some people get confused and call me "Ivory" but that is not my name. My name is Princess.
How did I come to choose this name? When creating my SL avatar, I browsed through the list of available surnames, looking for something that sounded interesting. When I came across the name, "Ivory," I immediately thought of ivory towers, and princesses, and fairy tales. The first name of Princess immediately sprung to mind. And thus Princess Ivory was born.
Why fairy tales and princesses? Well maybe because in the actual world my adult life has not been easy. I have had some bad relationships. But I still badly want to believe in "happily ever after." I want to be the princess in the fairy tale who finds her prince.
Though many see my sharp tongue and witty sarcasm, there is inside Princess Ivory a scared little girl who just wants to be loved. This is very much like my actual world self.
Second Life lets me explore my more whimsical, wistful side. You will see me dressed as a princess, as a faerie, and even sometimes as a punk goth fae. I can play with my appearance in a way that is not possible in the actual world. I can't wear wings and a tiara to the grocery store! Well, I suppose I could...but I would get some funny looks from people. :)
Within SL there is a freedom to explore and define (or redefine) a sense of self. As Princess Ivory, many of the things I have learned about getting along with other people have been carried over into my life in the actual world. Princess Ivory has taught me to be more forgiving. To be gentle. To consider the feelings of others.
She has also encouraged my creative voice, and both within SL and in the actual world, I paint, read, write, photograph, and build.
So, what is in a name? Do you have a different perspective of me, after having read this? Does "Princess" still bring up the same images of me, or do you see me differently now? How much did my name affect you when we first met? Has that opinion changed after getting to know me better, or after reading this post?
