The Song Remains … The Same? Three Case Studies of Issues of Digital Preservation in Second Life Performance Practices

The practice of documentation of performances such as music, theater, and dance and performance art is an integral part of the cultural record. As such, it is subject to change and evolution over time, as well as the vagaries of natural catastrophe, social disorder, or any of the myriad disrupters of human history. The application of the practice of documentation varies according to the discipline utilizing it; indeed, even its efficacy varies from culture to culture and from discipline to discipline. Couple this with our movement deeper and deeper into the use of digital technology for the manifestation of culture and we must grapple with new solutions for capturing and conveying the essentials of these acts of expression.