Stelarc SL Response

From the reading we have done on Stelarc, I feel that he would definitely be in favor of each individual creating a Second Life avatar. Stelarc explains that he feels the body is "obsolete." He doesn't feel the body will be able to adapt and function in the ever changing, technologically advancing society. Through this passage, Stelarc explains his view of the human body and how he believes it would be possible for it to survive and thrive:
"[The body's] survival parameters are thus very slim, and its longevity is limited. So the body with this form and with these functions is not adequate, and we should consider its redesigning, its reengineering. Do we accept the biological status quo of the body, or do we consider alternate enhancements?...This is not about utopian blueprints for perfect bodies but rather speculations on operational systems with alternate functions and forms. Perhaps ergonomically designing technology for the body is not enough. We have to design bodies to match our machines." (page 229-230)
This passage of Stelarc's found in the chapter seven interview leads me to beleive Second Life would be a promising endeavour for this artist. I feel that, while the passage goes on to talk about hollowing out the current body, by creating an entirely new one Stelarc would be pleased. He explains that "this form...is not adequate," relating that the body we have today does not match the technological advances and progress we have reached. Stelarc asserts that the lifespan of the body is quite short and it must be altered to remain functional. While I believe it's a stretch to say somehow perserve the mind and everyone create an avatar on second life, I think Stelarc would agree this would be a step in the right direction. The passage of his concludes with the idea that we need to have "bodies [that] match our machines." Considering the Internet and computerization are basically the main "machines" of today's society, it's easy to see that second life avatars or "bodies" could be ones that fit with the repetiore of machines in the current environment.
I definitely feel, however, that, through my experience with Second Life, I am not entirely ready to commit to a machine-like body or an entirely virtual universe. I have found my Second Life experience so far eye opening and challenging at the same time. The people that I have seen there are so very interesting. I believe the bodies or the avatars each individual creates for himself would impress Stelarc. However, I don't think he would appreciate the creativity behind them. He doesn't seem to focus on the individuality of each person, but the functionality. I definitely cannot imagine a life without a functioning body, but the idea that a person's life could be totally represented through an avatar in Second Life does seem somewhat plausible. From the islands we visited during class yesterday, I realized a person can do absolutely anything on Second Life. It truly is a "second" life and allows the body to take a form that fits more naturally in the ever changing technological environment that we live in today.