The 50-minute movie can be also watched as épisodes on the dedicated web site #joinmein50years.net (chapters 1-6)

The Funky Senior Home

With #joinmein50years, Sneja introduces “The Funky Senior Home“, a virtual senior living facility within Second Life (SL), an online 3D environment and original metaverse where users can interact with each other and explore user-generated content as avatars. 

In this imaginative senior residence, she encourages her friends to envision themselves 50 years into the future and interact with her regularly in this virtual setting. She promises unique thrills and exciting experiences.

Typically, avatars in games and online platforms are designed to reflect ideal physical attributes, mirroring the societal beauty standards of their creators (essentially, an idealized version of themselves). However, at “The Funky Senior Home”, only those participants willing to adopt an avatar that portrays them as 50 years older are eligible to be part of this project.

Machinima

The first scenes recorded with avatars at the “FunkySeniorHome” can be viewed as video machinima which shall incite new participants to join the existing group and become members of this unique place to be. The sequences can be watched on the dedicated web site  #joinmein50years.net.

Impact of virtual worlds on our real life

Joinmein50years refers to “relational aesthetics”, term created by curator Nicolas Bourriaud in the 1990s to describe an art theory focused on social interactions and relationships created by artworks. It prioritizes audience participation and community engagement, viewing art as a platform for dialogue rather than static object.

By placing her interactive piece within Second Life, a virtual world primarily intended for social interaction, Sneja seeks to examine the influence that online virtual environments can have on real life.  Rather than acting as an escape, virtual worlds may facilitate introspection, leading to the exploration of new perspectives and solutions.

Sneja tailors the tools native to Second Life—such as avatar appearances, gestures, outfits, animations, and scripts—to align with her needs and objectives, while also employing advertising strategies. Through this playful approach, she addresses a significant real-life issue: aging in a culture that idolizes eternal youth and invites participants to reflect on their lives, envisioning what they might look like in 50 years and contemplating their dreams, desires, and fears at that stage.

#joinmein50years serves as an invitation to consider the meaning of aging and what it entails in contemporary Western society. The project highlights the necessity for more innovative structures for older adults that not only prioritize nursing and care but also address intellectual fulfillment and personal development.