Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Reign Congrejo Fashion Editor Bronxie Asst Fashion Editor Shantal Gravois CONTRIBUTORS Arya Braveheart Azaak Sahara Bronxie Jamee Sandalwood Magissa Denver Miwa Menna Sammie Audion Yhishara Cerise COVER PHOTO: Yhishara Cerise COVER PHOTO BY: Magissa Denver
BOSL Magazine August 2019 Edition
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CONTENT
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10 24
ANTHENAEUM 10 LOVE IN THE TIME OF GAMING
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HEARDING CATS
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KARL LAGERFELD- THE MAN, THE ICON
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ATHENAEUM Article and Photography by: Sammie Audion Finding places in Second Life (SL) that has some sort of relation to Real Life (RL) is certainly not that hard. This might be in the form of tribute to buildings (Taj Mahal at Mumtaz) or partial copies of actual cities (e.g., Hollywood, Lake Tahoe, Dublin, Paris, Venice) just to name some options. Another place in this category is a place called Athenaeum. According to Webster, an Athenaeum is a sort of library, a building or room in which books, magazines, and newspapers are kept for use. The word ‘Athenaeum’ itself is Latin, and it was used as a name for a school in ancient Rome that studied the arts. The words origin, however, is Greek: Athēnaion, a temple of (or for) Athena. The
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Greek goddess Athēnē is known for protecting civilized life. She is associated with wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill in Greek mythology. Moreover, she is the daughter of Zeus (though interestingly enough, she has no mother). Athenaeum in SL is the virtual home to the RL Carter/Johnson Library, which is owned by Viola Johnson. The library is a collective history of various communities who have chosen to live and love differently. The sim hosting the
library is beautifully created. It invites one to desire to create a representation of the library in this wander or sit with a special someone, perhaps wonderful, virtual place is easy to understand. Perhaps take some photos or simply hang out for a bit because there is a certain indication of SL being a game. and relax. If one asks SL residents, many say however that they don’t see it as a game at all, but rather kind of another According to their description, the library’s place to leave the burden of RL behind while still being collection in RL includes thousands of leather, themselves. For others, SL offers the opportunity to live life they can’t in RL - perhaps just enjoy youth once fetish, S/m, kink and alternate sexuality aagain or explore things they would never dare in RL. books; magazines; posters; art; newspapers; ephemera; and memorabilia dating back to In that sense, SL can be seen as a place to live and the 1700s. The Carter/Johnson Library is love differently-- not only compared to others, but also compared to RL. Giving in to hidden desires and designed to put people in touch with their fantasies can be highly liberating. It goes without saying history by allowing them to hold it, read it, that this should be done without invading the space of others uninvited or forcing one’s fantasies onto others smell it, and know it. without given consent. The desires and actions of one should not hinder, overrule, or suppress others. Since SL seems to be more tolerant than RL and reaches people around the world, the
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This brings us to the concept of tolerance and compassion. Let’s say two people sharing consent are happy together, sharing love and trust for a lifetime. Perfect, right? So what if these persons are both male or both female? Who has the right to tell them how to live their relationship - even going so far as to forbid it altogether?Shouldn’t the answer be ‘Nobody’? What heterosexual couple would accept , or be forced to accept, such unwanted invasion into their privacy? So how about others considered by some as ‘against the norm’? Transgenderism and transsexuality are sensitive and complicated issues in our society. SL offers a reprieve from the judgement of others in sensitive cases such as transgender and transsexuality. SL offers a reprieve from the judgement of others in sensitive cases such as transgender and trans-
fit their bodies, choosing an avatar based on how one wants to be seen can be a welcome relief. Those on the other side of the screen need be none the wiser. SL can be a wonderful and tolerant place. While many people might not visit a library like the CarterJohnson Library in RL, they may find it a fascinating experience to visit the SL representation Athenaeum. Visitors may even find themselves captured by the art. The Athenaeum is certainly an informative yet beautiful place to visit. In these challenging RL times, it cannot hurt to relearn a little compassion, tolerance, and understanding. We might be reminded of the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.”
Understanding people that think like us is no achievement; understanding and accepting differences is tolerance, which leads to social wisdom. After all, tolerance and wisdom are two presets for a healthy and prosperous society. In that sense -- with hope: Happy exploring! http://carterjohnsonlibrary.com/ secondlife://ATHENAEUM/15/169/24
LOVE IN THE TIME OF GAMING Remember the process we once had to follow in order to reach someone? You had to call them on the phone or write a letter before patiently waiting for an answer. Some of you may recall it, some of you may not— either way, technology has allowed us to expedite this process. Now all we have to do is go into Facebook®, Twitter®, or a video game engine to send a message and wait for a reply; we are able to connect faster, and that allows for many feelings and information to be transferred quicker. Now, most gamers have several avenues to chat and meet people. I am not just talking about console and console-only chats-- I am talking about all types of gaming engines and services, from Battle Net to Steam and, yes, even counting open worlds like Second Life®. We share, and we make lives. We form friendships, families, and bonds that might well follow us through the rest of our lives. And yes, as we all know, Second Life is an open space for creatives to come together. We have sims full of people who have made a home away from home, as well as sims where whole worlds are built and stories develop; but as stories develop, so does interaction. And here is where the most basic of feelings comes into play and takes part of the dynamic of relationships in SL: Love.
Article Miwa Menna|Photography Jackson Redstar| I am not just talking about the love between two people who may or may not meet each other in real life; I also mean the love for people we have come to care for as if they were our own family. Online relationships are varied and vast. We have those people in SL who have created friendships so big that they transcend the screen, people who are now living together and sharing their lives as family; we also have those who have fallen in love and found their true love, and while some do make the jump from screen to real life, others have to settle for years with online relationships. Whichever is the case, the reality is that both the online anonymity and the promptitude of closeness have given us a powerful sense of familiarity that allows us to get closer and closer to the other individuals that share our second life-- and in some cases, our real ones, too. Second Life families are sometimes the only family some people can speak of, in other cases they are supplementary to the one people already have.
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Life and relationships in general are not easy, but certainly in Second Life some of the hassle of a face-to-face meeting is reduced, and we are able to open up a little more. Sometimes we can even vent to the people we come across and end up knocking down some of the ‘walls’ we have built to keep ourselves safe. We are able to get together. The love we share is one built on a specific type of communication. The openness you share with your partner the fact you both share the same taste in games, or if you both engage in the same type of entertainment in Second Life
like roleplay or clubbing... whatever you choose to do, you both do it together and enjoy it the same way. At the same time, you both have different interests and spend as much time apart as together-- you learn to give each other space and love and trust. Regardless of the type of love SL or online gaming has brought you-- whether it is family, friends or love-- one thing is certain: Second Life and online gaming services allow us to meet people from all over the world.
Everyone within has the chance to build connections, learn new ways to engage, learn to even understand oneself without the fear or feeling of being judged. It’s just you, your online friends, and sharing something you enjoy on your own with the people you have met.
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HERDING CATS I can’t believe that SL has entered the last month of summer. Where did the time go? Before we know it, we will be surrounded by fallen leaves, pumpkins, and hot chocolate. However, we are not there yet! We can still enjoy the gorgeous month of August, with all the beachy events and bikini wearing we can get away with! I have finally moved us indoors after a few months of outdoor scenes. I felt we were ready, and the decision was made even easier when I managed to find the items I am going to show you today. I will say, though, I had planned a full house scene with the bedroom upstairs and a kitchen and living room downstairs... When I started rezzing the furniture and decor, it fit so well in this space that I just left it the way you see it today. The great thing about SL is that there are no rules! Normally I would start with the build, but not this time! I ended up finding the furniture sets and then matching a building to them. My first items were the bedroom and lounge sets. Since both of these have a certain colour palette, using that same theme for the rest of the decor and furniture was easy.
Written and Photography by: Arya Braveheart I didn’t want the western-looking theme seen in the living room to dominate the whole look. This scene is all about the cats-- a whole heap of them! I love the whole gorgeous ginger lot of them! They are from Image Essentials and just look right in this scene. However, I decided not to put loads of cat furniture in the scene; in my head, the cats have taken over the room upstairs. You do not want to see that! The cats and many of these fabulous items are from Boardwalk. The event will still be going when this article goes to print, so make sure you go and have a look. It is all about home and garden, offering you a great chance to grab items for redecorating. I will support any event that has a focus on home, furniture, and decor! Very soon, all the cats will be wanting inside for the autumn and winter months, but for now, they can go outside and enjoy the warmth of the SL sun. I hope you are enjoying it, too. Make sure you appreciate every day before autumn hits SL again and we have to wave goodbye to sand, sun, and swimming.
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Credits: Image Essentials - Full Perm Mesh Cats Trompe Loeil - Maisie Cabin V1.1 Serendipity Designs - Cimmaron Living Room Suite - Ceiling, Coffee Table, Console Table, Decorative Branches, Draperies, Rug, Succulent, Sofa, Lamp, Wall art and Decor. [Generation X] - Kymani Set - Bed, Books, Bull Head, Chair, Elephant Ear Plant, Floor Baskets, Fur Rug, Side Table, Vase [Park Place] - Coral Reef Floor Pillows - Cuddles, Coral Reef Hydrangea FAYDED - Bellisseria Bedroom Dresser TB Maison - Seaside Smiles Collection - Glass Float, Boho Chest Natural, MilkCan Florals *Petit Chat* Birdy Set - Chest, Jars and Frame Raindale - Beaumaris Pouf Chilly Pigeon - Stars Set - Table Candles Apple Fall Holyoke Dining Table and Bench - Aged Oak, Miami Dining Chairs Book & Nectarines Tray, Palisades Pendant Lamp - Black, Recipe Books, Enamel Teapot - Orange
[Commoner] - Carried Away / Laptop Computer, Keys Kalopsia - Welcome Mat, Gogo’s planter (white/black), Gogo’s Chair (Brown/Triangle) dust bunny . ivy room divider {CdB} - Black Eye Susan Vase, Wild Spring Books, Birdie Cup of Tea, Junk Food - On the Go Items 22769 - Storm Light, Leatherbag, Snakeplant, Ballpens and Pencils, Vase with Branch, Coffee Table Clutter, Set Of Bowls, Bowl Of Strawberries, Water Bottle and Glass, Water Jar, Shelf Frames, Paper Bin, Natural Rattan Basket BAZAR~Morocco-Potted plant, books,Tea set Cactus, Arizona - Opened book, Bedroom Round Ottoman, bedroom boxes, Books clutter, Umbrella decor, Newspaper stand, StockholmHeadphones (decor), Traveler-Diary CHEZ MOI - Sassy Messy Futon, Serenity Style- Dean Fall Metal Logs Basket {what next} - Hanne Fireplace Tools
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Sway’s [Melia] - Picture Board . this is us [Consignment.] - Mobile Library - Silver Ariskea[Plumerias] Flower Vase Orange +Half-Deer+ Neatly Folded Blankets - Leaves tres blah- Hodgepodge - Tossed Clothes :Cheeky Pea: - Storage Boxes - Small Apt B \\ Dalton Snake Plant crate - Cut-Out Dresser [ zerkalo ] Golden Shade - Red Vase
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KARL LAGERFELD Article By: Yhishara Cerise In late 1930’s Germany, a little boy named Karl began to take piano lessons. His mother protested at his lack of talent for the instrument and instead suggested that he take up drawing, as it was less noisy. From that time on his schoolmates said he was always drawing. As he grew older, he began visiting the Kunsthalle Hamburg museum, where he developed his artistic eye and where he received much inspiration – especially from paintings by French artists. France is where he envisioned his future, staying in school so he could learn French and finally going to the Lycée Montaigne in Paris to continue his education. He majored in drawing.
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While there, he had his first brush with the fashion world when he attended a fashion show at a local hotel; Christian Dior was presenting his “New Look.” When Karl was 20 years old, he entered an International Woolmark Prize competition and won first place in the coat category. This opened a door for him to enter the fashion world, and he was hired by Pierre Balmain shortly after. From Balmain, more doors opened -- such as being hired by Chloé. When designing his first collection for them, he emphasized the “Total Look”: a style where the clothing and accessories go together. In 1965, another
door opened in the fashion industry, this time in Rome where he was hired by Fendi. In 1977, when Fendi released their fur and ready-to-wear lines, he became artistic director. Seven years later, he created his own eponymous label. But it is, perhaps, his work with Chanel for which Lagerfeld is most well known.
“He’s a genius, that’s the special thing about Karl, he’s a genius. He has ideas but they are limitless. He surprises us season on season, collection on collection – he is inexhaustible. Karl is someone who is really into the detail; there are things that are very precise on his sketches. That’s Karl. He sees everything, Though enormously popular today, Chanel was a dying fashion house in the early 1980’s when Lagerfeld everything!” joined. Under his leadership as creative director, Chanel popularized the double interlocking “C” logo Looking at his runway shows, you can see his now considered so synonymous with the brand and inspiring creativity in how is able to take the increased their company’s global profile. Since taking most mundane things - beaches, icebergs, over, Karl has continued the work and inspiration began supermarkets, stables, empty streets, airports, by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in the 1920s. In a CNN forests, and even space exploration - and interview on Karl Lagerfeld’s work, Cécile Ouvrard, make them truly sublime. But it isn’t just on the runway where this can be seen. premier of the Chanel Atelier, stated:
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In 1987, when a press kit for Chanel wasn’t up to par with his standards, Karl took on the task of doing all the photography to ensure he got exactly what he envisioned. He enjoyed the task, and went on to do photography for the editorials, catalogs, and ad work himself. In the documentary “Lagerfeld Confidential” (2007), he is recorded as saying that if he wasn’t in fashion, he would have been in advertising. His photographs can be seen in books, magazines, and exhibits around the world – including the gallery where he went in his youth and dreamt of Paris.
with technology, most things are now shown on television or on the internet. He applied this “forward thinking” to his entire career.
However, Karl Lagerfeld was not one to be caught up in nostalgia, choosing to look forward. He embraced technology to forward the fashion industry. In the documentary “Pure! Brutal! Glamour!”, he said “We don’t want to make things like we did in the past. We must continue, evolve, and keep going forward.” He also said that while fashion devotee’s attend shows,
Karl Lagerfeld passed away in February 2019, leaving behind a fashion legacy that will inspire people all over the world for lifetimes to come. Good night Karl. Rest well.
Not just resting on his success in the fashion world, he made his mark in the hotel industry, designed fabrics, became a writer and filmmaker, and in later years, a caricaturist. With such a busy life, one can’t help but wonder when he had time to sleep. When asked about that, he laughed and said, “I’ll sleep in a few years time”.
MODELS: AVA JEAN WESTLAND AVERIL ISSY FLATELY JAMEE SANDALWOOD QUEENBRAT BRACKEN SAHRA FRESCHI YHISHARA CERISE PHOTOGRAPHERS: AZAAK SAHARA BRONXIE JAMEE SANDALWOOD SHANTAL GRAVOIS