No subject
Thu Jan 17 09:40:16 EST 2013
hin various FPS and online communities, ultimately culminating in "dea=
d-in-iraq", 2006-2011, <a href=3D"http://www.delappe.net/project/dead-=
in-iraq/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.delappe.net/project/dead-in-iraq/</a=
>.<br>
<br>
I mention all this past history as it was truly through my work in computer=
games that I became politicized as an artist. =A0I should likely save more=
details here for future posts this week but would like to note that I agre=
e with Soraya in that I am not particularly interested in whether computer =
games are accepted as an art form. =A0I am as well much more interested in =
how computer games function as culture and how as an artist I might bring t=
o the surface aspects of these ludic arenas that might shed light or questi=
on aspects of our larger cultural constructs. =A0I would also posit that I =
make art to change the world. Games are arguably changing our world - for b=
etter or worse - I hope my actions and use of games as locations and iconog=
raphy might in some small way contribute to positive change.<br>
<br>
What I would like to address as the week goes on are a number of aspects of=
how to perhaps think about and critically engage computer games from an ar=
tistic/activist/interventionist's perspective. =A0I am as well interest=
ed in discussing some of my efforts towards engaging in new curriculum surr=
ounding "serious games" and just where to go from here (I am pres=
ently evolving my "Digital Media" program into a new area of emph=
asis "Art, Technology and Social Practice" where I imagine fittin=
g computer gaming into the mix). =A0I am very interested to hear others per=
spectives on such issues as well.<br>
<br>
In answer to Claudia's questions regarding the "Returning Fire&quo=
t; documentary - yes, I look to focus attention on the world of gaming and =
the larger geopolitical consequences of games - in this instance the Americ=
a's Army recruiting game. =A0When the army recruiter came to my house i=
n 1981, he may have very easily convinced me as an 18 year old to sign up f=
or the military. =A0He discouraged me to do so. =A0My actions within the Am=
erica's Army game were intended as a similar gesture, albeit to unknown=
fellow gamers. =A0I hoped that through naming actual military casualties i=
n a shooter game designed to entice young people to join the military I mig=
ht have a similar effect in providing a type of conscientious objection - a=
moment of reality to perhaps temporarily pierce the "magic circle&quo=
t; of simulated warfare. =A0There are many other reasons for my actions but=
this is the basis of my intent.<br>
<br>
I was fortunate to work with Steve Lambert, the Yes Men and dozens of other=
activists/artists/writers on the Fake NYtimes Project in 2008-2009, <a hre=
f=3D"http://www.delappe.net/projects/fake-new-york-times/" target=3D"_blank=
">http://www.delappe.net/projects/fake-new-york-times/</a>. =A0I met Steve =
at Eyebeam in 2008 where he was a Fellow and I was a Commissioned Resident.=
=A0I do see much of my work very tied to conceptual art in that ultimately=
it is the idea of intervening in computer gaming spaces that is central to=
much of the work. =A0In 2003 the New York Times reported on my piece "=
;Quake/Friends", <a href=3D"http://www.delappe.net/game-art/quakefrien=
ds/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.delappe.net/game-art/quakefriends/</a> a =
performance by an ensemble group of performers within a Quake server of an =
entire episode of the TV show "Friends". =A0 I was quite honestly=
as thrilled by the very notion that potentially millions of NYtimes reader=
s simply knew of the idea of the work as I was by actually performing the p=
iece to the handful of intrepid souls who actually showed up for the perfor=
mance at the Sheppard Gallery at the University of Nevada, R<br>
=A0eno. =A0The story resulted in threatened legal action by Warner Brothers=
for what they perceived to be copyright violations, but that perhaps is fo=
r another time. =A0I could go further here connecting the work to conceptua=
l art practice but I think I have rambled on enough for today!<br>
<br>
Anyway, I will stop now and write some further thoughts tomorrow.<br>
<br>
Looking forward to the discussion!<br>
<br>
Joseph DeLappe<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.delappe.net" target=3D"_blank">http://www.delappe.net=
</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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