Montag, 23. April 2012

Podium discussion



Playing Politics. Aspects of Politics in Computer Games
conceived by the ARE /Artistic Research Encounters/
in cooperation with
the Computerspiele Museum Berlin and the Autonomous University / Berlin Biennale 7 
Date: May 3, Thu. 8 pm
http://occupybb7.org/node/36

at KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Kunst-Werke Berlin e. V.
Auguststraße 69
D-10117 Berlin

In ancient Greece during the Olympic games politics was set aside, wars interrupted, conflicts and animosities forgotten in favour of peace and the all-round festivities surrounding the Olympiad. Games in antiquity might have set other values and priorities, whether or not Olympic games can be compared to virtual computer games that emerged centuries afterwards is an issue to be researched into. The podium discussion “Playing Politics. Aspects of Politics in Computer Games”conceived by the ARE in cooperation with the Computerspiele Museum Berlin and the Autonomous University Berlin Biennale 7 will raises the issue of political influence in computer games. Computer games: pure entertainment or a subtle means of manipulation of the player's mind via visual imagery, non-verbal communication, hidden gaming subtexts? Homo Ludens playing politics or politics playing subtle games with the unsuspecting gamers? It might turn out one should think twice before pressing the start button of the next round:

Panelists: Andreas Lange, Director of the Computerspiele Museum Berlin; Niklas Schrape, author of the “Elemente der Rhetorik in Peacemaker”, Mark Butler, Michael Liebe, Susanne Eichner

  1. What are the essential differences between games in general and computer games?
  2. How is politics involved in the structure, the visual images and the evolution process of computer games?
  3. Have there been political/ideological elements in the early computer games? (e.g. Star Wars)
  4. Have computer games become more politically/ideologically dominated with time, in the course of the cold war, after the fall of the iron curtain?
5. Taking into consideration the commercialisation of all spheres of entertaining industry, game industry inclusive, isn't financial policy the only one that influences the major framework and structure of the computer games?
  1. To what extent is the financial aspect linked to the political and how are these reflected in the major tendencies of development and design of computer games?
7. What are the mechanisms of transmitting political messages via computer games? 


concept by Lily Fürstenow and Peggy Sylopp / ARE
livestream: http://occupybb7.org/livestreams 
Interview with Lily Fürstenow and Peggy Sylopp at Radio99Prozent



Recording of the panel:
Great we got it from Radio99Prozent, thanx a lot!



8 Kommentare:

Anonym hat gesagt…

So as I see there have been no remarks, additions or objections to the suggested themes and questions for the panel discussion. Glad we all agree on that, of course you are still free to contribute, the rest will be discussed at the actual panel, of course.

There's however one issue: the location. And since it all deals with computer games and politics - location is of strategic importance: a playground, an arena: the theatre of war, the stage for political shows...

There has been a suggestion to organize the panel at the Computer Spiele Museum Berlin. I have been considering that: the pro- and contras
Just a couple of questions:
1. Does Computerspiele Museum join the Berlin Biennale Occupy movement by this proposal? Does this move suggest Occupy the Museum?
2. To what extent can Occupy be related to computer games, if at all?
3. Otherwise one could bring as much as possible of the Museum to the Biennale Autonomous University.

Lily /ARE

Peggy Sylopp / ARE hat gesagt…

The relation between games and politics seems not very obvious, but there are lot intersections. Computer games simulate aspects of political reality. For example war and military power as one method of politics to "solve" problems or keep power. Simulation of social and political reality is also a typical field of computer games like stratecigal games like "The settlers". Game theory is still applied in political science, dispite in the meanwhile its known that most decisions are not made on rational reasons. More and more communication is done iin the internet playground. The border between reality and virtuality, application and simulation blurres. Reality gets gamificated. At the latest since Web 2.0 the political aspects of computer games is present in so many aspects of our life, that is hard to keep it out, especially for movements like occupy.

Anonym hat gesagt…

Tomorrow, Friday 27, April, the ARE is invited to speak on the Biennale Radio on the main issues of the Playing Politics Panel scheduled on May 3, 2012. The interview will take place at the Biennale main Location KW 69, Auguststr. 69, so in case any of the panelists would like to contribute, you are welcome, will be looking forward to fearing from you.

Peggy and Lily

Anonym hat gesagt…

That's interesting I mean the terms alone, strategical games, playground, theatre of war, in fact the tactics of war are very similar to the tactics of game. Major battles used to be simulated like games with toy tanks, toy troops and weapons before they actually took place including the occupation strategies of the Nazis. It would be good to trace the development anyway.

Lily

Anonym hat gesagt…

Where will the podium discussion take place? Or am I just too blind to see?

thx for help

Anonym hat gesagt…

No it's just we're too stupid to indicate, it will be at the KW Institute for Contemporary Arts, Auguststrasse 69, 10117, Berlin, ground floor, main entrance.

You're welcome,

Lily

Peggy / ARE hat gesagt…

btw: trace goes back to ancient times, in which war simulation games were already applied.

Peggy / ARE hat gesagt…

Thanks for the hint, I added it