I created a video and sound remix with the intent of exploring both the physical and psychological aspects of a virtual gaming environment. I am not a gamer, but I have three sons that love them. One of their favorite games is Minecraft and at the ages of twelve, nine, and seven, they are well on their way to creating intricately detailed virtual worlds of their own.
These games are visually engaging and aesthetically appealing, but there is also an element of detachment and void within them. The polarity here is what I am most interested in. These worlds of isolation often built with the creative mind of a stagnant shell.
The project took a more personal turn for me when one of my own faced a common yet tragic occurrence. My son Denali had been dealing with bullying at school and this escalated last week when a couple of kids beat him up. I did not know how bad things were for him but the failing grades and numerous sick days started to make a lot more sense. So herein lies this young brilliant mind full of innovation and wonder, hiding away out of fear, shame, and sadness.
The video and song had been selected prior to these events but my experience with them and overall interpretation changed greatly. I found myself exploring his virtual world in search of clues about the real one. I looked closer and noticed the time and effort he put into creating his world and the careful placement of things he valued most within it. I saw both his joy and his depression.
It was not my objective to portray these games in a negative light, but rather to shed some on one aspect of it from my own observations and experience.
In The Medium is the Message, Marshall Mcluhan stated, “Nothing can be further from the spirit of the new technology than “a place for everything and everything in its place.” You can’t go home again.” This stuck with me and although I have yet to resolve it within the context of my project, I understand its significance in that all gains have loss.
My video: Minecrafting Solitude