Prompt Number Four
BLOG PROMPT FOUR: Cultural Critique
"Four Co2untries" from Gas Zappers (2006) by Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung
PLEASE ANSWER BY POSTING COMMENTS.
NOTE: New York artist Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung, born in Hong Kong, is a provocateur. His work is intensely politically charged, harshly critiquing politicians, celebrities, popular culture and media, using garish - often graphic - imagery that is intended to elicit a strong reaction.
Play a round or two of "Four Co2untries". Why do you think the artist formatted this cultural critique as a game?
Go directly to the game here: http://www.gaszappers.com/play/four-co2untries/
Or begin with an overview of the Gas Zappers project: http://www.tinkin.com/portfolio-item/gas-zappers/
I played the A.N.W.R. in the "Four Co2untries" game by Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung. It was interesting, because at first it made me watch a Vimeo video that consisted of a polar bear, naked animated humans, President Bush's floating head and much more. The video definitely makes the audience think critically about his art, climate change and the way we understand things. I say it is unique because his story is told from a video game format. The fact that he choose a poplar bear which many humans find cute and loveable means he was more than likely trying to pull at our emotions. I like his gaming initiative (the idea behind the game)-very out-of-the-box creativity!
ReplyDeleteThe "Four Co2untries" game itself was fun and a nontraditional learning experience . It began with giving directions. In other words, being in control of the outcome was a fun way to learn that we are in control of how our environment is today. We are the cause of all the environmental repercussions. Instead of learning this through at textbook or lecture, we are learning it through a gaming platform. It sure was politically charged and different. The objective was to use the solar panel to defend the earth and block greenhouse gas from the top four CO2 emissions countries– China, United States, Russia and India. Also, at the beginning there are environmental facts that gamers can read while waiting for the game to load. It was faced-paced and easy to get distracted in. Although I like the idea behind the game, I am not sure if I like actually playing the game. I may be saying that because I am not an avid gamer though.
I played the "Four Co2untries" game by Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung in the Gas Zappers project.****
ReplyDeleteIn modern times, a game seems to be more persuasive than a speech because it has visual queues that are enjoyable. Envisioning the dangers of greenhouse gasses rather than hearing a speech about them is easier to understand why this train of events need to be reversed. Games are normally supposed to be all fun, but this game is not a joke. I enjoyed the tragic humor of a game about a world disaster.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the game, you are told that each leading CO2 emitter is represented by a visual image. The goal of the game is to introduce these civilizations to more environmentally friendly methods of doing things so that these countries stop emitting as much CO2, and the effects of global warming slow down.
It would not be classified as a good game by any means, but it gets it point across. This game highlights the backwardness of what we should believe, that the people are more willing to listen to a game rather than the politicians causing global warming in the first place.
I played the Four Co2Untries game by Kenneth Tin-kin and it was interesting to say the least. The game is almost impossible to beat due to the "gases" speed and the more gasses you miss the more smoke and fog block your view of the screen. Kenneth Tin-Kin did a good job of showing through his game the real issues that greenhouse gasses are causing the world and he shows that if major countries such as the US and China don't do something to decrease their green house gas emissions the world will "go down in flames". He also shows by using the polar bear that many animal species are already being affected by greenhouse gases and that if we continue to let it happen these animals will cease to exist. All in all this game does a good job of showing what major counties are doing to the worlds ecosystem.
ReplyDeleteI think Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung formatted this critique as a game because people are more likely to play a game than read something. It's interactive and informative. I think it reaches more people because its fun and people are willing to play. Once you play the game then you start to try to figure out what the imagery means. Why is there a polar bear, 4 countries, lightbulbs, and gas? Players will put the pieces together and figure out that this is a statement about climate change. Players learn that Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs and solar panels are a way to be more eco-friendly. In this process, the artist is making a statement and educating about what people can do to help.
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ReplyDeleteI think Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung formatted his cultural critique as a game due the popularity of the video game industry. The video game industry creates more revenue than the film industry. From a very young age we begin to play video games and it quickly becomes a norm. I think Tin-Kin Hung wanted to speak up about a serious topic like climate change, but he wanted to find the best way to connect with his audience and still be heard. Video games are suppose to be fun, so incorporating a serious topic and kind of making it a lighter subject helps bring in more awareness to the issue. I think the game was easy to understand and play, it also included real stats at the bottom to further someones knowledge on climate change. The game is a call to action and also a cry for help. If we don’t take drastic steps now to help the environment then there will be irreversible consequences. A new study came out stating that we only have twelve years before there is no going back. Hopefully someone will play this game and make small changes to better the earth!
I think Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung made the critique in the form of a game for a couple reasons. One, video games are popular. Almost everyone has and is willing to play video games. In this form, more people are going to be willing to interact with it. This leads into my next reason: people can directly interact with it. Play the game is more entertaining and will hold the audiences attention more than a video or a picture. Another reason I think he did it in the form of a video game is because he can show how we are losing this battle. The game gets harder and harder to play as time goes on. I think this is commentating the idea that if we continue as we are now, we are basically fighting a losing battle. At this rate, things will negatively progress faster than we can work to slow things down.
ReplyDeleteI started by playing a game of "Four Co2untries" game. Not knowing what to expect, until the loading screen titled 'Gas Zappers'. Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung theme is crucial to its uniqueness. The game focuses on the greenhouse effect. It shows how the carbon footprint produced from major countries alone are really hurting the world's health. He is raising awareness to a serious subject through a game. After quickly reading the rules, i found my self having fun fighting off the pollution as a polar bear. I love how he used symbolism in his piece. He had the countries flags in the background with their nation's icon attacking a helpless polar bear. Overall the piece promotes involvement and shows it can be fun and easy. People often avoid addressing serious topics because it is seen as too much work. There are ways to contribute in exciting ways, similar to how Kenneth Tin-Kin Hung made raising awareness fun.
ReplyDeleteI think in this day and age video games are a big market for today's youth. I feel the artist may have decided to format this piece as a game because games can be very persuasive. There was a time where people claimed that violent games were leading to the increase in violent actions such as shootings. I also think that a game format allows people to be physically involved with the art as well as attract the interest of a broader audience. A video game could also be a metaphor for how hard it is to change as the game gets harder and harder as you continue to play. It could also be a message that alludes to the idea that if we continue at the rate we are going with our carbon footprint things will continue to get harder and harder at a faster rate.
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ReplyDeleteI think the artist formatted this into a game because it puts you in the perspective of the polar bear as it fights for survival against the human race. Video games are great at immersing the audience in the the protagonist's life and not just their story as a movie would. Many games these days have a story to them, but rather than a story, "Four CO2untries" has a message that accompanies the immersive experience. Going off of that, using the polar bear as the avatar is an attempt to put the audience in the shoes of the natural world struggling to survive against the humanity's constant contribution to worsening global warming.
I think the artist formatted the critique into a game so that it included the audience into the work. We all are responsible for the CO2 emissions that we make and it is up to us to fix what we have done to the planet.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very different and interesting that he created his work into a game. I agree about video games being very popular in todays world. I think by making his work into a game draws more people in and makes people look deeper into the matter.
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