@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Starting with rituals, we claim that they can be understood as instruments in th
Similarly, videogames create worlds. Often, those worlds mirror our own, reproducing certain ideals and values as norms through their narrative, game play, design. This trimester we explored world-building characteristics found both in rituals and videogames. We critically considered those worlds, identifying the key points and elements through which specific videogames and rituals circulate political, cultural and social values. While this world-building might be interpreted from an angle of implicit and explicit bias rooted in hegemonic values, we investigated the generative, creative possibilities of such characteristics.
> *"The main task of mass culture is to create, reproduce, and manage particular kinds of subjects --- workers, consumers, individuals, citizens --- required for current conditions. To perpetuate their own existence, mass media must succeed at representing the violent coercion of capitalist systems as natural laws: Of course you have to pay rent to live inside; of course you have to buy food to eat; of course you have to work if you want to survive. The production of a fungible, disposable and migratory working class requires the alienation and atomization of communities into individuals, which involves destroying the village, kinship structures, indigeneity, and many other previous forms of meaning-producing structures, leaving a gap which ideology must fill. While the fundamental structures of domination --- racism, patriarchy, heterosexuality, etc. --- form the bedrock of this ideological apparatus, the complexity of the always expanding and changing capitalist system requires an equally flexible set of subsidiary tools capable of rapidly adjusting ideology en masse. In general, media emerge not to meet the demands or desires of individual users but to accommodate what the predominant mode of production requires." (Osterweil,2018)*
> *"The main task of mass culture is to create, reproduce, and manage particular kinds of subjects — workers, consumers, individuals, citizens — required for current conditions. To perpetuate their own existence, mass media must succeed at representing the violent coercion of capitalist systems as natural laws: Of course you have to pay rent to live inside; of course you have to buy food to eat; of course you have to work if you want to survive. The production of a fungible, disposable and migratory working class requires the alienation and atomization of communities into individuals, which involves destroying the village, kinship structures, indigeneity, and many other previous forms of meaning-producing structures, leaving a gap which ideology must fill. While the fundamental structures of domination — racism, patriarchy, heterosexuality, etc. — form the bedrock of this ideological apparatus, the complexity of the always expanding and changing capitalist system requires an equally flexible set of subsidiary tools capable of rapidly adjusting ideology en masse. In general, media emerge not to meet the demands or desires of individual users but to accommodate what the predominant mode of production requires." (Osterweil,2018)*
Our intention was to look into rituals and their overlap with video games as a way to explore "forbidden" or otherwise lost knowledge erased by oppressive systems (e.g. witch hunts). Understanding games and rituals as gateways to alternative ways of relating to Nature, each other and (re)production of life, labour, etc, we played together by writing fan fiction and spells, developing rituals, analysing and creating games together.
@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Our intention was to look into rituals and their overlap with video games as a w
Meanwhile, we went through the witch as a magical practicioner, as a resisting body, a border figure. *"Federici presents the witch "as the embodiment of a world of female subjects that capitalism had to destroy: the heretic, the healer, the disobedient wife, the woman who dared to live alone, the obeha woman who poisoned the master's food and inspired the slaves to revolt." Behind the witch hunt, she uncovers a joint effort by the Church and the state to establish mechanisms of gendered control of bodies that immanently resisted newly instituted regimes of productive and reproductive work." (Timofeeva, 2019)*
*"Sorcerers have always held the anomalous position, at the edge of the fields or woods. They haunt the fringes. They are at the borderline of the village, or between villages. But sorcerers not only exist at the border: as anomalous beings, they are the border itself. In other words, the borderline passes through their bodies." (Deleuze, Guattari,1980)*
> *"Sorcerers have always held the anomalous position, at the edge of the fields or woods. They haunt the fringes. They are at the borderline of the village, or between villages. But sorcerers not only exist at the border: as anomalous beings, they are the border itself. In other words, the borderline passes through their bodies." (Deleuze, Guattari,1980)*
How does the understanding of the hunting of the witches that happened a few centuries ago in relation to the figure of the witch as marginal, rebellious entity shed light on the contemporary witch-hunting? How does this knowledge provide us with tools of empowerment, emancipation and resistance, and make us reimagine counter-hegemonic practices of collective care and healing?
The Wheel of Fortune (not to be mistaken with the tarot card) is a tool for self-inquiry that you, dear reader, can engage in a daily, weekly or any frequency that suits you best. Beware, the game can be played individually or in small groups.
The Wheel of Fortune (not to be mistaken with the tarot card) is a tool for self-inquiry that you, dear reader, can engage in daily, weekly or at any frequency that suits you best. Beware: the game can be played individually or in small groups.
The main components of the game are a virtual spinning wheel, accessible viathislink here https://issue.xpub.nl/20/wheel, a deck of 20 photo slides, a notebook, and a pen(cil) to store the potential insights you might find for yourself.
The main components of the game are a virtual spinning wheel, accessible at issue.xpub.nl/20/wheel, a deck of 20 photo slides, a notebook, and a pen(cil) to store the potential insights you might find for yourself.
To start the exercise, you need to visit the website on their devices and spin the virtual wheel. The Wheel of Fortune spins for quite some time, and then it gives you a random question. Take these questions as an invitation to an explorative conversation with yourself. The list of 404 questions is carefully collected, modified (where needed) and presented to you through a random web generator. Psychotherapists, philosophers, writers, and students from XPUB 2023 are among the authors of this long list of sentences ending with "?".
To start the exercise, you need to visit the website and spin the virtual wheel. The Wheel of Fortune spins for quite some time, and then it gives you a random question. Take these questions as an invitation to have an explorative conversation with yourself. The list of 404 questions is carefully collected, modified (where needed) and presented to you through a random web generator. Psychotherapists, philosophers, writers, and students from XPUB 2023 are among the authors of this long list of sentences ending with "?".
Another collection that can help you delve deeper into your inner world is a deck of photo slides. Hopefully, these captured memories of other people, paired with a random question on the screen, would evoke new emotions or prompt you to imagine possible futures.
The use of collective resources in this piece highlights the power of collaboration in creating works that encourage people to engage in self-reflection and introspection, making it a valuable addition to any art publication that explores the human experience.
The use of collective resources in this piece highlights the power of collaboration in creating works that encourage people to engage in self-reflection and introspection. As such, it may contribute to any art publication exploring the human experience.
Courtesy to: Casey Horner (https://unsplash.com/@mischievous_penguins)
Reference list:
"The Myth of Normal. Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture', by Dr Gabor Maté
Nadia Piet and Sandra Reeb-Gruber, https://nadiapiet.com/know-thyself/
Console: "Welcome, my dear! This exercise is all about healing, about reconnecting with what is essential and authentic within yourself. By understanding the true nature of our suffering, we can evoke compassion for ourselves as we move through uncomfortable feelings on the path to healing and peace.
"Welcome, my dear! This exercise is all about healing, about reconnecting with what is essential and authentic within yourself. By understanding the true nature of our suffering, we can evoke compassion for ourselves as we move through uncomfortable feelings on the path to healing and peace.
Prerequisites:
Before you begin, there are a few things you will need. Firstly, you must have a strong intention to commit to this exercise for some time. Secondly, find a quiet room free of distractions, and finally, get a notebook and pen. Handwriting will engage your mind more actively and profoundly, help you connect with yourself, and enable the tracing of your progress over time.
I will be guiding you through a series of carefully selected questions written by different authors, some are well-known, and others will remain unknown. To begin the exercise, spin the Wheel of Fortune located at https://issue.xpub.nl/20/wheel. After a few seconds, a question will appear on the screen. Then, take a photo slide from the deck and try to think of an answer to that question by looking at it and the tiny film simultaneously.
I will be guiding you through a series of carefully selected questions written by different authors, some are well-known, and others will remain unknown. To begin the exercise, spin the Wheel of Fortune located at issue.xpub.nl/20/wheel After a few seconds, a question will appear on the screen. Then, take a photo slide from the deck and hold it to the screen. Think about that question by looking at it and the tiny film together like friends. If you feel like writing your thoughts, you can use the tiny notepad made just for you.
These photo slides are there to help you dive deeper into your inner world. Use them to explore moments in your life that you may not have fully processed or understood. As you reflect on these images and answer the questions, you may gain new insights and perspectives about yourself and your life.
Stephen Kerr
1 year ago