An Iraqi video artist's "Virtual Jihadi" exhibit is stirring controversy at the Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute campus in Troy, New York.
The artist, Wafaa Bilal, a faculty member at the Art Institute of Chicago, modded an Al Qaeda propaganda video game, Night of Bush Capturing, in order to craft a message about his views on the inhumanity of the ongoing war. From the RPI website:
Bilal casts himself as a suicide-bomber in the game (left). After learning of the real-life death of his brother in the war, he is recruited by Al Qaeda to join the hunt for Bush.
This work is meant to bring attention to the vulnerability of Iraqi civilians to the travesties of the current war and racist generalizations and stereotypes as exhibited in games such as Quest for Saddam; along with vulnerability to recruitment by violent groups like Al Qaeda because of the U.S.’s failed strategy in securing Iraq.
The work also aims to shed light on groups that traffic in crass and hateful stereotypes of Arab culture with games like Quest for Saddam and other media.
But RPI's College Republicans have expressed outrage over Bilal's appearance, terming the RPI Arts Department, which is sponsoring the event, "a terrorist safehaven:"
Our tuition dollars are hard at work in the RPI arts department which is proudly hosting a video game debut that simultaneously embraces Islamic terrorism and advocates the killing of the American President...
This is something RPI should be ashamed to have its name even mentioned with, let alone be sponsoring. Hopefully, the folks in the arts department will get enough phone calls from outraged alumni and come to their senses.
The College Republicans also express concern that Bilal's appearance is part of a program funded by a New York State grant.
Via: Albany Times-Union
GP: A number of GamePolitics readers attend RPI. We'd love to have them weigh in via comments...
UPDATE: Geeks Are Sexy has a lengthy interview with Bilal, who said:
I don’t know if it crosses a moral line, because it’s still virtual, right? So, if games like “Call of Duty” or other games are fine, why should this be any different?
...I think it’s a strategy of engagement. I don’t see it as crossing the line at all - but rather calling attention to something really disturbing, this game and the Web site, and the rhetoric as well...
We’re going to see more and more of games as a tool to capitalize on political issues, and as people, and the medium, become more sophisticated, we’re going to see more and more of this.
Comments
Either we're being trolled here, or Jerry is the second most hatefilled person I've seen on this site.
You were born in Kuwait and grew up in US and yet you are a citizen of a nation which has never existed and is related to neither???(it should but thats a different issue)
How exactly does that work???
I agree with pretty much everything that you say though...
As for the dirty looks and a “terrorist” tripe after 9/11... I was in New York on 9/11 and noticed fireworks being shot out of neighborhoods with population being mostly of a certain religion and celebration mobs walking down the streets only to be broken up by fire departments hosing them...(if you didn't live in or near NY city then info of these things happening was supressed by most media outlets and government...)
>so I am sorry that you got dirty looks, but they were a natural human response to the events...
Just be glad that in this country other 'natural human responses' are against the law and are not encouraged by the government... The country I was born in, had a different view on such things...
Where did he mention citizenship? Im guessing his parents or his family were from the Palestine region, the moved to Kuwait. He is simply stating his heritage.
@Saladin
God, jerry gives so many folks a bad name.
"Show me where Jesus said to kill everyone. Show me where Jesus led 27 invasions. Show me where Jesus killed 1 million people."
>Please don't start comparing how nice religions are, because Christianity's history reads like the bloodiest and most gruesome horror story ever created... There is nothing among works of fiction that even comes close...
@Jerry
"THESE PEOPLE ATTACK THE MOST FREE COUNTRY ON EARTH."
The US is not the most free country on earth... The most free country on earth is one without laws and is any nation in a state of anarchy... In fact by that definition, you might have been talking about Iraq...
Now certainly in this nation people(citizens) have a lot more rights then in most if not all other nations...
By the way I do understand what you mean, but I am not certain the US is the most free country on earth even by the definition that you are using...
@Jerry
"THESE PEOPLE ATTACK THE MOST FREE COUNTRY ON EARTH. How are they freedom fighters?"
Oh and please remember that our government regarded Osama as a freedom fighter just a few decades ago, you know, when they trained him... Unfortunately when they win, freedom fighters tend to turn into dictators or terrorists...
The way I see it is this, once you start targeting civilians you are no longer a freedom fighter... You are a murderous terrorist. The only legal targets are military ones. If you place military targets in a place where civilians are then you are also a terrorist...
Just because they attacked US doesn't make them terrorists, but because they attacked civilian targets when they attacked us, they are terrorists.
I AM ASSUMING THAT WHEN YOU SAY 'THESE PEOPLE' YOU MEAN THE TERRORISTS which would be fine.
!IF! HOWEVER BY 'THESE PEOPLE' YOU MEAN -MUSLIMS- THEN PLEASE TELL ME SO I COULD TELL YOU TO GO BACK TO THE CABIN IN THE WOODS YOU CRAWLED OUT OF... AND ASK YOU IF YOU ARE LATE TO A CLAN MEETING...
@Saladin
"C’mon Jerry. You already KNOW what this country was built on. You ALREADY know who it was taken from in order to be built. Who are you kidding here?"
Actually from my understanding this country wasn't 'taken' from anyone. The natives had no concept of ownership and thus did not own the land. Since the land didn't belong to anyone the settlers claimed it...
And if you are refering to the horrible way that the native americans were treated, well they were actually treated much better than the way that Europeans treated each other in those days...(they massacred each other left and right...why do you think so many wanted to leave???)
Though this was probably due to the fact that most actually died from disease...
It was after the initial settling and claiming that the crimes against the native Americans where commited...
But it certainly wasn't taken from anyone since there was no nation here and the country wasn't built on that either...
The "original" game itself is available for download by following the links through the Night of Bush Capturing link above but the mod in question isn't.
Are Wookies better than Klingons?
NO! AND I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU SAY OTHERWISE!
The majority opinion that I've heard over the years is that the stories in the bible were supposed to be metaphors, not instructions. Its not unreasonable to assume that the same is true for all allegedly holy books, with the obvious exception of scientology which is simply outright bullshit. If there's going to be a war against any religion it should be that freakshow!
If the stories resonate with your internal moral code then fine, be that way and good luck to you. The system of Virtues from Ultima IV & onwards strikes me as the most balanced and rational ethical code I've ever encountered. Hmm, does that make richard garriott my god?
As with all things, tyranny of the mind only happens when you fail to convince somone of your opinion through either exampe or reasoned debate & start trying to force it. The idea of even arguing over which giant magic pixie has the prettiest wings or even worse killing people over it is a shining example of human passions overruling intelligence and to be perfectly honest, I think thats the single biggest thing holding the species back.
Besides, anyone who's finished Assassin's Creed knows that all religion is false, it was just mass manipulation of the mind caused by the Piece Of Eden!
I am simply curious why Saladin chose not to identify himself as either an American or a Kuwaiti...
Since he was raised in one and was born in the other...
It sort of concerns a few other statements, but you are right he didn't say anything about citizenship...
I used the word citizenship, because I don't know of a better word for something along the lines of "being part of or belonging to some nation or region..."
Well, Lord British did say he'll be "ascending" to beyond the heavens this October '08, didn't he?
Also - where the hell do you get off telling someone else they need Jesus? It's this type of attitude that sullies people's opinions on Christians and Christianity - grow up, man! How would you feel if Saladin told you you needed Allah?! I bet you wouldn't be best pleased, you great big dirty hypocrite!
Too angry ... must stop now, before I turn green and need to smash stuff.
The Muslims do have Jesus. But they also had Muhammed too.
And if you think this game is a useless bit of trype, you're wrong. Elements of this game can be used in the war against terror. You just have to know how to listen.
For instance, if our goal is to end terrorism and extremism, we need to look at the causes. The idea of "Just blow them up" doesn't work, even if you commit genocide. The best way to fight an enemy is to understand it. This game offers insight to some of the reasons why normals mebers of islamic society join extremists. If those issues were removed, we remove the terrorist recruitment base.
That's why the first amendment is so important. It helps us to gain a better understanding of the situation so we don't keep repeating the same failed policies.
One thing that isn't mentioned in this story is that the game that this is modded from was called Quest for Sadam.
http://www.gameology.org/blog/the_night_of_bush_capturing
He's basically inverted the protagonist and antagonist roles. I think that this game is relevant as art, as it causes one to examine their position on free/political speech. Any criticism you can mount against this game, should also be applied equally toward Quest for Sadam. And extended to other examples of this in media.
A parralel can be drawn to the 24 contraversy from last year... when there was outcry from the Arab American community about 24 showing Arabs only in a terrorist point of view.
So the question that is raised by this piece of artwork, to me is... "Why is it ok to show americans killing arabs in video games, tv, film, etc... but not ok for the reverse?"
America's Army
And a question:
Why do you think the US army made this game ?
Ok, two questions:
Think about how middle-eastern people are desribed in US (or western) games?
I go to RPI and I'm glad someone spoke up about the game. The guy has the right to say whatever he wants, but that doesn't mean the school has to provide the podium for him. The first amendment protects speech from being regulated by Congress, not private organizations. That means that if we, the students, are upset about our money getting spend on something like this, we have every right to say "don't fund it".
What point is the guy trying to make, anyways?
The issue at hand is not what he is doing but that he can do it.
If people have issues with it, fine make your opinion known but trying to suppress his voice is simply not acceptable.
And yes, we have packed West Hall Auditorium by planning an event RPI students were actually interested in, because they were involved in the decision-making process. Not to date myself or anything, but when the MythBusters came to speak at RPI, the free tickets to get into this event were depleted within a day or two, and the auditorium was packed. That says A LOT about the popularity of the event if you know anything about RPI students.
I wouldn't even call this game Bilal is unveiling on my campus at this very moment "art." I am an artist, myself, and the fact that he copied the game from a terrorist organization, which copied it from an 18-year-old Computer Science major in the USA, does not constitute art in my book. This just tells me that it was a convenient platform for Bilal not to just generate controversy, but to further a personal agenda. Then again, I question some of the other "art" Bilal has done, like the paintball project (google it if you don't know what I'm talking about). He can't sleep at night--or ever--without taking medication first. That's both sad and sick. It sounds like Bilal might have a troubled existence he should address, especially if he's, albeit indirectly, causing himself physical harm, then masking this as a form of art (he calls it "video art").
Bottom-line from an RPI student's perspective: I don't want my tuition money--and I pay a lot--going toward events like this, if only because there was a severe lack of student input involved with the selection of this event.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw5__ePWvoU
or blowing up a washing machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPxPA2sAf_0
well there went my money...
As for people deciding what is art and what isnt, Well all i got say is
This quote is great because it talks about the communicative nature of art. What makes a good movie? a good theater? Is it because communicates dominate values, beliefs and ideology? Or is it a great work of art because represents the follies and foibles of human life? Or is it a great work of art because it uses new techniques to portray the world we live in? Or is it a great work of art because we dont understand it?
I like this one since well if Anyone has studied modern art many art forms afterwards, well they will get it. The works of Marcel Duchamp, Dada, Marc Chagall, Jackson Pollack, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and interpretive dance. unfortunately I cant remember any composers or theatrical plays off the top of my head.
Hmm I think that can be used to describe all art.
and well as for art and politics well
http://www.internettime.com/jayblog/archives/001365.html
http://www.puppstheories.com/forum/images/unclesam.jpg
http://www.teacheroz.com/images/rosie2.gif
And wait what we are at war? I thought it was over. I remember seeing this 5 years ago. http://patf.net/blogs/media/patf/mission_accomplished.jpg
And the speech...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFijzDyJnVE
Hmm lets see people got killed in 9/11 so how many people joined the army to kill Arabs, I mean Muslims, I mean terrorist, I mean protect this great country of our?
kind of follows this quote:
"It is entirely seemly for a young man killed in battle to lie mangled by the bronze spear. In his death all things appear fair." - Homer (not Homer Simpson)
maybe should update it too
"It is entirely seemly for a young man killed in battle unrecognized by a bomb blast. In his death all things appear fair." - Neo Homer
Or maybe a better statement, "An Eye for an Eye" Arabs kill an Ammerican I kill an Arab, American killed an Arab well Arab Kills an American and it just keeps spiraling down from their. Well as Ghandi put "Eye for an Eye and everyone goes blind."
Ahh but I guess we are already blind.
As long as the money being spent does not violate the rules of the game for all. The people that take the time and organize and put forth the effort to do things should have the opportunity to express themselves. So I say more power to them. Even if I hate what they stand for. If it really bothers me that much I will organize something in opposition to them.
Live and let live truly works as a social concept. More people should try it sometime.
The US thinks it the good guys and the terrorists the bad.
I'm willing to agree with both sides. At least as far as I think that sometimes in a war, both sides can be the "bad guys". Its enough to make you hope for the Apocalypse sometimes.
"Actually from my understanding this country wasn’t ‘taken’ from anyone. The natives had no concept of ownership and thus did not own the land. Since the land didn’t belong to anyone the settlers claimed it…"
That's a common myth. Native Americans ad concepts of personal property, but since their method for gathering food was different from Europeans' extensive agriculture, they didn't view land ownership as important as the Europeans did. Here's a link that you can see about it: http://www.perc.org/perc.php?id=802
Also, there were a lot of cases where Europeans would talk to a Native American tribe and try to buy the land of another tribe, thinking they were the same group. Many times, the two tribes would be at war, so the tribe negotiated with would accept. I mean, if someone came up to you and said 'hey, we'll give you something if you let us have your enemies' land and fight them if they don't give it to us", most people will do that.
Also, the land to Native Americans was essential to many pars of their culture. Religious acts would often deal with visiting a certain area of the land and experiencing it after being put in a certain mindset, through natural hallucinogens or sweat lodges, or going through a ritual. When the land was drastically changed, it would be like somebody burning all the Bibles on the planet.
Anyway, back on topic.
Without playing the game, I think it's hard to say if it is propaganda or not. It sounds like the focus of the storyline is to show how everyday people become members of Al Queda and how the effects of invasion of Iraq contribute to this happening. I think he has all rights to make it, and based on his reputation and the school's reputation, I am inclined to think that it isn't propaganda, but I can't know for certain with out playing it.