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If you are capable, please help us to create good quality subtitles: https://c3subtitles.de/talk/749 Thanks! 1 00:00:20,030 --> 00:00:22,279 For four years in Hollywood 2 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:23,959 endgames games, the bad guys, they were 3 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,019 always these World War two era Nazis, 4 00:00:27,020 --> 00:00:29,179 they were they were the bad guys. 5 00:00:29,180 --> 00:00:31,039 And and then something interesting 6 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,529 happened is I said 7 00:00:33,530 --> 00:00:36,679 with the clash of digitalization. 8 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,240 So let's give them a round of applause. 9 00:00:46,230 --> 00:00:48,269 I want to start out rather oddly by 10 00:00:48,270 --> 00:00:50,519 saying I'm not really sure if I agree 11 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:51,520 with my own thesis 12 00:00:52,980 --> 00:00:54,839 now let me explain. 13 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:56,759 The work I'm presenting today is stuff I 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:58,289 left out of my doctoral dissertation on 15 00:00:58,290 --> 00:00:59,999 radical Islamic thought. 16 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,649 The dissertation is based on a research 17 00:01:01,650 --> 00:01:03,929 project I started over 10 years ago 18 00:01:03,930 --> 00:01:05,579 and from fieldwork I did five to six 19 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:06,749 years ago. 20 00:01:06,750 --> 00:01:08,819 This is not an overview of that work. 21 00:01:08,820 --> 00:01:11,189 This is a sliver of regret. 22 00:01:11,190 --> 00:01:12,929 So when I started, there was no Islamic 23 00:01:12,930 --> 00:01:14,759 State of Iraq and the Levant. 24 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,829 It literally arose around me 25 00:01:16,830 --> 00:01:18,419 as the people I was focusing on were 26 00:01:18,420 --> 00:01:20,489 becoming less and less relevant. 27 00:01:20,490 --> 00:01:21,869 People like the Muslim Brotherhood, 28 00:01:21,870 --> 00:01:24,089 al-Qaida and even Orthodox Salafis, 29 00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:26,339 the so-called Wahabis were becoming 30 00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:28,289 less and less significant in everyday 31 00:01:28,290 --> 00:01:29,290 political life. 32 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:31,739 Also becoming less relevant was the 33 00:01:31,740 --> 00:01:34,139 leading Western modes of analyzing 34 00:01:34,140 --> 00:01:37,379 Islamic radicalism, the real politic 35 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:39,509 political economy, people, the fancy 36 00:01:39,510 --> 00:01:41,309 deconstructionist, postmodern discourse, 37 00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:43,619 analysis, people, they were all becoming 38 00:01:43,620 --> 00:01:45,839 less significant in everyday political 39 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:47,309 dialog. 40 00:01:47,310 --> 00:01:48,659 The academics are doing well in their 41 00:01:48,660 --> 00:01:50,309 respective departments, but they're 42 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:53,399 irrelevant for the public at large. 43 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,499 I argue here today that the 44 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,119 introduction of new technologies with a 45 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,639 particular political moment produces 46 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,439 cultural orientations that will drive 47 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:02,999 future conflicts. 48 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,069 The Islamic State is or 49 00:02:05,070 --> 00:02:07,199 now almost was a Twitter 50 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,329 state. Supporters for it started in the 51 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:11,309 Internet, made alliances with unlikely 52 00:02:11,310 --> 00:02:12,989 bedfellows, former Baathists, disgruntled 53 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:15,329 jihadists, moderate rebels and eventually 54 00:02:15,330 --> 00:02:17,699 took the mantle from traditional 55 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:20,489 radical Islamic groups like al-Qaida. 56 00:02:20,490 --> 00:02:22,139 There was no similar coup in the 57 00:02:22,140 --> 00:02:23,969 intellectual analysis of the shift. 58 00:02:25,550 --> 00:02:27,259 The dominant intellectual paradigm that 59 00:02:27,260 --> 00:02:29,059 explained the conflict between Islam and 60 00:02:29,060 --> 00:02:31,309 the West was most properly phrased by 61 00:02:31,310 --> 00:02:33,499 Harvard Professor Samuel Huntington as 62 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:36,019 the clash of civilizations, 63 00:02:36,020 --> 00:02:37,849 all analyzes of the conflict are 64 00:02:37,850 --> 00:02:39,979 basically either the clash or 65 00:02:39,980 --> 00:02:42,229 reactions against the clash. 66 00:02:42,230 --> 00:02:44,329 The Clash is a geopolitical thesis that 67 00:02:44,330 --> 00:02:46,549 integrates long, sweeping historical 68 00:02:46,550 --> 00:02:48,919 developments with cultural stereotypes 69 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:50,839 to explain current political conflicts. 70 00:02:52,190 --> 00:02:54,109 This is actually an identical style of 71 00:02:54,110 --> 00:02:56,059 analysis that Osama bin Laden uses in his 72 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:57,559 own view of the world. 73 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,989 The basic idea is that the Islamic world 74 00:02:59,990 --> 00:03:02,119 and some understanding or definition of 75 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,609 a modern liberal and to be explicit 76 00:03:04,610 --> 00:03:07,069 Judeo-Christian, mostly European world 77 00:03:07,070 --> 00:03:08,689 has been in conflict for a really long 78 00:03:08,690 --> 00:03:09,690 time. 79 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,709 These two worlds share an inevitable 80 00:03:12,710 --> 00:03:14,809 collision course for 81 00:03:14,810 --> 00:03:16,819 Huntington. The future of war is not a 82 00:03:16,820 --> 00:03:18,859 conflict between a clearly defined nation 83 00:03:18,860 --> 00:03:20,149 states. 84 00:03:20,150 --> 00:03:21,830 It's a war between cultures. 85 00:03:23,150 --> 00:03:24,829 Huntington is one of the central figures 86 00:03:24,830 --> 00:03:26,779 of the neoconservative movement, and his 87 00:03:26,780 --> 00:03:28,699 argument is today the standard classical 88 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:30,769 theory of international relations taught 89 00:03:30,770 --> 00:03:32,299 in colleges and universities across the 90 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:34,519 world. And let's face it, it's 91 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:35,689 racist. 92 00:03:35,690 --> 00:03:37,609 And if it's not racist, it's at least 93 00:03:37,610 --> 00:03:38,610 bigoted. 94 00:03:45,430 --> 00:03:47,259 Actually, my internal conflict with my 95 00:03:47,260 --> 00:03:49,029 own sees that thesis has to do with these 96 00:03:49,030 --> 00:03:51,129 two terms, people who work 97 00:03:51,130 --> 00:03:52,809 on political linguistics are now debating 98 00:03:52,810 --> 00:03:54,879 these terms. After the last election, 99 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,499 you see the history of racism, 100 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:58,239 particularly like here in Germany and the 101 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,369 United States, were devastating for both 102 00:04:00,370 --> 00:04:01,299 countries. 103 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:03,039 The American Civil War in World War Two 104 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:04,389 are the bloodiest conflicts in human 105 00:04:04,390 --> 00:04:05,379 history. 106 00:04:05,380 --> 00:04:07,179 And of course, these wars were not 107 00:04:07,180 --> 00:04:09,279 primarily about liberating black slaves 108 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,229 or saving Jews from the Holocaust. 109 00:04:11,230 --> 00:04:13,389 But in the aftermath of those wars, the 110 00:04:13,390 --> 00:04:15,489 take home lesson was that these people 111 00:04:15,490 --> 00:04:17,319 should be treated equally and we need to 112 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,059 think about the role of bias against 113 00:04:19,060 --> 00:04:20,259 certain kinds of people. 114 00:04:21,730 --> 00:04:23,709 It took over 100 years after the Civil 115 00:04:23,710 --> 00:04:25,779 War for a black man to be president of 116 00:04:25,780 --> 00:04:27,459 the United States got there after an 117 00:04:27,460 --> 00:04:29,229 intense internal discussion about 118 00:04:29,230 --> 00:04:31,569 discrimination and civil rights 119 00:04:31,570 --> 00:04:32,949 and about at the end of the day, 120 00:04:32,950 --> 00:04:34,689 appropriate cultural representation and 121 00:04:34,690 --> 00:04:35,690 public conduct. 122 00:04:36,610 --> 00:04:38,619 Of course, the last election really put 123 00:04:38,620 --> 00:04:40,299 in perspective how far the US really went 124 00:04:40,300 --> 00:04:42,309 in terms of social progress. 125 00:04:42,310 --> 00:04:44,409 But for today's talk, I want to 126 00:04:44,410 --> 00:04:46,719 talk about blackface, the painting black 127 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,029 of a usually white person's face. 128 00:04:49,030 --> 00:04:50,589 You might not know the image on the left, 129 00:04:50,590 --> 00:04:51,909 but it's the most famous example of 130 00:04:51,910 --> 00:04:54,009 blackface. It's Al Jolson in the 131 00:04:54,010 --> 00:04:55,899 1927 film The Jazz Singer. 132 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,629 It was the first feature length film 133 00:05:00,630 --> 00:05:02,699 that had synchronized sound, meaning 134 00:05:02,700 --> 00:05:04,709 you can now hear what the actor says 135 00:05:04,710 --> 00:05:06,539 instead of having text on placards like 136 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:08,699 you did in the silent film era. 137 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:10,349 Actually, they decided to keep title 138 00:05:10,350 --> 00:05:11,969 cards for the narrative and use 139 00:05:11,970 --> 00:05:13,379 synchronized sound for the songs, making 140 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:15,419 this also the first musical film. 141 00:05:15,420 --> 00:05:16,949 At the time, it was one of the most 142 00:05:16,950 --> 00:05:19,109 technically difficult movies to screen 143 00:05:20,250 --> 00:05:22,379 people when people want to talk about 144 00:05:22,380 --> 00:05:23,849 the relationship between technological 145 00:05:23,850 --> 00:05:25,949 evolution and its relationship to social 146 00:05:25,950 --> 00:05:26,849 progress. 147 00:05:26,850 --> 00:05:28,379 You can't do much better than the jazz 148 00:05:28,380 --> 00:05:28,799 singer. 149 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,929 As an example, the Mac, 150 00:05:30,930 --> 00:05:32,369 the main character himself, goes through 151 00:05:32,370 --> 00:05:34,639 a social transformation of sorts via 152 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,449 a placard when we're told that the 153 00:05:36,450 --> 00:05:39,389 protagonist's name was Jackie 154 00:05:39,390 --> 00:05:42,359 Rabinowitz, the son of a Jewish cantor, 155 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,009 the person who leads the Jewish 156 00:05:44,010 --> 00:05:46,109 congregation in prayer after 157 00:05:46,110 --> 00:05:47,699 a conflict with his father for performing 158 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:49,799 jazz music in a Biergarten, 159 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,569 Jackie Rabinowitz changes his name to 160 00:05:51,570 --> 00:05:53,939 Jack Robin and starts a successful career 161 00:05:53,940 --> 00:05:55,139 as a jazz singer. 162 00:05:55,140 --> 00:05:57,119 So it's a Jewish person who integrates 163 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,519 into American society but misrepresents 164 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,559 himself as a black person on stage. 165 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,509 This is the first major American talking 166 00:06:03,510 --> 00:06:04,589 film. 167 00:06:04,590 --> 00:06:06,240 No, this is 1927. 168 00:06:07,650 --> 00:06:09,299 Over the course of the 20th century, the 169 00:06:09,300 --> 00:06:10,829 roles of Jews in Europe and American 170 00:06:10,830 --> 00:06:13,139 society becomes a huge source of anxiety, 171 00:06:13,140 --> 00:06:15,929 contention and point of distinction. 172 00:06:15,930 --> 00:06:17,969 American racism dealt with the legacy of 173 00:06:17,970 --> 00:06:19,679 slavery and the forced immigration of 174 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,319 people from Africa and the Caribbean. 175 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,329 European racism, particularly after World 176 00:06:24,330 --> 00:06:26,129 War Two, has to deal with the self 177 00:06:26,130 --> 00:06:27,929 identifying a notorious choice ethnic 178 00:06:27,930 --> 00:06:29,699 community, the Jews who have been in 179 00:06:29,700 --> 00:06:31,649 Europe for hundreds of years. 180 00:06:31,650 --> 00:06:33,389 Just to put this in perspective, Jews 181 00:06:33,390 --> 00:06:35,189 were in Europe before the Hungarians were 182 00:06:35,190 --> 00:06:36,569 in Hungary. 183 00:06:36,570 --> 00:06:38,639 There were Jews in Croatia before there 184 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,499 were Croatians. 185 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:41,579 This is, of course, has to do with 186 00:06:41,580 --> 00:06:43,979 Christianity's relationship to Judaism, 187 00:06:43,980 --> 00:06:45,479 the recognition that there is both a 188 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,549 continuity and break with 189 00:06:47,550 --> 00:06:49,559 the teachings of Judaism, particularly 190 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,329 when it came to the question of ethnic 191 00:06:51,330 --> 00:06:53,939 determinism, i.e., you're born Jewish, 192 00:06:53,940 --> 00:06:55,979 but you're baptized and then confirmed to 193 00:06:55,980 --> 00:06:56,980 Christianity 194 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:00,239 on a cultural level. 195 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:01,949 It took the devastating experience of the 196 00:07:01,950 --> 00:07:04,289 Holocaust to make Jewish identity normal, 197 00:07:04,290 --> 00:07:05,549 even as the religious and ethnic 198 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:07,649 components became divorced or at 199 00:07:07,650 --> 00:07:09,059 least uneasy. 200 00:07:09,060 --> 00:07:11,129 And here I put Woody Allen as an example 201 00:07:11,130 --> 00:07:13,229 of a highly conscious, self-referential 202 00:07:13,230 --> 00:07:14,969 and intelligent Jewish cultural 203 00:07:14,970 --> 00:07:17,309 expression that is non non-religious 204 00:07:17,310 --> 00:07:19,019 but still very Jewish. 205 00:07:19,020 --> 00:07:20,969 Racism is, in a sense, an act of 206 00:07:20,970 --> 00:07:23,069 hostility against people of different 207 00:07:23,070 --> 00:07:25,229 races. But bigotry is 208 00:07:25,230 --> 00:07:26,399 close mindedness. 209 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,139 It's prejudice towards someone. 210 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:30,089 It's something that's kind of under the 211 00:07:30,090 --> 00:07:31,090 radar. 212 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:32,800 It's really something 213 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:35,459 like that. Jewish comedians like Woody 214 00:07:35,460 --> 00:07:36,749 Allen, but also David Letterman. 215 00:07:36,750 --> 00:07:38,879 Mel Brooks really paved the way 216 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,289 for cultural understandings of Jewish 217 00:07:40,290 --> 00:07:42,239 difference. And I really like the Billy 218 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,319 Crystal quote. 219 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:44,219 I'm not a Jew. 220 00:07:44,220 --> 00:07:45,240 I'm Jewish. 221 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,369 The Muslim example is a little trickier 222 00:07:50,370 --> 00:07:52,439 to untangle because it's playing itself 223 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,539 out. Now, on the one hand, if we 224 00:07:54,540 --> 00:07:55,649 follow Huntington's clash of 225 00:07:55,650 --> 00:07:58,079 civilizations, the Muslims have always 226 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,869 been at war with Christians and Jews 227 00:08:00,870 --> 00:08:02,729 since they came after both religions. 228 00:08:02,730 --> 00:08:04,829 The purpose of Muhammad's message is the 229 00:08:04,830 --> 00:08:06,269 ultimate annihilation of Judaism and 230 00:08:06,270 --> 00:08:07,559 Christianity. 231 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:09,359 Whatever Western majority we have after 232 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,669 World War Two, it's just a relatively 233 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:14,129 peaceful bubble and a massive boiling 234 00:08:14,130 --> 00:08:15,749 cauldron of conflict. 235 00:08:15,750 --> 00:08:17,699 The Cold War is just a blip, a little 236 00:08:17,700 --> 00:08:19,379 misunderstanding in the history of human 237 00:08:19,380 --> 00:08:20,789 political thought. 238 00:08:20,790 --> 00:08:22,799 And, of course, Huntington's intellectual 239 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,839 buddy Francis Fukuyama, around the same 240 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,059 time also declared the end of history 241 00:08:27,060 --> 00:08:28,769 where neo liberal capitalism has forever 242 00:08:28,770 --> 00:08:30,869 defeated communism and socialism 243 00:08:30,870 --> 00:08:32,009 and this vision of the world. 244 00:08:32,010 --> 00:08:34,439 There are absolute winners and losers 245 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:35,879 that there is an end game. 246 00:08:37,020 --> 00:08:39,089 I disagree, and I think people 247 00:08:39,090 --> 00:08:41,158 need to look at racism against Arabs and 248 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:43,349 bigotry against Muslims as a development 249 00:08:43,350 --> 00:08:45,449 of modern attitudes towards other people 250 00:08:45,450 --> 00:08:46,889 who are obviously different. 251 00:08:46,890 --> 00:08:48,479 With the legacy of black Americans and 252 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,819 European Jews playing it sets itself 253 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:53,009 out in the discussion of Muslims. 254 00:08:53,010 --> 00:08:54,929 There is a race and religion component, 255 00:08:54,930 --> 00:08:56,429 one you can't transcend. 256 00:08:56,430 --> 00:08:58,589 I can't stop being Arab, but on the 257 00:08:58,590 --> 00:09:00,059 other, your declared religion. 258 00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:01,859 In a modern constitutional democracy, you 259 00:09:01,860 --> 00:09:03,719 have the right to worship any way you see 260 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:05,339 fit here. 261 00:09:05,340 --> 00:09:06,719 I want to point to the work of Aziz 262 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:08,789 Ansari, who recently is taking 263 00:09:08,790 --> 00:09:10,139 the lead on how appropriate 264 00:09:10,140 --> 00:09:11,789 representation of Muslim Americans should 265 00:09:11,790 --> 00:09:12,790 take place. 266 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:16,139 And he does kind of a moderate approach. 267 00:09:16,140 --> 00:09:18,059 I'm going to go a step further than Aziz 268 00:09:18,060 --> 00:09:20,009 and say that the way Arabs and Muslims 269 00:09:20,010 --> 00:09:22,259 have been represented in film and TV 270 00:09:22,260 --> 00:09:24,449 shows and in video games will one day in 271 00:09:24,450 --> 00:09:26,609 the future be seen in the same 272 00:09:26,610 --> 00:09:28,829 way that we see blackface today 273 00:09:28,830 --> 00:09:30,689 or when we see anti-Semitic cartoons, 274 00:09:30,690 --> 00:09:31,799 we're just going to have this kind of 275 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,209 revulsion. 276 00:09:33,210 --> 00:09:35,609 Actually, if that is not the case, 277 00:09:35,610 --> 00:09:37,079 then the clash between Muslims in the 278 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,209 West would still be ongoing and that 279 00:09:39,210 --> 00:09:41,279 there is no final showdown, no 280 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,409 winners or losers, a state of perpetual 281 00:09:43,410 --> 00:09:44,609 war. 282 00:09:44,610 --> 00:09:46,409 As I told you, I'm eternally conflicted 283 00:09:46,410 --> 00:09:47,410 about this. So 284 00:09:48,930 --> 00:09:50,969 it's a world where postmodern parody, 285 00:09:50,970 --> 00:09:53,039 like Team America, World Police, 286 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,109 actually played itself out in 287 00:09:55,110 --> 00:09:56,429 reality and did not work. 288 00:10:01,110 --> 00:10:03,329 Anyway, now let's 289 00:10:03,330 --> 00:10:04,649 get to the video games 290 00:10:05,970 --> 00:10:06,970 with. 291 00:10:09,850 --> 00:10:11,409 With this kind of audience, I'm actually 292 00:10:11,410 --> 00:10:12,759 kind of glad that I don't have to do too 293 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,139 much explaining about what a first person 294 00:10:14,140 --> 00:10:15,140 shooter is. 295 00:10:16,870 --> 00:10:18,639 When I was a teen growing up in the 90s, 296 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,649 these were called first person shoot them 297 00:10:20,650 --> 00:10:22,959 ups. So it was even more explicit. 298 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:24,699 The basic idea is that you experience a 299 00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:26,769 game from the point of view of the main 300 00:10:26,770 --> 00:10:28,299 character in an immersive, three 301 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:30,489 dimensional environment represented two 302 00:10:30,490 --> 00:10:31,449 dimensionally. 303 00:10:31,450 --> 00:10:32,689 This is kind of like the technique, 304 00:10:32,690 --> 00:10:34,479 technical holy grail of gaming for many 305 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:35,979 for many years. 306 00:10:35,980 --> 00:10:38,019 In the same way that sound was for a 307 00:10:38,020 --> 00:10:40,509 silent film to make the game as realistic 308 00:10:40,510 --> 00:10:42,459 or immersive as possible. 309 00:10:42,460 --> 00:10:44,469 And it's basically the framework that was 310 00:10:44,470 --> 00:10:46,179 adopted for virtual reality and probably 311 00:10:46,180 --> 00:10:48,549 future forms of media consumption. 312 00:10:48,550 --> 00:10:50,949 Um, first person shooters 313 00:10:50,950 --> 00:10:52,839 are surprisingly old. 314 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,119 Probably the first was Masroor. 315 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,189 This is the white strip to the 316 00:10:57,190 --> 00:10:59,499 right and it's nineteen seventy three. 317 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:01,179 It was on a Xerox machine and the screen 318 00:11:01,180 --> 00:11:02,109 was barely legible. 319 00:11:02,110 --> 00:11:03,459 So this is actually a printout of a 320 00:11:03,460 --> 00:11:04,869 screenshot. 321 00:11:04,870 --> 00:11:05,919 And you can already see the main 322 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,079 characteristics of how like a 3D 323 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,329 planes are represented using 2D lines 324 00:11:10,330 --> 00:11:12,009 to show perspective. 325 00:11:12,010 --> 00:11:14,139 The object of the game was to go through 326 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:16,719 the maze to find the eyeball 327 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:17,739 your enemy, as it were. 328 00:11:17,740 --> 00:11:19,389 And if you find him facing to the side, 329 00:11:19,390 --> 00:11:21,069 you can shoot and kill him. 330 00:11:21,070 --> 00:11:23,139 But if the eyeball is facing you, then 331 00:11:23,140 --> 00:11:25,149 you're dead. So that's like a kill shot. 332 00:11:25,150 --> 00:11:26,799 You're dead here. 333 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,049 Um, top center is 334 00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:31,329 a spasm or a space 335 00:11:31,330 --> 00:11:32,739 flight simulator. It was in nineteen 336 00:11:32,740 --> 00:11:33,759 seventy four in the University of 337 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,189 Illinois and it was very much influenced 338 00:11:36,190 --> 00:11:37,659 by Star Trek. That's the one in the top 339 00:11:37,660 --> 00:11:39,579 center, unlike Mays. 340 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:41,289 Or you are not restricted by the rules of 341 00:11:41,290 --> 00:11:43,059 gravity or moving on a single plane 342 00:11:43,060 --> 00:11:44,440 because you are floating in space 343 00:11:45,700 --> 00:11:47,649 and left that. We have the flight 344 00:11:47,650 --> 00:11:49,929 simulator, air flight and 345 00:11:49,930 --> 00:11:51,429 the US military starts using the 346 00:11:51,430 --> 00:11:53,619 technology developed and in space 347 00:11:53,620 --> 00:11:55,869 to simulate flying almost 348 00:11:55,870 --> 00:11:57,729 immediately after it was developed to 349 00:11:57,730 --> 00:11:59,860 create a fighter jet flight simulator. 350 00:12:01,270 --> 00:12:02,859 The bottom one, we have the Bradley 351 00:12:02,860 --> 00:12:05,019 trainer from the point of view of a tank 352 00:12:05,020 --> 00:12:06,639 which was made by Atari under a special 353 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:08,169 contract with the US Army in nineteen 354 00:12:08,170 --> 00:12:09,489 eighty one. 355 00:12:09,490 --> 00:12:11,199 So the military application of what is 356 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,359 conceivably a game came early 357 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,939 in the life of first person shooters. 358 00:12:15,940 --> 00:12:17,499 And I want to dwell a little bit about 359 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:19,119 the following question. 360 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,219 What is it about full immersion and 361 00:12:21,220 --> 00:12:23,259 heightened depictions of reality that 362 00:12:23,260 --> 00:12:25,569 lend itself to militarization 363 00:12:25,570 --> 00:12:28,479 or even more generally to violence? 364 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,609 Because the first real killer app of 365 00:12:30,610 --> 00:12:32,319 the first person shooter world was 366 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:33,639 incredibly violent. 367 00:12:34,690 --> 00:12:36,039 This was something I played back in the 368 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:37,329 day, and I'm sure some of you did, too. 369 00:12:37,330 --> 00:12:39,399 Wolfenstein 3D, which started off as 370 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,379 shareware and got a little more cleaned 371 00:12:41,380 --> 00:12:43,719 up when it became public. 372 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,819 The basic story of Wolfenstein 3D is that 373 00:12:45,820 --> 00:12:48,519 you play the role of William Black, 374 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:51,099 an American spy of Polish descent 375 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:53,319 who was trapped in a Nazi prison. 376 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:54,939 Your first mission is to get out of the 377 00:12:54,940 --> 00:12:57,069 prison and Castle Wolfenstein 378 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:59,259 depicted 3D point of view, 379 00:12:59,260 --> 00:13:00,669 you know, like the standard format we now 380 00:13:00,670 --> 00:13:01,749 have. 381 00:13:01,750 --> 00:13:04,719 And basically you get to shoot Nazis 382 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,699 as much as you want. And the second 383 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:08,769 episode, you thought a secret Nazi 384 00:13:08,770 --> 00:13:10,509 project where they're making mutant 385 00:13:10,510 --> 00:13:12,729 soldiers knights, Nazi 386 00:13:12,730 --> 00:13:14,709 iconography is just like everywhere and 387 00:13:14,710 --> 00:13:16,209 over the top. 388 00:13:16,210 --> 00:13:18,699 And in the final episode entitled 389 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:20,949 Die If You Die, you get to 390 00:13:20,950 --> 00:13:22,869 fight Adolf Hitler directly in a bunker 391 00:13:22,870 --> 00:13:23,870 under the Reichstag. 392 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:26,919 OK, this is what it looks like when 393 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:27,819 mutant Hitler dies. 394 00:13:27,820 --> 00:13:29,980 Spoiler alert. Spoiler alert there. 395 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,779 I'm sure a lot of you already know 396 00:13:36,780 --> 00:13:38,519 this Godwin's Law, it's the rule in a 397 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,229 flame war if one side compares the other 398 00:13:40,230 --> 00:13:41,939 side to Hitler. The debate is effectively 399 00:13:41,940 --> 00:13:43,109 over Hitler. 400 00:13:43,110 --> 00:13:44,639 In this world, view is the worst 401 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,529 possible, most evil representation of 402 00:13:46,530 --> 00:13:48,269 another human being that is theoretically 403 00:13:48,270 --> 00:13:49,349 possible. 404 00:13:49,350 --> 00:13:51,029 How about the person you are talking to 405 00:13:51,030 --> 00:13:52,829 on the Internet? They're never really as 406 00:13:52,830 --> 00:13:54,509 bad as Hitler. 407 00:13:54,510 --> 00:13:56,189 Wolfenstein is kind of operating on 408 00:13:56,190 --> 00:13:58,499 Godwin's Law to legitimize its violence. 409 00:13:58,500 --> 00:14:00,599 It's OK to kill Nazis and the 410 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,249 final big boss level you get to kill 411 00:14:02,250 --> 00:14:04,139 Hitler. So it all builds up for a really 412 00:14:04,140 --> 00:14:05,140 good cause. 413 00:14:06,060 --> 00:14:08,159 But remember the 414 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:09,569 lab thing where they were making mutant 415 00:14:09,570 --> 00:14:11,879 soldiers after the immense success 416 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,159 of Wolfenstein, the creators of software 417 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,409 make their second series, Dhume, where 418 00:14:16,410 --> 00:14:18,119 you play an unnamed space Marine who 419 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:19,320 kills space demons. 420 00:14:20,370 --> 00:14:21,779 I feel like the creative team must have 421 00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:23,309 realized that the carnage of Wolfenstein 422 00:14:23,310 --> 00:14:24,929 was still against humans, right? 423 00:14:24,930 --> 00:14:26,909 Like even fictional or historical Nazis 424 00:14:26,910 --> 00:14:28,260 are people too. Maybe 425 00:14:29,580 --> 00:14:31,589 so. So there's a kind of limit to the 426 00:14:31,590 --> 00:14:33,450 kind of carnage you can have. 427 00:14:34,590 --> 00:14:36,869 And the Doom series introduced 428 00:14:36,870 --> 00:14:39,059 networking multiplayer action. 429 00:14:39,060 --> 00:14:40,799 So now you and your buddies can kill 430 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,019 space demons together or you can kill 431 00:14:43,020 --> 00:14:44,879 each other or strangers on the Internet, 432 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,080 which shouldn't have to be a lot of fun. 433 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:49,019 What's important for the talk is that 434 00:14:49,020 --> 00:14:51,269 Wolfenstein and Doom represent a break 435 00:14:51,270 --> 00:14:53,399 in first person shooters, where games 436 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,529 grounded on reality and fantasy 437 00:14:55,530 --> 00:14:57,809 start using technology in different ways. 438 00:14:57,810 --> 00:14:59,459 Obviously, this has to do with how 439 00:14:59,460 --> 00:15:01,229 creatives are managing the appropriate 440 00:15:01,230 --> 00:15:02,639 representation of violence in these 441 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:03,869 games. 442 00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:05,999 If you want to maximize GWAR, it seems 443 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,699 that like Final Fantasy is the way to go 444 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:10,199 and a particular kind of fantasy that 445 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,419 involves non-human space, demons, aliens, 446 00:15:12,420 --> 00:15:14,369 whatever in public discourse. 447 00:15:14,370 --> 00:15:15,479 When they talk about violence and 448 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:16,529 connection to video games, they're 449 00:15:16,530 --> 00:15:18,449 usually talking about this overall genre 450 00:15:18,450 --> 00:15:20,519 of games and not, say, Mario Kart. 451 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,489 The closer it comes to reality, the more 452 00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:25,439 controversy it causes, the more it gives 453 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,209 us this kind of uneasy feeling. 454 00:15:28,350 --> 00:15:30,629 Doom is also one of the first games 455 00:15:30,630 --> 00:15:32,969 to be modded, modest 456 00:15:32,970 --> 00:15:34,739 means modified where code of the game is 457 00:15:34,740 --> 00:15:36,179 messed with to change gameplay, 458 00:15:36,180 --> 00:15:38,729 characters, patterns, whatever extensive 459 00:15:38,730 --> 00:15:40,949 modding is another feature of this genre 460 00:15:40,950 --> 00:15:42,569 that doesn't exist and say role playing 461 00:15:42,570 --> 00:15:44,429 games or puzzle games. 462 00:15:44,430 --> 00:15:46,619 And want to guess who an early model of 463 00:15:46,620 --> 00:15:48,329 doom was. 464 00:15:48,330 --> 00:15:49,529 The United States Marine Corps. 465 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:53,039 In nineteen ninety six, the commandant of 466 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,689 the US Marines issued a directive, and 467 00:15:54,690 --> 00:15:56,489 I'm quoting here from Wikipedia, to 468 00:15:56,490 --> 00:15:58,439 develop the use of war games for 469 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,659 improving military thinking and 470 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:03,329 decision making exercises. 471 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:05,789 So they might add a version of doom to 472 00:16:05,790 --> 00:16:07,259 to develop a simulation where you're part 473 00:16:07,260 --> 00:16:09,869 of a four member marine fire team. 474 00:16:09,870 --> 00:16:11,789 The game focused on mutual support, 475 00:16:11,790 --> 00:16:13,439 protection of the automatic rifleman, 476 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,539 proper sequencing of attack, ammunition, 477 00:16:15,540 --> 00:16:17,459 discipline and succession of command. 478 00:16:17,460 --> 00:16:19,709 These are sort of basic marine 479 00:16:19,710 --> 00:16:21,869 things that they need 480 00:16:21,870 --> 00:16:22,859 to develop. 481 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:24,479 And the default like mission was the 482 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,249 destruction of an enemy bunker, again, 483 00:16:26,250 --> 00:16:29,159 reviving the Hitler bunker scene, 484 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:30,779 although they also use other scenarios 485 00:16:30,780 --> 00:16:32,819 such as hostage rescue in a foreign 486 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:33,989 embassy. 487 00:16:33,990 --> 00:16:35,399 And this apparently started as an 488 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,049 internal thing, but they gave away the 489 00:16:37,050 --> 00:16:38,699 mod for free as a kind of recruitment 490 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:41,219 tool and for troubleshooting. 491 00:16:41,220 --> 00:16:42,450 This is something we'll discuss later. 492 00:16:44,430 --> 00:16:46,559 After Doom, we're going straight to 493 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,749 Halo. We're skipping unreal quake and 494 00:16:48,750 --> 00:16:50,369 Halflife. 495 00:16:50,370 --> 00:16:52,019 If you know anything about gaming, let me 496 00:16:52,020 --> 00:16:53,369 tell you, I just insulted a whole bunch 497 00:16:53,370 --> 00:16:54,370 of people. 498 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,229 Actually, more or less, 499 00:16:58,230 --> 00:16:59,969 I'm going to bookmark haloes cultural 500 00:16:59,970 --> 00:17:02,459 content for later, kind of my conclusion 501 00:17:02,460 --> 00:17:03,959 and just say for a moment that Halo is a 502 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,118 big surprise or an outlier 503 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:07,439 for many trends in the genre. 504 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,659 For instance, it made Microsoft a major 505 00:17:09,660 --> 00:17:11,489 player in the videogame world. 506 00:17:11,490 --> 00:17:12,659 You know, the Microsoft that makes 507 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:13,919 Microsoft Office. 508 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:14,920 Yeah. 509 00:17:15,510 --> 00:17:18,449 Another thing, there is almost zero Gore. 510 00:17:18,450 --> 00:17:20,039 The emphasis in Halo was gameplay 511 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,259 mechanics and multiuser networking. 512 00:17:22,260 --> 00:17:24,779 It was smooth and somehow that smoothness 513 00:17:24,780 --> 00:17:27,509 made killing your friends even more fun. 514 00:17:27,510 --> 00:17:29,129 The single user game was actually pretty 515 00:17:29,130 --> 00:17:31,559 good as well. It had a space opera scale 516 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,779 and feel to it, and it has and still 517 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:35,459 commands a massive fan base and is one of 518 00:17:35,460 --> 00:17:36,809 the most successful products ever for 519 00:17:36,810 --> 00:17:37,810 Microsoft. 520 00:17:38,340 --> 00:17:39,809 For many people, this was the gateway 521 00:17:39,810 --> 00:17:41,250 drug for other video games. 522 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:44,069 But if we go back to the split, let's go 523 00:17:44,070 --> 00:17:45,659 back to the reality games. 524 00:17:45,660 --> 00:17:47,639 Those that were based on historical 525 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,709 events and hear the call of duty line 526 00:17:49,710 --> 00:17:51,779 becomes the dominant line, 527 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:53,219 but was actually a rip off of a series 528 00:17:53,220 --> 00:17:54,599 called Medal of Honor that was developed 529 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,429 by the director, Steven Spielberg. 530 00:17:56,430 --> 00:17:58,709 And like Wolfenstein 3D. 531 00:17:58,710 --> 00:18:00,299 All these games use World War Two as a 532 00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:01,439 backdrop. 533 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,659 Call of Duty had both European and Asia 534 00:18:03,660 --> 00:18:05,609 Pacific theaters of the war. 535 00:18:05,610 --> 00:18:07,589 These were very much adult games in terms 536 00:18:07,590 --> 00:18:09,629 of storylines, look and feel. 537 00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:11,459 If you know older men who play first 538 00:18:11,460 --> 00:18:13,199 person, shoot them ups, then they usually 539 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,149 play these sort of games and they're very 540 00:18:15,150 --> 00:18:17,369 much associated with your grandpa's first 541 00:18:17,370 --> 00:18:18,370 person shooter. 542 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,329 Details like the correct kind of pistol 543 00:18:21,330 --> 00:18:23,579 or rifle were meticulously represented. 544 00:18:23,580 --> 00:18:26,219 So were historical battles. 545 00:18:26,220 --> 00:18:28,169 The overall theme of these games is 546 00:18:28,170 --> 00:18:29,429 patriotism. 547 00:18:29,430 --> 00:18:31,499 The the stories in these 548 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:33,089 games are very much an homage to the 549 00:18:33,090 --> 00:18:34,319 greatest generation. 550 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,089 And of course, you only get to play as a 551 00:18:36,090 --> 00:18:38,459 soldier from one of the allies, 552 00:18:38,460 --> 00:18:40,229 usually for the US military. 553 00:18:40,230 --> 00:18:41,699 But you also in later games can be 554 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:44,069 British, French, Polish, even 555 00:18:44,070 --> 00:18:46,439 Canadian, and 556 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,629 you'll get to play Russian, even 557 00:18:48,630 --> 00:18:49,559 though that felt a little bit 558 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:50,519 transgressive. 559 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:51,959 But you never got to play a German 560 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,639 soldier or a Japanese soldier because 561 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:54,900 obviously these are the enemies 562 00:18:56,970 --> 00:18:58,079 and not so. 563 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,299 Ironically, the series is popular 564 00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:02,099 in Japan. And I'm really curious what 565 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:03,659 gamers are thinking when you're like 566 00:19:03,660 --> 00:19:05,189 effectively shooting against a digital 567 00:19:05,190 --> 00:19:07,429 representation of your grandparents. 568 00:19:07,430 --> 00:19:08,460 It's like uneasy. 569 00:19:09,660 --> 00:19:12,059 And these games were comparably 570 00:19:12,060 --> 00:19:14,129 only moderately successful to their 571 00:19:14,130 --> 00:19:16,349 next iteration, Call of Duty, Modern 572 00:19:16,350 --> 00:19:17,350 Warfare. 573 00:19:18,420 --> 00:19:20,639 These games follow the realism patriotism 574 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,409 formula, except instead of doing World 575 00:19:22,410 --> 00:19:24,359 War Two, they did it for current 576 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:25,469 conflicts. 577 00:19:25,470 --> 00:19:27,329 I'm going to be diplomatic right now and 578 00:19:27,330 --> 00:19:29,189 say that the Middle East is featured 579 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:30,660 prominently in these games. 580 00:19:33,090 --> 00:19:36,269 But I also want to say that over 250 581 00:19:36,270 --> 00:19:38,339 million copies of the series has 582 00:19:38,340 --> 00:19:39,569 been sold. 583 00:19:39,570 --> 00:19:41,970 You heard right. That's a quarter billion 584 00:19:42,990 --> 00:19:44,339 in factor during that. Most people in the 585 00:19:44,340 --> 00:19:46,799 developing world use pirated games. 586 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,329 So these numbers aren't even included. 587 00:19:48,330 --> 00:19:50,009 And you can play up to four people 588 00:19:50,010 --> 00:19:52,049 simultaneously using one copy. 589 00:19:52,050 --> 00:19:53,759 The genre itself lends itself to 590 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:54,989 multiuser play. 591 00:19:54,990 --> 00:19:56,639 It might be a conservative estimate that 592 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:58,709 in a world of seven billion, like half a 593 00:19:58,710 --> 00:19:59,759 billion to a billion, people have 594 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,019 probably played Call of Duty. 595 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:03,959 There are other games that show current 596 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:05,699 conflicts like Counterstrike, Rainbow, 597 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:06,899 six battlefield. 598 00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:08,489 But in terms of influence and social 599 00:20:08,490 --> 00:20:10,679 impact, very little in terms 600 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,439 of media compares anymore to call duty, 601 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:14,440 even Hollywood, 602 00:20:15,510 --> 00:20:17,489 because unlike a Hollywood movie, you 603 00:20:17,490 --> 00:20:19,559 can't be passive while playing a first 604 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:20,939 person shooter. 605 00:20:20,940 --> 00:20:22,289 Not when you're immersed in the middle of 606 00:20:22,290 --> 00:20:24,509 a firefight in Iraq using virtual 607 00:20:24,510 --> 00:20:26,189 replications of actual weapons you could 608 00:20:26,190 --> 00:20:28,679 conceivably be using in real life 609 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,509 or play capture the flag in the streets 610 00:20:30,510 --> 00:20:33,269 of Paris and call an aerial support 611 00:20:33,270 --> 00:20:35,729 with kind of a long, 612 00:20:35,730 --> 00:20:37,409 a long way in the cultural conflict 613 00:20:37,410 --> 00:20:39,539 spectrum from Nazis 614 00:20:39,540 --> 00:20:41,519 or even a Jewish American musician 615 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:42,520 wearing blackface. 616 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:46,429 Now, you can be in a situation forced by 617 00:20:46,430 --> 00:20:48,229 the game itself to shoot innocent 618 00:20:48,230 --> 00:20:50,389 civilians in a Russian airport. 619 00:20:50,390 --> 00:20:52,039 This actually got the game banned in 620 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,149 Russia and caused a whole lot of 621 00:20:53,150 --> 00:20:54,709 controversy. 622 00:20:54,710 --> 00:20:56,509 But blowing the shit up in a small Iraqi 623 00:20:56,510 --> 00:20:59,119 town, that gets zero outrage. 624 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:00,919 That's just par for the course. 625 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,019 That is effectively the game. 626 00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:03,719 And you know what? 627 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:04,720 As an Arab guy, 628 00:21:06,350 --> 00:21:07,999 I really divided because I really like 629 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,079 playing these games. So 630 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:13,519 but the saving grace was that after 631 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,319 Modern Warfare two, you can play an Arab 632 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,449 soldier fighting against the Americans. 633 00:21:17,450 --> 00:21:18,589 And I hope this doesn't get me on a no 634 00:21:18,590 --> 00:21:19,590 fly list now. 635 00:21:21,140 --> 00:21:22,669 I spent three years in graduate school 636 00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:24,499 where all I wanted to do was kind of play 637 00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:25,099 the conflict. 638 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:27,139 I was studying it, simulated those things 639 00:21:27,140 --> 00:21:28,699 I knew very little about, like fire team 640 00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:31,279 formations, why certain gun equipment 641 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:33,319 configurations work and really why 642 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,299 American soldiers use so much tech in the 643 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:36,349 battlefield. 644 00:21:36,350 --> 00:21:37,969 It's because it's a really unfair 645 00:21:37,970 --> 00:21:38,970 advantage. 646 00:21:39,590 --> 00:21:41,569 I realize I'm not the only one who caught 647 00:21:41,570 --> 00:21:43,669 on with this line of thinking in 648 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:45,589 it. In the field, a big criticism of 649 00:21:45,590 --> 00:21:47,179 al-Qaida in Iraq was their inability to 650 00:21:47,180 --> 00:21:49,459 change the realities in the battlefield. 651 00:21:49,460 --> 00:21:51,019 They would rather blow up an American 652 00:21:51,020 --> 00:21:53,209 tank to send a message than take that 653 00:21:53,210 --> 00:21:55,129 tank and use the comms to realize where 654 00:21:55,130 --> 00:21:56,869 the Americans were headed next. 655 00:21:56,870 --> 00:21:58,579 You see, the technology itself doesn't 656 00:21:58,580 --> 00:22:00,019 care who's using it. 657 00:22:00,020 --> 00:22:02,119 And I also realize that the other side 658 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:03,799 has its advantages as well. 659 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,509 Some are defending their land and others 660 00:22:05,510 --> 00:22:08,029 took crazy risks to get to the fight. 661 00:22:08,030 --> 00:22:10,459 Sometimes a golden AK 47 and a suicide 662 00:22:10,460 --> 00:22:13,009 vest is all you need to win a game. 663 00:22:13,010 --> 00:22:14,509 You know, screw night vision or a fleet 664 00:22:14,510 --> 00:22:16,789 of AC 130 is at your command. 665 00:22:16,790 --> 00:22:18,829 War in this context is a highly 666 00:22:18,830 --> 00:22:20,299 psychological game. 667 00:22:20,300 --> 00:22:22,069 All you really need is the right tool for 668 00:22:22,070 --> 00:22:23,329 the right objective. 669 00:22:23,330 --> 00:22:24,709 But what does winning mean when you're 670 00:22:24,710 --> 00:22:26,539 able to play again and again? 671 00:22:26,540 --> 00:22:28,279 The weapon you choose says so much about 672 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:29,419 your personality. 673 00:22:29,420 --> 00:22:30,529 You're willing to deal with the 674 00:22:30,530 --> 00:22:32,779 inaccuracy of an AK for the satisfying 675 00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:33,919 thumping recoil. 676 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,259 When you actually make a hit, you feel 677 00:22:36,260 --> 00:22:38,299 the propulsion of the bullet in your hand 678 00:22:38,300 --> 00:22:39,889 in those vibrating controllers as it 679 00:22:39,890 --> 00:22:41,959 penetrates the target, you can 680 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,879 be a virtual representation of the kind 681 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:45,020 of warrior you want to be. 682 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,949 This is also a war of stereotypes, no 683 00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:50,929 doubt filled with mostly angry young men 684 00:22:50,930 --> 00:22:52,849 around the world playing out the clash of 685 00:22:52,850 --> 00:22:55,249 civilizations scenario and replicated 686 00:22:55,250 --> 00:22:57,319 in tabloids and cable news of an 687 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,059 intolerant Middle East with Powermat 688 00:22:59,060 --> 00:23:01,789 dictators and zealot radicals. 689 00:23:01,790 --> 00:23:03,709 Yeah, that's bin Laden holding two as 690 00:23:05,990 --> 00:23:07,399 the first player. 691 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,139 Shoot him up with online multiplayer. 692 00:23:09,140 --> 00:23:10,759 It's not just about being violent, it's 693 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,319 about picking sides. 694 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,149 There are modes when it's a free for all 695 00:23:14,150 --> 00:23:15,949 or lonewolf, but they are nowhere as 696 00:23:15,950 --> 00:23:18,109 popular as as the 697 00:23:18,110 --> 00:23:19,879 team centric games. 698 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,129 And on a meta level, the fighting sides 699 00:23:22,130 --> 00:23:23,269 know this. 700 00:23:23,270 --> 00:23:25,069 They're this is more than a mod. 701 00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:26,779 This is the US Army's main virtual 702 00:23:26,780 --> 00:23:28,759 training and propaganda environment, a 703 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,170 game called America's Army. 704 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,069 And as you'd expect from the Army branch, 705 00:23:34,070 --> 00:23:36,239 it's actually kind of on the dorky side. 706 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,299 This is the screen for planning a battle, 707 00:23:38,300 --> 00:23:41,389 meticulous detail like Army usually does. 708 00:23:41,390 --> 00:23:43,339 And of the Islamic radical Islamic 709 00:23:43,340 --> 00:23:45,079 organizations, the one that had the most 710 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,819 developed video game infrastructure, as 711 00:23:46,820 --> 00:23:48,709 it were, was Hezbollah. 712 00:23:48,710 --> 00:23:50,659 The theme of the Special Forces series is 713 00:23:50,660 --> 00:23:52,369 to protect Muslim lands from Israeli 714 00:23:52,370 --> 00:23:53,299 invasion. 715 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:55,339 So along with Hamas, the only 716 00:23:55,340 --> 00:23:57,529 organization with an official video 717 00:23:57,530 --> 00:23:59,599 game. But note that 718 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,849 Hezbollah also makes like slingshots so, 719 00:24:01,850 --> 00:24:04,399 you know, have the same kind of level. 720 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:05,419 I need to apologize. 721 00:24:05,420 --> 00:24:07,369 I could not find a pic of little American 722 00:24:07,370 --> 00:24:08,989 kids playing America's army. 723 00:24:08,990 --> 00:24:10,759 I'm sure it's because parental controls 724 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:12,439 are really severe in the United States 725 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,209 and kids never get to play with these 726 00:24:14,210 --> 00:24:15,210 sorts of games. 727 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:18,259 Hezbollah is also changing 728 00:24:18,260 --> 00:24:20,329 who perceives the enemy it 729 00:24:20,330 --> 00:24:22,039 perceives as the enemy as the battlefield 730 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:23,299 is changing in the video games. 731 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:24,599 Here, for instance, is a mod under 732 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,169 development that has Hezbollah fighting 733 00:24:27,170 --> 00:24:29,359 ISIS in Iraq or Syria. 734 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:30,709 And even the name here is trying to be 735 00:24:30,710 --> 00:24:32,119 insulting by saying that I should 736 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:34,189 mention, it's implying that ISIS is not a 737 00:24:34,190 --> 00:24:35,119 real thing. 738 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:36,889 It's a bit of an Islamic kind of 739 00:24:36,890 --> 00:24:37,890 theology. 740 00:24:38,570 --> 00:24:40,279 The Mod, however, that first got my 741 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:42,769 attention, was called the call to Jihad. 742 00:24:42,770 --> 00:24:44,479 There were a little jihad, which is a 743 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:45,979 play on call of duty. 744 00:24:45,980 --> 00:24:47,359 And instead of modern warfare, it's 745 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:49,189 called torturing unbelievers. 746 00:24:49,190 --> 00:24:50,360 I saw Salafi 747 00:24:51,530 --> 00:24:53,149 I saw Salafi kids in Saudi play this 748 00:24:53,150 --> 00:24:54,619 video game in the background when I was 749 00:24:54,620 --> 00:24:56,959 doing my fieldwork. And 750 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:58,729 what was really interesting, like just 751 00:24:58,730 --> 00:24:59,839 around the corner of my eye because I 752 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,279 really couldn't be paying attention to 753 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,259 them, was how much attention was paid to 754 00:25:03,260 --> 00:25:04,429 changing the narrative. 755 00:25:04,430 --> 00:25:05,809 But all the pieces of the game were 756 00:25:05,810 --> 00:25:06,810 already there. 757 00:25:08,330 --> 00:25:10,399 And I really wanted to bring one of 758 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:12,409 these games here. But hacking consoles is 759 00:25:12,410 --> 00:25:13,879 actually very technically difficult. 760 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,319 And when I got to the point where I could 761 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,419 buy a hacked Xbox that could run the 762 00:25:17,420 --> 00:25:19,549 game, I was told that the game server 763 00:25:19,550 --> 00:25:21,619 is in Syria and it's been 764 00:25:21,620 --> 00:25:23,509 down for a month. So if I bought it, I 765 00:25:23,510 --> 00:25:24,950 have to wait until it's online. 766 00:25:26,210 --> 00:25:28,369 And it's actually I also talk to contacts 767 00:25:28,370 --> 00:25:29,749 in the intelligence community about it. 768 00:25:29,750 --> 00:25:31,249 And they all advised me to stay away 769 00:25:31,250 --> 00:25:33,259 because there's currently an investigation 770 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:35,509 about who set up the game servers 771 00:25:35,510 --> 00:25:36,769 because it was possibly used by the 772 00:25:36,770 --> 00:25:38,359 Tsarnaev brothers before the Boston 773 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:39,649 Marathon bombing. 774 00:25:39,650 --> 00:25:41,539 And from the reactions I got and the 775 00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:43,099 people I talked to. 776 00:25:43,100 --> 00:25:44,599 I personally read on the situations that 777 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,039 someone's making a lot of money 778 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:47,569 investigating something that's probably 779 00:25:47,570 --> 00:25:48,570 irrelevant. 780 00:25:52,670 --> 00:25:55,489 I'm going to make a racial generality 781 00:25:55,490 --> 00:25:56,869 in the sense that I have no empirical 782 00:25:56,870 --> 00:25:58,279 data, but I'm going to say what will 783 00:25:58,280 --> 00:25:59,779 sound largely true. 784 00:25:59,780 --> 00:26:01,459 The relationship between violence and 785 00:26:01,460 --> 00:26:03,949 masculinity is very much 786 00:26:03,950 --> 00:26:05,989 racially defined within the context of US 787 00:26:05,990 --> 00:26:08,329 and Western culture and effectively 788 00:26:08,330 --> 00:26:09,499 the creators of these games. 789 00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:11,599 And let me abstract a little bit 790 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,009 about representation of race and 791 00:26:13,010 --> 00:26:14,010 violence. 792 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,959 For instance, like when a black or Latino 793 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,059 man commits violence is for what I term 794 00:26:20,060 --> 00:26:21,559 as hedonistic goals. 795 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:23,119 They want to be the bigger drug dealer, 796 00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:25,309 bigger pimp, the bigger gangster. 797 00:26:25,310 --> 00:26:26,809 The point is that they commit a violent 798 00:26:26,810 --> 00:26:28,789 act in order to enjoy the spoils of that 799 00:26:28,790 --> 00:26:31,069 violence, hidden mystically within 800 00:26:31,070 --> 00:26:32,719 the culture, within the political network 801 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:34,489 or system of the United State. 802 00:26:34,490 --> 00:26:36,109 When Muslim men commit violence, it's 803 00:26:36,110 --> 00:26:37,459 political violence. 804 00:26:37,460 --> 00:26:39,139 Muslim men commit violent acts of 805 00:26:39,140 --> 00:26:41,419 terrorism for world domination, the rise 806 00:26:41,420 --> 00:26:43,189 of the caliphate to smite Kafar and 807 00:26:43,190 --> 00:26:44,539 unbelievers. 808 00:26:44,540 --> 00:26:46,489 On the other hand, white men commit 809 00:26:46,490 --> 00:26:48,679 violence for all sorts of reasons, from 810 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:50,629 being serial killers to advance in the 811 00:26:50,630 --> 00:26:52,549 corporate ladder to getting life 812 00:26:52,550 --> 00:26:54,169 insurance from their dead spouse. 813 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:57,229 When violence seems over the top, they're 814 00:26:57,230 --> 00:26:58,819 always labeled as insane. 815 00:26:58,820 --> 00:27:00,739 So like the Columbine shootings or James 816 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:03,019 Holmes in The Dark Knight Aurora 817 00:27:03,020 --> 00:27:04,020 shootings. 818 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:06,259 But this is also a kind of violence which 819 00:27:06,260 --> 00:27:08,089 is allowed when white men are saving the 820 00:27:08,090 --> 00:27:10,279 world. For instance, soldiers in Iraq 821 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:11,749 or Jack Bauer in the streets of 822 00:27:11,750 --> 00:27:13,549 Washington, D.C. 823 00:27:13,550 --> 00:27:16,159 here we have a kind of a messiah complex. 824 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,169 When white men are committing violence, 825 00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:20,539 they are putting their lives on the line. 826 00:27:20,540 --> 00:27:22,639 And furthermore, women and children 827 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,619 are objects to be saved. 828 00:27:24,620 --> 00:27:27,079 It's righteous violence in a sense. 829 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,399 It extends all the way back to the 830 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:30,799 American war of independence or perhaps 831 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,869 even Christianity when 832 00:27:32,870 --> 00:27:34,039 it was interpreted in Europe, in the 833 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:35,040 Middle Ages. 834 00:27:36,410 --> 00:27:37,339 Within this matrix. 835 00:27:37,340 --> 00:27:39,529 We need to think about how long term 836 00:27:39,530 --> 00:27:42,709 persistent efforts affects perception. 837 00:27:42,710 --> 00:27:44,569 The interface between an operator and the 838 00:27:44,570 --> 00:27:46,849 drone is now a similar crime of a video 839 00:27:46,850 --> 00:27:49,009 game and not vice versa. 840 00:27:49,010 --> 00:27:50,929 Drone operators were recruited from the 841 00:27:50,930 --> 00:27:52,489 gamer community, and it was revealed by 842 00:27:52,490 --> 00:27:54,589 Michael Haas and other former drone 843 00:27:54,590 --> 00:27:56,959 pilots about 844 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,269 water. The Navy's top commander publicly 845 00:27:59,270 --> 00:28:00,609 expressed that a big part of the problem 846 00:28:00,610 --> 00:28:01,639 was civilian casualties. 847 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:03,529 And drone attacks isn't necessarily pilot 848 00:28:03,530 --> 00:28:04,669 error. 849 00:28:04,670 --> 00:28:06,259 It's just that the pilots were used to 850 00:28:06,260 --> 00:28:07,999 shooting targets that look and walk a 851 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,279 certain way due to video games. 852 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:12,319 He compared it to canine units or 853 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,629 military dogs, like attacking someone 854 00:28:14,630 --> 00:28:15,529 by mistake. 855 00:28:15,530 --> 00:28:17,779 So every Arab or Muslim looking male 856 00:28:17,780 --> 00:28:19,159 now looks like a threat. 857 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,259 I think the concept of military 858 00:28:21,260 --> 00:28:23,419 aged male as being a valid target is 859 00:28:23,420 --> 00:28:25,579 rife with sexism and bias 860 00:28:25,580 --> 00:28:26,929 towards a particular appearance. 861 00:28:26,930 --> 00:28:29,179 You can now shoot a drone missile 862 00:28:29,180 --> 00:28:31,579 through a moving car window, a target 863 00:28:31,580 --> 00:28:33,229 like literally that big. 864 00:28:33,230 --> 00:28:34,549 But that doesn't make me feel safe. 865 00:28:34,550 --> 00:28:36,980 You know, it's like, um, 866 00:28:38,150 --> 00:28:39,769 besides the knee jerk accidental 867 00:28:39,770 --> 00:28:41,329 killings, I think it's interesting to 868 00:28:41,330 --> 00:28:43,129 note that the first American citizen to 869 00:28:43,130 --> 00:28:44,959 be killed in the official limelight 870 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:46,579 without trial since the American Civil 871 00:28:46,580 --> 00:28:48,889 War was Anwar al-Awlaki, along 872 00:28:48,890 --> 00:28:50,599 with his teenage son, in a separate 873 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:51,979 attack in Yemen. 874 00:28:51,980 --> 00:28:53,629 Obama was president and directly 875 00:28:53,630 --> 00:28:55,129 authorized the order. 876 00:28:55,130 --> 00:28:56,959 Now this guy lives on and YouTube is the 877 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,119 primary ideological imam of the Islamic 878 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:00,169 State. 879 00:29:00,170 --> 00:29:02,059 You may not be able to respond in this 880 00:29:02,060 --> 00:29:04,519 game, but the Internet never forgets. 881 00:29:08,530 --> 00:29:11,169 Even Halo, the space opera fantasy 882 00:29:11,170 --> 00:29:12,909 that happens hundreds of years in the 883 00:29:12,910 --> 00:29:15,039 future, the enemy are depicted as 884 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,319 theocratic religious zealots known 885 00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:19,209 as the Covenant, who are willing to risk 886 00:29:19,210 --> 00:29:21,039 their lives for what they believe in. 887 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:23,679 The humans are the hyper rational beings 888 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,509 and their defenders are cybernetic 889 00:29:25,510 --> 00:29:26,409 beings. 890 00:29:26,410 --> 00:29:28,359 It's literally tech versus religion. 891 00:29:33,050 --> 00:29:34,879 We today live in democracies where free 892 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:36,979 speech is largely protected, except in 893 00:29:36,980 --> 00:29:38,269 Germany, where anti-Semitic speech is 894 00:29:38,270 --> 00:29:40,699 prohibited for obvious reasons, society 895 00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:42,709 self regulates on a cultural dimension 896 00:29:42,710 --> 00:29:45,289 when it realizes in a large enough scale 897 00:29:45,290 --> 00:29:48,199 how devastating racism and bias can be. 898 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:49,819 As someone who enjoyed these games, a 899 00:29:49,820 --> 00:29:51,379 solution I can think of is that there is 900 00:29:51,380 --> 00:29:52,609 no reason why these settings of these 901 00:29:52,610 --> 00:29:55,009 games can be anywhere imagined 902 00:29:55,010 --> 00:29:56,029 in a multiplayer game. 903 00:29:56,030 --> 00:29:58,399 The map you play by default is a virtual 904 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,609 representation of your current location. 905 00:30:01,610 --> 00:30:03,019 When you play someone else, you take 906 00:30:03,020 --> 00:30:05,269 turns attacking each other in their own 907 00:30:05,270 --> 00:30:06,409 neighborhoods. 908 00:30:06,410 --> 00:30:07,999 There's already stuff in this direction. 909 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:09,319 But if you keep thinking of the Middle 910 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,269 East as a war zone, it will remain a war 911 00:30:11,270 --> 00:30:13,009 zone if you keep thinking of Arabs as 912 00:30:13,010 --> 00:30:13,999 terrorists. 913 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:16,100 Well, I think the outcome is obvious. 914 00:30:17,630 --> 00:30:19,849 One model, one model for ethical gameplay 915 00:30:19,850 --> 00:30:21,469 I've encountered is the small indie game, 916 00:30:21,470 --> 00:30:23,209 This War of Mine, which was based on the 917 00:30:23,210 --> 00:30:25,399 1994 ninety siege 918 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:26,659 of Sarajevo. 919 00:30:26,660 --> 00:30:28,279 Here you play a group of squatters who 920 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:29,869 are basically fighting to survive in the 921 00:30:29,870 --> 00:30:31,369 midst of a war zone. 922 00:30:31,370 --> 00:30:33,019 Most of the time you're figuring out 923 00:30:33,020 --> 00:30:35,719 logistics like firewood, gas, food. 924 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:37,969 I think if you want to make a realistic 925 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:39,769 video games, you might as well go all the 926 00:30:39,770 --> 00:30:41,389 way to show the suffering. 927 00:30:41,390 --> 00:30:43,249 Why not show war from the point of view 928 00:30:43,250 --> 00:30:44,239 of victims? 929 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:45,469 I think these games would be really 930 00:30:45,470 --> 00:30:46,819 exciting as someone who's been in the 931 00:30:46,820 --> 00:30:48,189 middle of a bombing campaign. 932 00:30:50,330 --> 00:30:53,219 Nothing gets your adrenaline going, 933 00:30:53,220 --> 00:30:54,289 but I hope you guys never have to 934 00:30:54,290 --> 00:30:55,279 experience this in real life. 935 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:56,280 And thank you very much.