American artist suffers serious complaints following 9/11 videogame exhibit. Image: Kotaku.A video arcade game exhibit showcased at the recent GCDC games convention in Leipzig, Germany, has been targeted for intense criticism after it melded classic Space Invaders-inspired gameplay with the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. The rush of condemnation for the somewhat tasteless and insensitive videogame homage to the 30th anniversary of Space Invaders, which shows the twin towers being destroyed by descending alien hordes, has subsequently led its creator, Douglas Stanley, to pull the exhibit from public viewing. However, despite removing the display after it provoked the ire of convention attendees and also 9/11 families, Mr. Stanley has branded his critics as “immature” for failing to understand the exhibit. “The American response to this work has been, frankly, immature,” vented Stanley on his official Web site after instructing GCDC officials to pull the plug on his controversial Space Invaders display.
American artist suffers serious complaints following 9/11 videogame exhibit. Image: Kotaku.
A video arcade game exhibit showcased at the recent GCDC games convention in Leipzig, Germany, has been targeted for intense criticism after it melded classic Space Invaders-inspired gameplay with the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.
The rush of condemnation for the somewhat tasteless and insensitive videogame homage to the 30th anniversary of Space Invaders, which shows the twin towers being destroyed by descending alien hordes, has subsequently led its creator, Douglas Stanley, to pull the exhibit from public viewing.
However, despite removing the display after it provoked the ire of convention attendees and also 9/11 families, Mr. Stanley has branded his critics as “immature” for failing to understand the exhibit.
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Stanley, an American living and working in France, also noted that reaction from U.S. viewers has lacked “the sophistication and consideration that other parts of the world have so far shown the work.”
In its description of the exhibit, the Leipzig games convention outlined that:
“The French-American artist Douglas Edric Stanley has found an unusual – though obvious – metaphor with his work “Invaders!”, which is based on the 1978 arcade original. In his interactive large installation, the players must prevent the catastrophe by controlling the well- known cannon at the lower screen border with their bodies and firing it using arm movements.
“Like the original, this trial is ultimately unsuccessful, thus creating an articulated and critical commentary about the current war strategy. In this regard, Douglas Edric Stanley sees Space Invaders as “a social tale that can be related to historical tales without losing its poetic power”
News of the display’s closure has been welcomed by those individuals closely associated with the infamous terrorist attacks that took place on September 11 of 2001.
“He probably realized that wasn't a proper thing to do,” commented Rosemarie Giallombardo of Brooklyn to the New York Times. Giallombardo, who lost her son during the 9/11 attacks, added that: “You don't celebrate 3,000 people that way.”
Similarly, Nick Chiarchiaro, who lost both his wife and his niece on that fateful day, said the GCDC display showed its creator “has absolutely no taste and no feelings for the people involved,” and that Stanley would likely have thought twice about releasing his exhibit had he personally experienced the horrors associated with 9/11.
Tying in with Stanley’s decision to drop his arcade exhibit is news that Space Invader creator Taito is "seriously considering all available options -- including legal actions" against the artist for unauthorised use of its gaming property.
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