We Watched eXistenZ (1999) directed by David Cronenberg. This movie explores the world of games and how excessive play can warp reality. I found the movie interesting in the approach to gaming and the use of the portal which connected the human body directly into the gaming world. Though it did get confusing at the end, which showed how ones sense of reality can get warped and even deluded by excessive play.
Tutorial: There was no tutorial this week.
Reading: The Military-Entertainment Complex: A New Facet of Information Warfare
Written by Stephen Stockwell and Adam Muir begins by discussing history of war and the direct relation to propaganda used within Hollywood and media to misinform people about the war and the military and how integrated the military is in the entertainment industry. It also talks about gaming and the use of military and war within games, starting from a simple board game then progressing into full blown simulations like flight simulations and shooting ranges for military training purposes. It is discussed that the military also employ directors and screenwriters to write terrorist scenarios for training the military to prepare them as many different situations as possible. Another point brought up is another development in the media sphere was the use of reality TV and the way it was used to merely entertain the general public then in light of war was changed again but in a more war oriented context to keep the general public interested in the militaries operations. I also though the point that the exercise of free speech comes at a cost for those who take alternative viewpoints in times of war was very valid, I also think it is more so true when relating Americas military to war, I feel its not as true in Australia.
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