Interactive Exhibition of Video Games Global Games: Games and Politics
Video games can be seen as pure entertainment, as political statements, or even as art.
The interactive exhibition Games & Politics encourages the visitor to try out sixteen significant politically-ambitious video games and examine how they each unfold their unique political potential.
The political aspect of the games becomes visible to the players either directly as they make political decisions (Democracy III) or indirectly as they witness social injustices. For example, the games address precarious labor conditions (Sunset), gender issues (Perfect Woman), and the treatment of refugees (Escape from Woomera). The games lead the players into political struggles such as the revolution against a totalitarian system (Yellow Umbrella), and confront them with the surveillance state (Touchtone) and the consequences of armed conflicts (This War of Mine). Adopting the characters of often-marginalized people, players experience limited possibilities and negative sanctions through both the character and the game play.
The selected games cover a wide range of political topics. In addition to trying out the games, visitors can view an introductory film about political games and short documentaries about some of the games. The accompanying exhibition catalogue provides background information on the unifying concepts of these independent games.
This exhibition is organized by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medien Karlsruhe).
© Goethe-Institut
Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 6:30 pm
Friday: 10 am – 3:30 pm
Interested in scheduling a field trip? Contact Norma Broadwater at +1 (202) 847-4707 or norma.broadwater@goethe.de.