‘Sowjet-Unterzögersdorf’ @ Betalevel Los Angeles: Adventure Gaming, Politics and Future of the Past

Ein Vortrag von Johannes Grenzfurthner, monochrom.

monochrom’s project “Soviet Unterzoegersdorf” started ten years ago as the implementation of a “false reminiscence” into the European cultural memory — a fictitious, tiny country, first presented as a prankish theatrical LARP performance and public intervention, then turned into a adventure game series. According to postmodern debates, “history” and stories have been playing a central part in the development of national, ethnic and tribal identities. Computer game developers are hardly aware of these discourses and are not taking advantage of their valueable insight. The game series “Soviet Unterzoegersdorf” combines (retro)gaming, (retro)politics and (crypto)humor to delve into this ongoing discussion. In this regard, the project is taking part in the production as well as the criticism of cultural and collective memories — both in politics and popular gaming. It is a commemoration and resurrection, and one more reminder that contemporary gaming (in its radical business-driven state-of-the-artness) dare not forget the (un)dead media of the past — or it will not have a bright future.

Monday; October 11, 2010; 8 PM @ Betalevel in Chinatown, Los Angeles.
There is no actual address. So just find yourself in front of “FULL HOUSE RESTAURANT” located at 963 N. Hill Street. Locate the alley on the left hand side of Full House. Walk about 20 feet down the alley (away from the street). Stop. Notice dumpster on your right hand side. Take a right and continue down the alley. Exercise caution so as not trip on the wobbly cement blocks underfoot. The entrance to Betalevel is located 10 yards down on left side, behind a red door, down a black staircase.

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