Toxic City Chronicles Progress

 My Brainstorming and Planning Process

Timeline that has since imploded due to life :D

Drawings of how I initially wanted it set up - may be making changes to it.

 

Programming the media player to play on the CRT TV

Screen shots of each of the screens 

My First draft of Artist Statement:

    This observational piece sheds light on the struggles experienced by the online gaming community that often go unnoticed. Despite their differing backgrounds and gaming preferences, individuals are impacted by the same negative aspects. Unfortunately, the community harbors deeply toxic traits that are amplified and normalized. Even women, who are particularly susceptible to targeted negative behavior, may adopt these toxic and masochistic traits and direct them towards other women.

    Historically, the gaming industry has prioritized and marketed games for cis men. While there have been improvements in dismantling blatant sexism and toxicity in recent years, certain communities still protect and condone archaic behavior. Unrealistic expectations for women portrayed in games often translate to how they and other minorities are treated in real life. Additionally, "Trash Talking" between gamers, while accepted within the community, features normalized phrases that would be considered offensive elsewhere.

The goal of this work is to showcase both positive and negative aspects of online gaming. Although not all negative behavior comes from within the community, both male and female perspectives share a common thread. By highlighting negative aspects, the hope is to encourage recognition of such behavior and encourage personal responsibility for change. Ultimately, it's essential to realize that real people with real feelings are on the other side of the screen.

    The project features a custom MAX 8 program played on a CRT television, displaying 12 testimonials. The screensaver invites users to start the project by pressing any key. Using a Nintendo-styled controller, users can navigate to the main menu to select one of the 12 available thumbnails. Upon selection, the video plays in full-screen mode, featuring the volunteer's chosen credit name and three descriptors to provide context. Users can watch as many of the 16-second videos as they prefer, drawing their conclusions about the testimonies.

Video recording of project: