Entry 9 - [domestic]

( http://www.marryflanagan.com/domestic ~ New Media Art p.44 )

[domestic] is a video game made by Mary Flanagan using the Unreal 2 engine. Unlike most of the games that use the Unreal 2 engine, [domestic] does not use violence as a mechanic, instead having the player explore a home-like 3d environment which represents childhood memories and feelings of the artist. The design of the environment is surreal with the combination of photographs and text as textures in the environment, representing her internal psychological horrors based on her memory of seeing her house burning as a child, knowing her father was still inside.

I like this piece because it uses interactive medium to tell a story in a unique way. Projects like this reaffirm my belief that the interactivity of video games adds, rather than detracts from the artistic value, despite the beliefs of certain critics. The arrangement of photographs and text in a 3d space allows for different artistic expression than a traditional photoalbum. This piece exemplifies that the medium effectively allows for a 3d space that does not need to be bound to the laws of reality.