Author Salman Rushdie, who has been dodging a fatwa ever since outraging the Islamic community with his 1988 book The Satanic Verses, mentioned video games during a recent appearance on The Colbert Report.
RUSHDIE: ...I think the only good sign is that a lot of the younger generation in Muslim countries really wants that change. So maybe they will bring it.
COLBERT: What can we do to help? Can we send them video games?
RUSHDIE: I think video games, YouTube, you know, these are the things that will change the world. Because when people see what garbage everybody else is consuming, they want it too.
A bit of a backhanded compliment, no? But still...
Via: Kotaku
Comments
I don't think it is a backhand comment at all. Some games are, in fact, garbage. You can't get Bioshock or Zelda or even Sim City every single time. That is a perfect idea. All our crappy games should be sent overseas. That way there will be room for more good ones on my already full shelf.
I've always wondered why the CIA doesn't force detainees to continuously play Barbie Horse Adventures; it has all the torture than waterboarding, but without all the messy controversy!
sorry, *of* waterboarding!
Give me an edit button, or give me death!
speaking of barbie horse adventure did you happen to glance upon the Penny-arcade comic making fun of it? http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/5/26/
oh and heads up:it has an edit button
----Reno to Thompson "I'm only interested in virile men. That’s why I'm not attracted to you." This kids, is what we call a grammatical smack down
I think I see a positive use for shovelware.
I believe the expression is "Damned with faint praise"...
Gift.
I dunno. It felt more like a tongue-in-cheek remark at popular media these days. Nothing worth getting riled up over, imho.
Agreed, sounds like the generic "Everything the younger generation likes is garbage" comment that is recycled by every generation when they get older.
Oh I'm not getting upset over it, that comment came with an *eye-roll*. Plus I love the expression "Damned with faint praise" and this is a perfect example :)
Gift.
Sort of slow on the uptake as this episodes was shown last week if if I remember correctly.
I was thinking the same. I knew I saw this episode awhile ago.
Either way, I wouldn't look too much into this. It seems more like a random comment (and a stab) at today's satire.
David Cronenberg once interviewed Salman Rushdie. The interview was the inspiration for eXistenZ, wherein a video game designer is the subject of a fatwa. He's okay, but he's no Brain O'blivion (Marshal McLuhan). ;-)
I wish we could have two Cronenbergs. I don't want to sacrifice the one for the other. He does good horror, but he is an amazing director. I think eventually he will stop being so serious and recombine his talents.
Check out Vincenzo Natali. He also has a very unique and fantastical world in his head.
Not a backhanded compliment. Until (at some point in the distant future), games are considered high art, they (like most modern movies, music, etc) will be considered "garbage" by the powers that be. Authorities do not fear high class art they can more easily control. They fear low class art that is consumed by the masses and whose message they cannot restrict.
Grrr! I hate the CRTC!!!! (Canadian Radio and Television Commission)
Thanks to them, Comedy Central can block Cdn IPs and forward them to Comedy Network, which has nowhere near the collection of clips that DailyShow and Colbert's websites have...
-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...
I took this as a comment more on "pop culture" then video games. Its a matter of saying there is a lot of garbage out there. And yes a large number of video games are just that garbage, especially considering that most people do not draw a distinction between games you buy in the store or flash games you play online.
Yes, I thought he meant Pop Culture as well. Kind of made me smile, yesterdays 'garbage' is todays '...Sold at auction for three quarters of a million...'.