Interesting video

Some thoughts...

Here are some of my thoughts on the situation thus far. I hope people were able to attend the protest yesterday or at least watch some of the press on the news.


Background:
Wafaa Bilal, an RPI visiting artist had his art exhibit shut down by RPI and then later the city of troy (through the sanutary for independant media's code violations. The santuary was ironically shut down by Bob Mirch the Republican Public Works Commissioner after he led his own protest against Bilal. Mirch claims that to be coincidental.

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Quote from capital news 9

A day after the Mirch's protest, Code Enforcement shut down the Sanctuary, and as a result, the exhibit. Mayor Tutunjian says it has been in violation for more than a year and the city screwed up by not acting sooner because of the safety threats it presents. But both the Mayor and Mirch say, despite the timing, the shut down had nothing to do with the content of the exhibit and once improvements, including repairs to the front doors are made, the building will be open again.
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The RPI college republican club posted a statement saying "The Arts Department – A Haven for Terrorists". RPI's Dean of Students then removed their website from the internet because the statement was untrue and violated Rensselaer Electronic Citizenship Policy, specifically Section 3.4 Freedom from harassment (pg. 3), Section 4.1 Common courtesy and respect for others (pg. 3), and Section 4.1.3 Harassment (pg. 4). In addition to alleged violations of the Electronic Citizenship Policy (GDA #17), other Grounds for Disciplinary Action may also prove relevant, specifically, GDA #2, 6 and 9 as stated in The Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities, 2006-2008 (pg. 8).


Excerpt from rpi.freeculture.org:
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About the exhibit

In the widely marketed video game "Quest for Saddam," players fight stereotypical Iraqi foes and try to kill Saddam. Al Qaeda did its own take, creating an online video game using the structure of "Quest for Saddam" but adding a new "skin" to turn the game into a hunt for Bush: "The Night of Bush Capturing." Now artist Wafaa Bilal has hacked the Al Qaeda version of the game to put his own more nuanced spin on this epic conflict.

In "The Night of Bush Capturing: A Virtual Jihadi," Bilal casts himself as a suicide-bomber in the game. After learning of the real-life death of his brother in the war, he is recruited by Al Qaeda to join the hunt for Bush. This work is meant to bring attention to the vulnerability of Iraqi civilians to the travesties of the current war and racist generalizations and stereotypes as exhibited in games such as "Quest for Saddam," along with vulnerability to recruitment by violent groups like Al Qaeda because of the U.S.’s failed strategy in securing Iraq. The work also aims to shed light on groups that traffic in crass and hateful stereotypes of Arab culture with games like "Quest for Saddam" and other media.

"[Virtual Jihadi] is meant to bring attention to the vulnerability of Iraqi civilians to the travesties of the current war and racist generalizations and stereotypes as exhibited in games such as Quest for Saddam; along with vulnerability to recruitment by violent groups like Al Qaeda because of the U.S.’s failed strategy in securing Iraq. The work also aims to shed light on groups that traffic in crass and hateful stereotypes of Arab culture with games like Quest for Saddam and other media."[1]
[edit] About the artist

Wafaa Bilal is a U.S. citizen who emigrated to the U.S. in 1992 after being arrested and tortured for his political art work criticizing Saddam Hussein (see his bio here). He is a visiting artist at RPI's Arts Department, and had been working with the Department for a few weeks prior to the incident.

Wafaa Bilal was named 2007 Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune, which wrote, "No artwork created in Chicago in 2007 received as much attention as Wafaa Bilal's 'Domestic Tension,' an interactive performance piece that subjected the Iraqi-born artist to a month of bombardment by paintballs from Internet viewers."


Taken from rpi.freeculture.org
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One of the most interesting aspects of this debate is that both sides are fighting for the same thing. Both sides want to support our country. Wafaa was trying to open the dialoge for people to speak. Despite his show being shut down, he still managed to create a stir about the War and in my opinion that justifies his time at RPI as being a successful one.

If you try to look at the bright side of everything that has happened, you'll see that a much larger voice was created because Bilal gained so much attention by newspapers and it got people talking. There are some great youtube documentary videos out there that I'll post in the blog. It shows some people holding anti-terrorism signs talking about how much they support america even if they don't agree with what the president is doing. I think a lot of people feel that way and I think that's what Bilal was trying to get across. He used his video game to create controversy and gain media attention about the issue of war. I think we all want this war to be over with, especially those who have lost their family and friends because of it, just as Bilal has lost his brother. He wants the war to be over too. He wants peace.

And so we all have a common goal here. I understand why people immediately react to his video game and just see the surface issue of shooting bush being wrong but those people need to look closer and really see what Bilal's purpose was. Everyone here has a common goal and I hope that everyone is able to see that when all is said and done.

Email from RPI

After extensive and careful deliberation and consideration of the origin, content, and intent of the "Virtual Jihadi" video game exhibit by digital media artist Wafaa Bilal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has decided not to reopen the exhibit on the Troy campus. The decision was based on numerous concerns, including, in particular two characteristics of the video game in the exhibit, as affirmed by the

artist: First, that the video game in the exhibit is derived from the product of a terrorist organization; and second, that the video game is targeted to and suggests the killing of the President of the United States.

Rensselaer fully supports academic and artistic freedom. We respect the rights of all members of the Rensselaer community and their guests to express their opinions and viewpoints. However, as stewards of a private university, we have the right and, indeed, the responsibility to ensure that university resources are used in ways that are in the overall best interests of the institution.

William N. Walker

Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations

Waffa Bilal

Times Union Article

Wafaa Bilal's gallery has been shut down.

WTF RPI? The alumni of RPI really hold the power over everything. By power, of course I mean money. Part of me understands why RPI always plays it safe, I get that. Funding, alumni, etc. But if you're pushing the arts department. Pushing the "Rensselaer University". Then what are you doing shutting down this display? Talking about this in class has brought up about 5 stories of students final projects that have been shut down. Now, while these have been slightly controversial projects, they haven't been THAT crazy. It's mostly been funny inside RPI jokes like "One word empties wallets. Rensselaer. Why not change your mind?" or pro-religious projects. It's really interesting to me because RPI only got wind of Wafaa's project after the press it's received.

Now let me just say that I was part of a large conference call with artists in Iraq with Wafaa translating for us. He's a very normal, calm guy. He's just enjoying this time being at RPI and was really gracious to us for being so willing to participate in the phone call. We were able to ask questions to the artists in Iraq. We even had a Jewish guy ask questions, which was kinda neat. My big question was how artists were influenced in Iraq. Do they focus on a positive future or does their work reflect their harsh day to day reality?

These questions are interesting. These questions bridge the gap between cultures. Aren't we supposed to be learning from eachother? Embracing our differences? I've learned a lot already from Wafaa. From how administration reacts to what life for an artist was like in Iraq. (They tend to focus on staying alive rather than their work and it's hard for them to ever take their art outside of their homes). I support the Arts Department of RPI. It's just a shame that RPI ended his gallery display early. As an arts student at RPI, I've learned a ton, so thanks to everyone regardless of your opinion.

-Emelie

Podcast Three | Electronic Music

Visting Artist Waafa Bilal

After viewing some of his work and seeing him in person today for the first time, I am really surprised that RPI has him as a artist in residency. His work is very controversial and frankly I'm surprised to see him at RPI considering the stir he could potentially create. However in my own opinion I think it's great for the arts department to have him here. Today Waafa and a group of students (including myself) were part of a phone conference with 4 artists in Iraq. It had me thinking about his work and the artists in Iraq. Their artwork must vary so much from that of an American's in concept because of the significant differences in day to day life. I also wonder if their inspiration is more about a positive future in Iraq or if it's about the negative present.

I find it kind of amazing that in such a war torn place there are artists that are able to support themselves. I just imagine life over there to be much more practical and focused. I value art and music so much in my life and I cannot imagine how I'd be different emotionally without it. Then to think about these people in Iraq who probably don't have much music or artwork (expression of their feelings) and how that must be so bounding. I could be wrong though, I'm not really sure. These are all just ideas based on what I know as a young American girl.

-Emelie

Tipping Point

Hush Puppies

I enjoyed this read mostly because of the reference to fashion and how trends can start. One person can start it all and not even know. It's quite amazing. Fashion can come from someone who cannot afford anything but old Hush Puppies. Something can spread in an instant. There are some great commercials out now that demonstrate how fast something can spread. The one that comes to mind is about spreading kindness through holding the door open for someone or something. It shows another person noticing and then doing a favor for someone else and so on. The doubling (or tree branching) affect can rapidly change something in a short amount of time. This is common with the internet in that when one person finds something interesting, they'll send it to their 10 friends who in return will each send out 10 more to each of their friends (hitting 110 people in a matter of seconds).

MOVIE: I really liked the movie in class today and I really liked the psychology behind how easy it is for someone to believe something just by seeing it a certain amount of times. A stunt like that keeps people on their toes and keeps them second guessing the world around them. It's really important in avoiding the mindless routine that life could be.

-Emelie