What are the real effects of digital gaming to our fingers, hands, and bodies?
The conformity of interfaces produces deformity. It’s a fact. Call it “the reality of the virtual”. Prolonged vicarious aggression lead to permanent physical disfiguration. Gaming activities produce real consequences for the users. Research has been conducted for years in several clinical laboratories across the globe but doctors and researchers are not willing to share their findings with the general population. However, evidence of new technologically-induced diseases is now becoming known outside of the scientific community.
These pathologies – labeled collectively “Game arthritis” – are officially not “recognized”.The authorities have dismissed this hidden epidemic as “mass hysteria”.But according to some scientists – who speak under condition of anonymity fearing ostracization – these undiagnosed disorders are the psychopathology of ludic societies. Digital technology is indeed damaging users’ fingers, arms, postures… Even their DNA is compromised.Game arthritis is not supposed to exist. Game companies do not want to talk about it. Clinicians and dermatologists do not want to discuss it. Labs refuse to run tests. And yet, thousands of players manifest similar symptoms. Thousands of players feel real pain in their bodies. Affected subjects are not delusional.
Photos and images are beginning to circulate on the internet.
We have collected a few samples.
gamearthritis.org
A work by Matteo Bittanti and IOCOSE
Photographer: Kenzie Burchell
Make-up artist: Emma Alexandra Watts
Models: Tom Bennett, Katie Bourner, Sabu Isayama, Maruen Zarino Lanni,
Lauren Lapidge, Paul Speziali, Rory Thompson, Juliana Yazbeck
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
2016
- Game as Arts / Arts as Games, Falmouth University, UK
2013
- GAME: The Future of Play, Polytechnical Museum, Moscow, Russia
2012
- GAME, Science Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
2011
- Italians do it better!! – 54. Biennale di Venezia, Sala Dei Laneri, Venezia, Italy
- My Personal Crime – Drodesera, Centrale Fies, Temporary Gallery, Dro (TN), Italy
- Game Arthritis (solo), Fabio Paris Art Gallery, Brescia, Italy
CRITICAL READINGS
- Bittanti, M., “A Gaming Patography“, originally published by Fabio Paris Art Gallery, Brescia, Italy, 2011
- Ludovico, A., (2012), Addiction(s), interview published on Neural magazine. [English]
