Benjamin Bratton @ M&A
Materials & Applications kicks off a series of open-air discussions on design, technology and culture in a show & tell format at the courtyard exhibition space at 1619 Silver Lake Boulevard in Los Angeles. The series begins Tuesday, September 6th and runs through November. This series accompanies the wildly popular Maximilian's Schell installation. Come have fun in the golden vortex!
Tuesday, September . 06 . 2005 @ 8pm $5 at the gate.
BENJAMIN BRATTON [cultureindustry.com]
: Game Theory :
Thrill to the immersive excitement of Grand Theft Auto, get caught up in the beats and the machine gun spatter, then stop if you can and consider why this game is so effective. Games like these are designed to be engrossing ˆ addictive ˆ and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Benjamin Bratton principal of The Culture Industry will discuss the theory behind the game and what that reveals about the people who play it, the people who create it, and the people who just like to watch.
M&A is a non-profit organization that conducts architecture and landscape research in an environment open to all. More information is available on the M&A website: www.emanate.org, or call 323-913-0915
Game theory studies choice of optimal behavior when costs and benefits of each option are not fixed, but depend upon the future choices of other individuals. It has applications in a variety of fields, including economics, international relations, evolutionary biology, political science, and military strategy.
Game theorists study the predicted and actual behaviour of individuals in games, as well as optimal strategies. Seemingly different types of interactions can exhibit similar incentive structures, thus all exemplifying one particular game.
Have a favorite gadget or an especially inspired creation? Bring it with you to Show & Tell! At the end of every event we will invite members of the audience who have brought something to share to come up and tell us about it.
Comments
wow... this sounds very cool. i'm definitely gonna go. anyone else wanna come?
Posted by: Aaron![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/phoberman/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 6, 2005 2:15 PM
Oh wow, this looks great -- did not see it until too late! I am across town now ... Let me know how it is if you go, Aaron.
Posted by: Tracy Fullerton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/phoberman/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 6, 2005 7:17 PM
Benjamin has a unique perspective on games, cinema, and architecture. Some highlights from his lecture include:
“Narrative is spawned from the [San Andreas] city.”
“Cinema is used as a raw architectural material.”
“Living in Los Angeles and visualization programs like Maya greatly influence architects to think of design as narrative and character.”
“The game [San Andreas] is hoplessly litteral and, in a way, Super Mario Brothers is much more imaginative.”
“We are in the midst of a new convergence where EverQuest currency is just as real as Bank of America currency.”
“The lines are blurring; real-world information is imbeded and updated within fictional games.”
Posted by: andrew![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/phoberman/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 7, 2005 9:30 AM