Call for Papers: From Dots to Bodies: Intersections of Cinema and Video Games
for the thirty-third Annual NEMLA Convention, Toronto, Canada, 12-13 Apr. 2002.
This panel will explore the relationships -- intersubjectivity,
intertextuality, narrative, gender, spectatorship, translation from one
medium to the other, etc. -- between cinema and video games.
Rationale:
The long-awaited release of the Tomb Raider movie represents an important
intersection between cinema and video games. Lara Croft, the (animated) star
of the video games will be played by Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, in
a meeting of two of the biggest stars in their respective industries. Yet,
this is not the first such movie production. Other movies based on video
games, such as Mario Bros. and Mortal Kombat, have appeared. As virtual
reality has improved with successive generations of improved technology, the
ability of animators to create games with the look and feel of movies has
been enhanced greatly. For example, Jordan Mechner, designer of The Last
Express, admits that his game tries to mimic camera techniques from
Hitchcock's Rear Window (Computer Graphics 33.3). Conversely, popular movies
often inspire the creation of video games based on the prototype (in order
to capitalize on an already proven franchise).
It is a common-place to consider cinematic depictions of literary works, but
video games do not receive similar attention. Nevertheless, how does a
producer or designer translate one visual medium to another visual medium?
How is narrative impacted by interactivity? What role does the spectator
play? What is the relationship between generic and cultural verisimilitude?
How does the interactivity of video games alter the position and experience
of the spectator/player? How are gender and sexuality portrayed, determined,
and constructed in terms of virtual bodies? Are the virtual bodies subjects
or objects and how does being on the silver screen rather than a CRT affect
these positions?
This panel will consider all papers that attempt to address these and
other questions regarding the intersections of cinema and video games.
Deadline for submissions is 15 Sept. 2001.
Please send abstracts of approx. 500 words and A/V requirements to:
Marc A. Ouellette
Chester New Hall, Rm. 201
McMaster University
1280 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON L8S 4L9
E-Mail: ouellema@mcmaster.ca or maouelle@ican.net
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