Violence is an extremely contentious factor in the playing and marketing of games in the global market. Whilst playing videogames, the player experiences a sense of identification with the character, where not only do they view and empathise with the character onscreen but also emotionally they often become very deeply associated with the avatar. Most players refer to their chosen characters as 'I' – perceiving themselves as the perpetrator of the actions taking place in a constructed digital environment. In Point Blank, artist Pippa Stalker inserts herself into the logic of killing in the controversial game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas', and then manipulates that process for aesthetic effect. Point Blank documents her killing of approximately 2000 people. Except that none of these people are real

Artist’s Biography

Pippa Stalker is a Wits alumnus and lecturer, holding a BAFA and MAFA (Digital Animation). Her research negotiates the appropriation of the videogame medium in fine art practice