Daniele Hopkins and Kyle Duffields "Bra and Bro" Video Game controllers
Hey just wanted everyone to check out http://hopkinsduffield.com
Daniele Hopkins and Kyle Duffield are two really talented artist from Toronto Canada. I know I type that about everyone I know within the art community... but take my non verbal word on this.. I assure you they are doing some really cool things. Me and Terry were super lucky enough to document their interactive "Bra and Bro" video game controllers at Vector, Game and Art Convergence. The "Bra and Bro" is an interactive, collaborative, performance piece. The controller is modified and built into the bra/ bro, both Daniele and Kyle wear them becoming a "human controller" the audience is then allowed to come up and use the controllers. I'm not going to go into major detail about what inspired them to create it because its on the site.. hence the check it out
I will elaborate a bit on my own perspective on the event and my reaction to the controllers. It was really interesting watching the interaction between the human controllers and the gamer. Some people were a bit more aggressive with the controllers, others were more gentile. I also noticed that peoples first initial reaction towards using the controllers were hesitant, as more people became curious and braver and open to using the controllers, it transformed into a performance piece. The feelings that were invoked from the "bra and bro" was not objectification of one specific gender, It was the objectification of humans for the sake of entrainment.
The thoughts that were running through my head was how was this any different from athletes? celebrities? actors etc. As you can tell my ethics sense which is similar to my spidey sense was tingling. If your wondering, I did not try out the controllers because I am a self proclaimed button masher... and Human controller + me (attempting to beat my boyfriend at a fighting game)+ button mashing= someone might get hurt.. and I have a feeling it might be my fingers. It's all fun and games till a photographer.. looses their good button pressing index finger.. Thank you for your time,
"Button masher" Heidi O P