Theater | ‘Black Feminist Video Game’ Review: Pixels and Controversies
Live performances via Zoom mix with actual game footage in this well-meaning yet preachy piece by poet Darrel Alejandro Holnes.
Audre Lorde is not going to save you. She’s too busy resting in the skies of legendary artist-activists to be your personal black feminist guru. That’s what a teenage gamer named Jonas discovers in Civilians’ well-meaning but clumsy ‘Black Feminist Video Game’.
Jonas (Christon Andell), our Player 1, is a biracial, autistic high school student with a single working mom (Constance Fields) who tried to teach her son lessons from big black feminists, like bell hooks. However, Jonas learns how hard it is to internalize those lessons when a girl he’s dating, Nicole (Starr Kirkland), interrupts him. In an attempt to win her back, he, with the help of his gamer friend Sabine (Kyla Butts), seeks guidance from an old gift from his mother: the 2D video game that gives the game its title.
Written by poet Darrel Alejandro Holnes and directed by Victoria Collado, “Black Feminist Video Game” incorporates live performances via Zoom, actual video game footage, and lighthearted audience interactions via YouTube chat. We watch Jonas as he leads live-streamed video diaries – and Andell interacts minimally with the audience, responding to audience comments and asking for advice, though the impromptu chatter slows the show’s pace and feels inorganic. .
The script, too, strives to attempt to wake up naturally and smoothly, but the diversity feels downgraded to a checklist. (Black? Mixed? Queer? Autistic? Check, check, check, check.) And as for the message of the play, Jonas slowly understanding when he’s figuring it out and fails to really listen and respect women black, “Black Feminist Video Game” becomes unbearably preachy – and the performance doesn’t do much to help.
At least there’s the game itself, created by Ché Rose and Jocelyn Short of Cookout Games, which is a fun, pixelated blast from the past. Adorable avatar versions of Jonas and Sabine roam the levels: the Forest of Feminist Anguish, the Coven of Many-Faced Mirrors, the Kingdom of Colorism, and Peak Patriarchy, where the final boss awaits. Just as the rules of the game – which are psychic, by the way – confuse Jonas, I was also confused by its logic, even as Lorde showed up to offer some wise words to our budding black feminist protagonist.
Although I’m a notoriously bad gamer myself, I appreciate the idea: video games, but also games integrated into theatrical experiences, especially those related to racing. The tension between politics and gambling is thrilling – think ‘Colorful Museum’, ‘Underground Railroad Gambling’ and ‘Black History Museum’. I even thought of Kekubian Assassin, a real mobile game based on an episode of Terence Nance’s HBO series “Random Acts of Flyness,” in which a black woman plays a first-person shooter type game where she fight against racists and sexists. street harassment. “Black Feminist Video Game” aspires to this same degree of emotion and ingenuity, but despite its cute gameplay, it cannot exceed level 1.
Black Feminist Video GameLive performances through May 2 on demand May 3-9; thecivilians.org. (The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will present performances of “Black Feminist Video Game” May 11-16, with on-demand access available May 17-23; osfashland.org.)
What radio stations are in Grand Theft Auto V?
Ready for a sonic journey through the steamy streets of Los Santos? Hold on tight, the GTA V adventure wouldn’t be complete without explosive background music! In this article, we reveal all the radio stations that set the pace for…
Where to find submarine parts in Grand Theft Auto 5?
GTA 5 enthusiasts, you’ve come to the right place! Do you dream of taming the mysteries of the ocean by controlling your own submarine, but you’re missing those pesky submarine parts? Journey with me into the whirlwind universe of GTA…
What gangs are present in Grand Theft Auto 5?
“Prepare to dive into the fast-paced and tumultuous world of Grand Theft Auto 5! Far from the beautiful cars and sophisticated weapons, we’re going to introduce you to the gangs, these true pillars of the insurgent life of Los Santos.…
Where to find all map items in Grand Theft Auto V?
Ready for another adrenaline-filled journey through Los Santos? Put on your virtual jacket, charge your controller and step on the accelerator to go hunting for the hidden treasures of Grand Theft Auto V. Let me guide you through this urban…
How to become a Grand Theft Auto 5 pro with these tips?
Ready to turn Los Santos into your playground? Embark on a high-speed ride through the urban jungle of GTA 5! Through this article, unlock the full potential of your avatar and become the undisputed king of virtualized banditry. Unspeakable tricks,…
How to change skin on minecraft
How to change skin in Minecraft on PC?Method 2 of 4: No download Go to Planet Minecraft and choose a skin there. … Click “Upload to Minecraft” or “Change Skin”. You should be redirected to the official Minecraft page. ……
How to unsubscribe from PlayStation Plus
How to cancel PlayStation Plus auto-renewal? Go to Settings > Account Management > Account Info > PlayStation Subscriptions. Select the subscription you want to cancel. Select Turn off auto-renewal. How to remove a PlayStation Network credit card?Sign in to PlayStation…
How to download full free xbox 360 games
How to buy a gym on Xbox 360?Purchasing Xbox 360 Content Once you’ve selected your content, simply click the Download to Xbox 360 button to begin the purchasing process.How to buy an Xbox 360 game on an Xbox One?Players with…