The Wark writings are a bit frustrating to me. I begin a piece, and by the 15th or 20th card I am really getting angry, because I am feeling stupid. Perhaps I don’t possess enough of a philosophical background to completely understand what he is attempting to say to me, or I am reading it too quickly. Either way, just when I am about to throw my hands up in despair of ever comprehending what the hell he is trying to say the man redeems himself admirably and manages to eventually tie all his jargon together into a coherent message. Such was the case with Allegory, and I find myself becoming a fan of Wark.
In Allegory, Wark brings up some interesting points that I was unaware of such as the conflicts over coltan. Actually, the mere existence of coltan is something I was completely in the dark about. His discussion of the sacrifices that are necessary for us to enjoy games as we know them highlights some disturbing ideas. If everyone was aware of the struggles that go into creating the electronic gadgets we are all so addicted to, would it really make any difference? Or is the African Congo and the outback of Australia as distant to us as the game is from gamespace? I would consider myself an intelligent person who keeps up with current events, but I will admit that it is difficult at times to muster sympathy for a location or cause that exists as little more than a shadow in my Cave. Africa and Australia are not tangible things to me, rather concepts or ideals that I have shadow-images of, provided to me by the developers (in this case mass media).
I know exactly what you mean. Mr. Wark has a knack for making me feel that way, too, but just like you said, he eventually finds a way to bring it all together. Perhaps that’s what he’s getting at by insisting that everything is gamespace and it is inescapable.
And yeah, it *is* alarming to realize what resources are necessary to give us our electronic dreamspaces. Good point.