Took Sign language Duel to the building the Toffee Factory and set up in the foyer. The Toffee Factory is a digi media business hub, setup in Newcastle near the Baltic. It was interesting to do, mostly we had people come individually. An email had been sent around beforehand saying we would be there to the businesses, but mostly got people as they came to the desk and were waiting around to be seen. As individuals, it meant that I had to play in. Which was interesting,and actually meant there were lots of conversations around the actions.
I noted the pairs that played, when they got further into the artwork, and felt comfortable, would make accompanying sounds tot he signs cast, such as bear growling, or the cry of a ninja. I also found that they perhaps became more comfortable int eh experience. Due to the structure of the round, with the best out of three it meant that perhaps in the first go they felt uncomfortable, or not fully in control. But after casting a couple f signs they extended their moves, and begin to become more accustomed ot the task and more confident int he signs they were putting out. So there was a general deepening of immersion into the task, which perhaps overcame some of the embarrassment that Dettering talks about, and how players use alibis to explain their actions. By SDl being a game to learn aspects of sign language, it gave a context of learning to the task for those in it. But also when they found that they did the first one, and it didn’t result in any negative comments, they felt empowered to do them more fully.
While not that many people took part it was a very different atmosphere form some of the other sessions, having people individually enter and could spend more time explaining the whole thing. I was surprised as well, at how people were keen to work through the different rounds and try them out. There wasn’t really any spectators, so very different to my last couple of tests for the Maypole and the Music game, which were in crowded throughways. But this meant I was more relaxed, and perhaps people were less inhibited. It lead to lots of conversations around sign language, and with one person who was leading a group around the area looking at the area history, we got into a long conversation about games and game structures, and he thought this could be of use in his history walks.
I was surprised that the last couple who were teachers, leading a school trip,that the man, had never played Paper Rock Scissors and needed it explained. This is the first time someone had said they didn’t know the game at all. I also got two people who were following the Exhibition of the North trail, and thought it might be part of that.
I haven’t played this work for a while, and it reminded me that it is perhaps the most game artwork of all the ones with clear rules and outcomes. It is more than just rewrapping the PRS mechanics though. Participants, wanted to know how to do the signs, which I think lead though through the rounds. Now though am wondering if some of the signs are a bit small to do, like oile and bird, perhaps should update them. People seemed most attracted to the atomic war sign, and that round, which is humorous in a way, so maybe something to develop.
Playing in I was surprised how competitive I got, and wanted to win the rounds with the participants. The historian practised the signs before we played, as he felt he wanted to get them right, and it did seem that he had a feeling of Mastery as he got better at doing them, and didn’t have to refer to the sign for reference. Once again the two teachers both did the same sign three times,and wondered again if there might be a game there. TELEPATHY!. The first participant, spoke about the psychology of the game, and that in PRS there is a whole tactic using psychology about knowing what your opponent is going to sign. Though, while all plays with me went well, it only became visually larger, and the participants more raucous when there were two and they played against each other. Then they laughed out loud. So in some way, as they did not know me, was I making them a bit more inhibited than if they played against people they knew. Social facilitation theory perhaps. I was surprised, that basically everyone who did come into the building was happy to have a go. So the location did play a role in people wishing to cross over into the experience. Some of the staff saw it from a distance, and did comment, but didn’t cross over into the game. It was actually a relief after the music game in Grainger Market and the maypole in public locations to try a test in such a controlled arena. There is something in the fact that the artist is present, that I show how the game works and can answer questions, which is a different dynamic that a public artwork you come upon. Is the artist’s presence one of the elements, of Arts magic Circle. Does it play a role, it must to create the work. Is this part of the structure of skill sharing I see in some of the works, where non professionals, the public, engage with those with skills in order to make a work. Can i expand this?
Watching back the footage, the role of being the instigator in the games, makes me very outgoing, and performative like. Perhaps at times I seem more eager than those in the work. It is a better balance when both are participants. Watching back the gap between the players is a visual gulf, if only there is something that could go there. Perhaps put them either side of sign. But want to get the location. Though it reinforced how much people like the hands, and how it changes the whole way they approach the task when I show them the hands and their faces light up. No one has said no then.
research 