A classic fearsome digital media theme has arrived on the iPhone, as a new app lets you fire a weapon towards whatever you're looking at. Firepower adds machine guns to what your camera picks up, like so:
The representation of violence has long been a problem for digital media critics. It might not stick to the iPhone, given its JesusPhone cult and the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field. But the Apps Store's willingness to allow all kinds of disturbing content through, while blocking other content for being unsuitable, might eventually open up a space for complaints.
Alternatively, since this is an augmented reality application, outrage might go general. Fearsome AR is inevitable, given the history of digital media anxieties.
This was a bit odd to read right now, as I'm websurfing while watching Bogdanovich's 1968 film _Targets_.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063671/
Posted by: Steve B | October 30, 2009 at 12:01
I have never seen it, @Steve B. What's your take on it?
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | October 30, 2009 at 18:40
_Targets_ was loosely, very loosely, inspired by Charles Whitman's 1966 sniper massmurder in Austin Texas. There's an interesting subplot with Boris Karloff - it was his last film. Much of the film is from the viewpoint of the nice young fellow who snaps and goes on a shooting spree. It's not great, but it's interesting.
Posted by: Steve B | November 01, 2009 at 19:21