3 the Seven Valleys

Spiritual Art: Evoking the Numinous using a 3D Computer Game Engine Christopher Leigh Nelson This exegesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Arts Academy University of Ballarat PO Box 663 University Drive, Mount Helen Ballarat, Victoria 3353 Australia Submitted in March 2007 Abstract The Seven Valleys is an interactive 3D installation based artwork inspired by mystical writings of the Bahá'í Faith. Created as a modification of the first- person shooter Unreal Tournament 2003 (Epic, 2003) it subverts the original paradigm of the game to create an experience of the numinous, which in spirit, is diametrically opposed to the original intent of the gameplay design. This artwork presents an exploration of, and allusion to, the often subtle and illusive concepts found in the sacred treatise The Seven Valleys (Bahá'u'lláh, 1991) in which the user engages in an experiential journey through the work. The user is faced with conditions and situations that provide motivation to question, explore and attempt to fathom the abstract sense of the numinous. Each of The Seven Valleys contains its own individual mysteries while at the same time contributing its part to the telling of a collective story. Chris Nelson ii 10/18/2007 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Except where explicit reference is made in the text of the exegesis, this exegesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma. No other person’s work has been relied upon or used without due acknowledgement in the main text and bibliography of the exegesis. Signed:___________________________ Dated: ___________________________ Signed:___________________________ Dated: ___________________________ Mr. Chris Nelson Associate Professor Allan Mann Candidate Principal Supervisor Chris Nelson iii 10/18/2007 Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincere thanks to my supervisors Associate Professor Allan Mann, Associate Professor Jim Sillitoe and Senior Lecturer Andrew Stranieri without who’s help none of this would have been possible. My thanks and appreciation are also extended to the following people who have supported me in undertaking this postgraduate research degree program: Cameron Foale for his original musical compositions as well as invaluable assistance in sound production; Evan Dekker for technical assistance and additional scripting; Farhang and Faezeh Afshar for moral support and the occasional hot meal; Alan Kealy for voice over recording and enthusiastic feedback; and the staff at Epic for creating such a wonderful game engine. Chris Nelson iv 10/18/2007 Contents Abstract........................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements .........................................................................................iv Contents ...........................................................................................................v List of Figures ................................................................................................vii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1-1 2 Literature Review................................................................................... 2-4 2.1 ‘First Person Shooter’ (FPS) Games.............................................. 2-4 2.2 Spiritual Experience and Mysticism: the Numinous....................... 2-6 2.3 Political and Religious Games....................................................... 2-8 2.4 Computer Games and Art.............................................................2-11 2.5 The Numinous in Mystical Writings.............................................2-14 3 The Seven Valleys ................................................................................3-18 3.1 The Seven Valleys .......................................................................3-20 3.2 The Introduction...........................................................................3-21 3.3 The Valley of Search....................................................................3-23 3.4 The Valley of Love ......................................................................3-26 3.5 The Valley of Knowledge ............................................................3-28 3.6 The Valley of Unity .....................................................................3-30 3.7 The Valley of Contentment ..........................................................3-33 3.8 The Valley of Wonderment..........................................................3-35 3.9 The Valley of True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness ................3-38 4 Methodology.........................................................................................4-40 Chris Nelson v 10/18/2007 4.1 Technology..................................................................................4-45 4.2 Materials......................................................................................4-47 4.3 Geometry.....................................................................................4-49 4.4 Animation....................................................................................4-50 4.5 Matinee........................................................................................4-50 4.6 Emitters .......................................................................................4-51 4.7 Audio...........................................................................................4-52 5 Conclusion............................................................................................5-54 Appendix 1.....................................................................................................57 Glossary .........................................................................................................58 References......................................................................................................60 Chris Nelson vi 10/18/2007 List of Figures Figure 2.1 Velvet Strike: 'My Banner of God' spray by Ji-Bet......................2-13 Figure 2.2 Velvet Strike: 'No More War' spray by Akiko Yada....................2-13 Figure 3.1 Calligraphic representation of the ‘Greatest Name of God’ (Monjazeb, 1990) ........................................................................................3-19 Figure 3.2 Nine-Pointed Star .......................................................................3-19 Figure 3.3 Taijitu.........................................................................................3-20 Figure 3.4 Opening scene in the Introduction...............................................3-21 Figure 3.5 Symbolizing birth in the Introduction..........................................3-22 Figure 3.6 Top-down picture of the Valley of Search...................................3-23 Figure 3.7 End of the Valley of Search ........................................................3-25 Figure 3.8 End of the Valley of Love...........................................................3-26 Figure 3.9 The centre of the Valley of Knowledge.......................................3-28 Figure 3.10 The Greatest Name in the Valley of Knowledge........................3-29 Figure 3.11 Top view of the Valley of Unity................................................3-30 Figure 3.12 The Greatest Name as the source of multiplicity .......................3-32 Figure 3.13 The Garden Gallery in the Valley of Contentment.....................3-33 Figure 3.14 Child’s swing in the Valley of Contentment..............................3-34 Figure 3.15 Spiral Galaxy in the Valley of Wonderment..............................3-35 Figure 3.16 Vitruvian Man, Spiral Galaxy and the Greatest Name ...............3-37 Figure 3.17 Holy souls circling around the Greatest Name...........................3-38 Figure 4.1 Conceptual design of the Valley of Unity....................................4-42 Figure 4.2 The Greatest Name and YinYang symbol in the Valley of Unity.4-43 Chris Nelson vii 10/18/2007 Figure 4.3 Side of view of the structure of the Valley of Unity ....................4-45 Figure 4.4 Elements of Unreal Tournament 2003.........................................4-47 0.1 Overview of The Seven Valleys................................................................57 Chris Nelson viii 10/18/2007 1 Introduction “If an artist of the calibre of Leo Tolstoy had access to the creative, interactive technology provided by first-person 3D computer games, what would he create?” Tolstoy’s famous novels are an example of where a classic literary genre has been used to minutely examine the human condition with depth, insight and compassion. The success of this undertaking is reflected in the continued popularity of these works, and the constant references that are made to the conceits and constructions made within them. This thesis asks the question: is it possible that an artwork intended to deal with equally serious human issues could be created with this new interactive technological medium? Over the past fifteen years a new creative medium has been introduced in the form of 3D computer games. The revolution began in 1992 with the release of the First-Person Shooter (FPS) computer game Wolfenstien 3D (IdSoftware, 2006). Today millions of people over the world spend hours each day playing games of this genre. Most are based on action, fantasy or horror and rely on fast-paced violent gameplay

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