Musical artist, apparent Sonic the Hedgehog aficionado and one of Time magazine‘s “World’s Most Influential People” M.I.A. answers a long burning question – what does the woman known as M.I.A. think of video game violence?
According to an interview in Connect magazine, as relayed by CVG, M.I.A. seems conflicted on the matter, concerned more about her own son’s exposure to real world violence over the virtual stuff, saying “My kid’s gonna see it, but he’s gonna see it in computer games.”
Still, Ms. Arulpragasam worries “there’s a whole generation of American kids seeing violence on their computer screens and then getting shipped off to Afghanistan. They feel like they know the violence when they don’t. Not having a proper understanding of violence, especially what it’s like on the receiving end of it, just makes you interpret it wrong and makes inflicting violence easier.”
Sounds like she and “killology” term-coiner Lt. Col. Dave Grossman have some similar thoughts on the matter. At least we now know, sort of, what’s going through M.I.A.’s head.
Brink
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:53 AM…and one of Time magazine‘s “World’s Most Influential People” ….
Really? I’ve never heard of her before.
femto
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:06 AMI don’t know who she is either! And she isn’t good looking enough to warrant a wikipedia search, so it will have to remain a mystery!
Dunnowhathuh
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:21 AMLikewise. Maybe it’s purely an American thing.
Kade Matthews
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 3:43 PMNot an American thing, I’ve been a fan for a long time. High rotation on triple j, lots of articles in street press and sites like pitchfork.com.
chuloopa
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:56 AMand we care…why?
Ashley Niland-Rowe
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:30 AMShe is very much worth a wiki search. Yes she is a musical artist, but she is also a political activist with her father being involved with the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. So she has a bit to say when it comes to violence.
chazs123
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:34 AMCheck out her song “Paper Planes”.
You’ve probably heard of that one.
Heath
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:51 AMYep, think Pinapple Express. She’s great!
glennc
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 12:42 PMwho?
David Brady
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 12:58 PMskipped. Who cares?
jabso
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 4:20 PMWhile to some extent it does desensitise them you’ve got to place the blame/burden on :
- the parents who don’t teach their kids the distinction between portrayals of violence in mediums such as video games, tv and movies.
- the US media (doesn’t happen tha much in australia) that report on what a good job their doing and downplay the actual violence
- the assorted military recruiting campaigns that promote their organisation as some sort of boy scouts for grown ups club.
PS MIA is a sri lankan-british rap/hip hop artist who is perhaps more known in the UK.
Escape
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 4:47 PMI don’t see how it makes it easier.
Jay
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 5:02 PMI liked her even more when I read a piece about how the media compared her and Gaga.
Turned around and said how Gaga is great “mimic” of her ‘inspirations’ rather than an original artist and hasn’t yet proven she can do things herself, which is rather true! She did say Gaga sounds more like MIA than MIA does.
Her topic regarding violence and terrorism is a bit of a headache however, I can never quite understand where she is coming from exactly. But she is great that she actually speaks what mainstream artists are too afraid of speaking incase it jeopardises their career. MIA may not have sold 1 million albums worldwide – but she definitely has made some interesting and original music whilst captivating a part of mainstream society. Heck she rocked out the Grammys with Jay Z, TI, Lil Wayne and Kanye when she was due to give birth – she is herself. And personally, more ‘gangsta’ if you would call it than the rappers mentioned considering she grew up around the real dangers in Sri Lanka.
Joshy206
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 5:32 PMI’ve been playing violent games and seeing violent movies since I was really young, and have no wish to attack anyone.
Also, I think the ‘TIME’ most influential is really a load of crap nowadays anyway.
Steven
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 6:34 PMI like how people use their ignorance to try and point to her irrelevance. Well done.
Michael Winning
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 9:49 PMhttp://vimeo.com/11219730
Sample of her latest work.
zaphodity
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 11:33 PMSlightly more influential than bullet proof coleslaw and bovine erectile dysfunction.