This World Is Now Our Collective Document – A Chronicle of SanAndreas.txt
This World Is Now Our Collective Document – A Chronicle of SanAndreas.txt
This lecture-performance is an exploration of SanAndreas.txt – a modification for the video game Grand Theft Auto V that allows players to leave messages in the game’s world. This hack transformed a violent, rule-bound environment into a shared space for anonymous text communication.
We will traverse the game, reading and reflecting on a year’s worth of messages left by players – from trolling to political commentary and poetry. Through this retelling, we show how the space was reshaped by words and highlight the possibilities and tensions of turning a complex, closed system into a tool for expression.
