An arcade machine inspired by slot machines mixed with a post social media imaginary.
LOOPSCROLL is an installation that tricks its users to invest time in a simple yet addictive game. Through this altar, players worship a living imagery that demands frustration, competition, and obsession. It will keep you wanting to start over, never leaving the machine. Shaman garage invites us to “play” at doomscrolling. Is it fun? Using classical game mechanics “difficulty levels, frustrations and rewards” LOOPSCROLL highlights how these are very close to the ones used on social media platforms and how they become addictive.
In this playful installation, we wanted to reflect on the context we understand social media, the narratives it generates and the behaviors it forces on us. While the arcade reproduces the addictive mechanics of money driven socialmedia, foolingthe playersin minifeedback loops;it isalso presented as an object of worship, revealing the internet folklore as a treasure from the past, a complex and fascinating mythology.
For this project we conducted an archival exercise, realising that the memesphere needs careful hands to preserve its symbols, icons and narratives. “Memes privilege emotion and vitality over reason and accuracy; they reward the absurd and theexaggerated. Thisis preciselywhy wewant to“rescue” them,to preserve their value.”
