Greek Tragedy

Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus, often cited as the founding father of Tragedy, are three of the greatest writers of Greek Tragedy. These tragedies were usually performed as a contest, one playwright against another, as a trilogy played over three days, at an annual state religious festival in honour of Dionysus.

Aristotle got in on the tragedy act a hundred years or so later commenting that, "Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is admirable, complete (composed of an introduction, a middle part and an ending), and possesses magnitude; in language made pleasurable, each of its species separated in different parts; performed by actors, not through narration; effecting through pity and fear the purification of such emotions." I couldn't have put it better myself.

This was all a long time ago, around 500/400 BC, and although there was a renaissance in the 17th century Greek Tragedy has never again been as popular.

Until 2002 that is, because in 2002 the Greek government created a tragedy that would make Aeschylus himself, had he owned a games console, envious and outraged. This tragedy was called, "A blanket ban on all video games". I jest not. The legislation was introduced after a government official was found playing a gambling game, something the government wanted to eradicate, but the wording of the new law meant that all electronic games were included in the crackdown. Residents and tourists alike were facing fines of up to 150,000 euro (£95,000) and a 12 month prison sentence just for firing up Grandmaster Chess on a Game Boy. Thankfully the ban has since been lifted, it lasted for over a year, but even before it was lifted judges had begun throwing out these cases labelling the mad law as being unconstitutional. This change of heart might also have had something to do with a campaign encouraging people to stop eating kebabs as a rebellious protest.

With Manhunt 2 hogging the censorship limelight I thought this story needed an airing. It's also gotten me in the mood for more censorship fun of the same ilk so I think I'll write a part 2. And perhaps a part 3. Stay tuned.

Until then, come and be a Drama Queen on the GAMEOV3R forum and share your tragedies. Or just share your opinions on videogame censorship. But make sure your language is made pleasurable.