Duck Hunt: Childhood Violence (2023)

Oil on canvas - 90x100cm

One of the best-selling games for the Nintendo NES was Duck Hunt, a game that utilised the iconic Zapper. My friends and I played it endlessly, setting up all kinds of rules to keep the game fair, like how far we had to stand from the screen. The thrill of hitting those digital ducks was addictive, and we competed fiercely for the highest scores.

Even as a child, I had moments of reflection. We were shooting ducks, after all—real animals, even if they were just pixels on a screen. It made me wonder about the effects of simulated violence. Did games like Duck Hunt desensitise us to real violence? The phrase 'Normalising Violence for Kids since 1984' on the piece is a nod to this thought. It’s a playful yet critical look at how games might contribute to a cultural desensitisation to violence.

This piece ties back to the Zapper's role in introducing kids to shooting games, questioning whether these games merely reflected existing interests or actively shaped them. It’s a lighthearted critique of how early gaming experiences could influence our views on violence and firearms.

Extra Information: 

Duck Hunt, released in 1984, was often bundled with the NES console, contributing to its widespread popularity. The game was one of the first to use the light gun technology, making it a pioneering title in interactive gaming.