Morten Rockford Ravn, Fear and Loathing in GTA V, 2015–2017

Fear and Loathing in GTA V is a photographic series by Morten Rockford Ravn, a Danish multidisciplinary artist known for his work in painting, sculpture, and photography. The project began in 2015 on Tumblr and quickly garnered significant media attention from outlets such as Vice, Die Zeit, and the BBC. This series marked a shift in Ravn’s artistic practice from traditional photography to in-game photography, and was mainly driven by his fascination with the darker and often overlooked aspects of simulated environments. His stated goal was to capture the dystopian elements and gritty underbelly of GTA V’s fictional state of San Andreas. Inspired by Hunter S. Thompson’s gonzo journalism, Ravn explored the libertarian and dystopian dimensions of Rockstar Games’ simulation of the United States. His photographs highlight marginalised figures within the main narrative – homeless individuals, sex workers, and migrant labourers – who are typically objectified in gameplay but humanised through his lens. Ravn decided to restrict himself to using the in-game camera phone, forcing him to anticipate events and position himself carefully. However, as the project evolved, Ravn began to actively influence the behaviour of the game’s inhabitants to create more compelling scenes, signalling a shift from mere observer to active participant in the documentation process. He employed various techniques, such as using motorcycle headlights for lighting or manipulating in-game dynamics to orchestrate events, enhancing the narrative and visual impact of his photographs. By explicitly framing his project as a social critique, Ravn employs the game’s environment to explore the myths and realities of the American Dream, echoing Thompson’s examination in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971). His goal was to portray the broken promises and underlying corruption of this ideal, exposing the rotten side of a nation fuelled by empty narratives. His photographs capture stark contrasts within the game, symbolising the complex socio-political landscape of America and highlighting the dualities of hope and resignation, extreme wealth and abject poverty.

Ravn’s work was meant to raise questions about the influence of virtual reality on our perception of reality and morality. Fear and Loathing in GTA V reflects Ravn’s ambivalence towards digital leisure and escapism. While his real-world photography involves dynamic physical engagement, his virtual photography induces a trance-like sense of discontentment. This contrast underscores the project’s existential themes, highlighting the dissonance between the rawness of the tangible and the narcolepsy of the digital.

More by Morten Rockford Ravn: fearandloathingingtav.tumblr.com