Play a docugame about Iranian history.
| Duration: 10 – 20 min Number of players: 1 Material: PC Link: https://www.thecatandthecoup.com |
Short description
In The Cat and the Coup, you play the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. During the summer of 1953, the CIA engineered a coup to bring about his downfall. As a player, you coax Mossadegh back through significant events of his life by knocking objects off shelves, scattering his papers, and scratching him.
The game, situated within the traditions of Persian miniature art form and cold war foreign policy, asks players to consider their connection to Iranian history. The Cat and the Coup is both about the relationship between the Western video game player and Mossadegh and, by extension, the United States and Iran. It lays a foundation for today’s critical question – how do the people know when their democracy is threatened?
Educational Value
- History – learn about the history, art and culture of Iran as the game is situated within the traditions of Persian miniature art form.
- Democracy – the game asks the question who people know their democracy is threatened.
- Political institutions – a foreign power intervening in politics.
- Religion
Recommendation for use
It is good to know that in this game, time flows backward. Mossadegh is dead and you guide his ghost back through the events of his life, each one a room in the house of memory.
The gameplay itself is very simple: short puzzles are required to progress from one room to the next, but aside from that, the game is composed of simply experiencing the story of what happened to Mossadegh. (Source: http://www.playthepast.org/?p=1581)
Image: https://www.thecatandthecoup.com
