Games Makers: A Satire on 2012 – part one: There’s No There, There
Want to read spiked ad-free? Become a spiked supporter.
Prologue: courting appearances
His face on screen. My best friend Tony looking out at me, impersonally.
This is not a case of iPhone4, face to face, intimacy on a stick. This is the news; and that’s where Tony is – in the news, big time. The stuff that’s right now is happening to him; and it’s not good.
Every news story must have its icon. In this instance it’s the police station mugshot of Tony, taken when they brought him in. I guess it was leaked to the Met’s favourite blogger, and now it’s spurting through every media outlet.
But the face in the frame is no bug eyed bovine. He ain’t cowed by the camera. This is Tony Skance, looking back, appraising you, Mr Police Photographer, and the millions standing behind you. Appraising himself looking back at you taking his picture.
They’ll say his expression is cool, calculating. Already have: Tony Skance, alleged mastermind of Olympic Games bomb outrage (broadsheet version). Sicko Psycho (tabloid).
‘Alleged’ seems unnecessarily circumspect. Not as if Tony will be suing anyone for blotting his escutcheon…
The countdown to Games Makers: a satire of 2012 has begun. Read the whole of Part One on Friday 8 April, with Parts Two and Three over the following two days, only on spiked.
WHO FUNDS SPIKED? YOU DO
We are funded by you. And in this era of cancel culture and advertiser boycotts, we rely on your donations more than ever. Seventy per cent of our revenue comes from our readers’ donations – the vast majority giving just £5 per month. If you make a regular donation – of £5 a month or £50 a year – you can become a [SPIKED SUPPORTER], and enjoy:
–Ad-free reading
–Exclusive events
–Access to our comments section
It’s the best way to keep <em>spiked</em> going – and growing. Thank you!
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Only spiked supporters and patrons, who donate regularly to us, can comment on our articles.