Civil War Video Game – A Teaching Tool For Kids?

Saying kids can learn history by playing “Shadows of War”, a Spanish Civil War video game, may seem about as valid as saying they can learn geometry through skateboarding, but this is part of the current controversy caused by Paco Pérez, the games creator.

Beyond the pedagogical precariousness of such a proposal, looms the massive and unresolved issue of the war itself – a war that is still very much part of living memory. Foreigners quickly learn this as an innocent question on the subject, meant to spark friendly debate, goes over with the subtlety of nuclear fusion obliterating all participants in said conversation – oops.

Pérez asserts, quite rightly, that Spanish youngsters are unlikely to pick up a book to learn about the events of this bloody chapter in Spanish history. To his credit, the game incorporates archived footage, which should leave the player a least a bit more informed.

Others are outraged that such a horrific event is being “trivialized” by a video game. One such person is Carlota Leret, whose grandfather was the first person to be killed in the war. His death is now repeatedly played out on the screen for all to see – arguably not exactly a “flowers on the grave” sort of homage.

No doubt this is yet another issue in Spain in which everyone will chime in with vehement opinions. But if you think this controversy is big just wait until someone suggests learning sex ed through pornography. We’re joking – we think….

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