Arts show downloads make their way on to Sony’s portable games guru.


The PSP isn’t often associated with high culture – unless you consider Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories to be a meta-ironic comment on a society that regards extreme violence as a form of light entertainment (or something) – but that could be set to change, starting from today.
Sony, in association with the Institute of Contemporary Arts, has launched ICA: The Show, a free 10-minute arts documentary. It’s the ICA’s new way of pushing art and culture to the masses.


“It’s taking the values of the ICA and spreading them,” yelled ICA artistic director Ekow Eshun. “We wanted to find new ways to connect with people beyond the boundaries of our building. It seemed obvious to me to try and make use of the ways people communicate already.”


The first instalment, available for download today at www.yourpsp.com, looks at the recently released animated movie Mirrormask, the quirky US band Battles and onedotzero, the annual digital creativity festival.
A second show will focus on the film V for Vendetta, the animator Rex, hilariously named band Test Icicles and Favela Rising, a forthcoming documentary on life in Brazil’s notorious shanty towns.


So next time someone tells you you’re wasting your life playing with your PSP, tell them you’re learning about culture and stuff – even if you’re just bashing away at Pro Evolution Soccer 5.

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