MY CRITICAL INVESTIGATION PRESENTATION

By Bilaal Mughal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9ynbhJ49s&feature=player_embedded

Critical Investigation Title

How and why does graphic violence within

video games such as Call of Duty attract a

teenage demographic

Linked Production

Viral campaign for a new and upcoming game

and also a Magazine article promoting the

release of that video game

MIGRAIN

Media LanguageBlood and GoreContrast of lighting = Tension + SuspenseDiegetic and Non-Diegetic sounds = heavybreathing, gun shots = Suspense http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKBNDDJbTwDiegetic sounds – feel more involved, water dripping,

footsteps,mice crawling adds to suspense and tensionhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0avfjkdAr0Realistic representation of how video games are

nowadays,provocative language and violence

InstitutionsActivisionInfinity Ward

Analysis: How the Infinity Ward scandal affectsCall of Duty

Broke contract between them as Infinity Wardwere not paid their royalties and thereforeresigned

Black Ops violence 'went too far' – TreyarchTreyarch (owned by activision)

“It was too much. The throat cutting is nasty, but that was worse.”

Genre

Action + Shooter – consists of a lot of blood,

gore and violence in order to attract their

Targeted market. Guns and other weapon

utilities to satisfy user requirements Psychological Horror – Influences

teenagers tocarry out what they see on screen. E.g.

Manhunt

Representation

Violence > portrayed > negative light.Negativity > violence causes for young

teenagers to become influenced and adapt to the violence.

Games > COD and MOH adapt > violence and make the idea of war a enjoyable experience. Arabs are portrayed negatively within Call of Duty and shown to be antagonists.

Cubans“Common stereotypes of masculinity, particularly in

World WarII cultural media. = DOMINANT REPRESENTATIONS

Audience

In my opinion around 13 to 25 year olds.However the advertisements make the gameseem diversely targeted and suitable foreveryone  Teenagers at a young age have beenencouraged by the graphics to perceive theviolence positively, and act upon it. It's targetedspecifically for males due to the high content ofviolence, however females are also known forplaying such games. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ouf9RyA33A&feature=player_embedded

Ideologies

All the institutions are based in the USA, and thereforecreates the idea of how Americans portray andrepresent other stereotypes within video games. It alsocreates the idea that post 9/11 the amount of violentgames have increased, especially in Call of Duty where

alot of negative representations upon Arabs havecontroversy affected the way we as an audienceperceive them. Call of Duty: Black Ops was also

releasedon the 9th of November = 9/11

Narrative

Traditional narrative of a war game Protagonist “Normal” – White people Antagonist“Abnormal” Arabs, other ethnicities etc.

SHEP

Social

Socially accepted, a lot of moral panics areyoung teenagers are influenced and encouragedto take aboard the idea of graphic violence fortheir own enjoyment.The ideologies of the Americans shown withinthe game play also shows the impact it has onsociety

Historical

The events of 9/11 have caused for an increasein violent games and also the idea that Arabs areantagonists and therefore misrepresented.Violence is over-represented which adds to themoral panics. However this amount of violencehas been developing over time. COD > been known for its use of graphicviolence

Economical

A very big increase in violence games. Gamessuch as Call of Duty are now seen to be a fashionitem and a desirable game amongst youngteenagers, it's a very debatable game sociallyamongst teenagers.

Political

The portrayal of dominant figures such as JohnF. Kennedy, Fidel Castro and Richard Nixon havebeen represented within the game in a waywhich has been controversial and debatedhighly around the world. The narrative roles ofviolent games usually suggests the sameconventions of communism.

Issues and Debates

Representations & StereotypingMedia effectsPost 9/11 and the mediaMedia technology and the digital

revolutionThe effect of globalisation on the

media

Media Theories

Hypodermic theoryCultivation theoryEffects theoryReception theoryUses and gratifications theory

Points I will use in my essay“If something is repeated often enough it will tend

to bebelieved and remembered”

“Stereotypes are thus neither neutral nor fair, presenting the

examination of differences within groups”

“Media studies of moral panics emphasise the social and legal

consequences of widespread public exposure (via the media) to

crime, violence, and other societal, ethical or medical ills”

“Mass Media have the power to directly effect the attitudes and

behaviour of ordinary people”

“Psychos will always be psychos; they don't need video games to help them.”

“The reproduction of ideology has to be seen within the context of the means of

production of media organisations.”

“We must get away from the habit of thinking in terms of what the media do to the people and substitute for it the idea of what people do with the media”

This fits into the contemporary media landscape because..

The use of violence within modern video games

is still debatable on whether this much graphic

violence should be accepted and the effects

socially. It also underlines the misrepresentations

of race gender and ethnicity which at the moment

is a factor which is still quite controversial around

the world

Bibliography

Williams, Kevin. Understanding media theory . London: H.Arnold, 2003. Print.Laughey, Dan. Media studies – theories andApproaches . Harpenden, Herts. Kamera books2009. http://www.gknova6.com/agegate.phphttp://www.gamepro.com/article/news/214252/analysis-howthe-infinity-ward-scandal-affects-call-of-duty/http://www.gamepolitics.com/category/topics/call-duty-serieshttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6454298/Call-Of-DutyModern-Warfare-2-leaked-footage-set-to-ignite-controversy.htmlhttp://www.digitalislam.eu/article.do?articleId=1704http://childrenshospitalblog.org/my-son-wants-call-of-duty-but-how-do-these-videogames-impact-teen-boys/http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/apr/28/games-controversy