A Scholar's Look At Grand Theft Auto
It’s always interesting (read: infuriating) to see other folks’ takes on controversial topics. If you didn’t already have too much evidence showing that Grand Theft Auto has been demonized and discussed to a far, far, far greater extent than its quality as a game entails, take a look at McFarland Publishing’s new title, The Meaning and Culture of Grand Theft Auto: Critical Essays. You’re telling me that there are scholars out there writing thesises on this game now!? Come on. The collection contains works like: “Spilling Hot Coffee? Grant Theft Auto as Contested Cultural Product,” “Inviting Subversion: Metalepses and Tmesis in Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto Series,” and (my favorite) “From Stompin’ Mushrooms to Bustin’ Heads: Grand Theft Auto III as Paradigm Shift.” While the book doesn’t tout itself as a compilation of damning essays, and supposedly covers a wider range of topics concerning the game, I can’t help but think that a scholarly examination might be more warrented for a better game. The Meaning and Culture of Katamari Damacy maybe? I’d like an explanation for why crocodiles live in Japanese school swimming pools, who lives on Oni Island, and how the tiny little Prince pushes around a katamari as big as a county. These are real questions that need answers! For the newest coincidential advertising for Rockstar (no publicity is bad publicity), check out the book’s page at Mcfarland here.
Lectric Lich
Posted to Video Games on 16 October 2006
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: essays, Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar
Regardless of it’s quality as a game, it is a significant cultural artifact. While I haven’t read the essays, I think you’re jumping far beyond your scope to make assumptions about their contents and, frankly, you sound like a dumbass.
@pip: While I wouldn’t have been so blunt, I have to agree.
There seems to be a strange tendency in the gamer community to dismiss as pretentious and/or misguided anything that looks “intellectual”.
Color me pleasantly surprised by the comments above.
I think you guys have taken this too seriously, as well as being a bit harsh. I think Lectric’s point was “Why THIS game”. Why is so much attention being paid to this ONE game. Why not other games as well. It’s sort of the “beating a dead horse” theory. I really don’t think think he was making any comment on the mixture of games and the inteligencia. His comments are more based on what HE feels is not a great game. I would tend to agree with him. I don’t particularly care for it either, or see what is so great about it. But, this is one man’s opinion, given with a sense of humor and he is entitled to express it. Just as you are free to express your disagreement, although perhaps next time it could be done without the name calling.
Just to clarify, I honestly didn’t mean to be hostile to Lectric Lich. I just wanted to express my opinion.
And to address the issue of “why THIS game”, it’s just because it’s such an enormously popular game. Whether it’s “good” is irrelevant.
I didn’t mean to be hostile, either.
To be clear: I take no issue with his opinion on GTA overkill – but his presentation is entirely muddled (he brings up controversy thrice for no reason). He shows no understanding of critical analysis (which would still leave room for disdain), and that is what this collection clearly is.
Fruit Brute: I appreciate your translation of the post, but if that had been what he wrote, there wouldn’t be an issue. And I think it’s a mistake to overly personalize my statement – the distance between ‘sound like’ and ‘are’ is big enough. I have nothing to say on Lectric’s character – just his writing.
Lectric Lich – no offense meant, sincerely. I think the way you present your ideas needs work, is all.
Oooooh. I think I’m going to chalk this one up as an object lesson on how my sense of humor doesn’t translate well into text. I’m not about to defend what I wrote, I’ll take my medicine there. Largely, my misconveyed thought nugget was that it’d be nice to see this sort of critical examination applied to a positive aspect of gaming. Regardless of whether I’m a fan of the subject matter or not, the idea of gaming scholarship is intriguing and deserves a mention, hence the post.