Professional paper
Prevailing Symbols of Early American Studies as Depicted in Rockstar Games’ “Red Dead Redemption 2”
Karlo Stanko
Abstract
This paper examines some of the earliest symbols and myths of American studies and explores how they have stood the test of time through different forms and mediums to shape the collective American consciousness. The paper analyses Red Dead Redemption 2, a video game published by Rockstar Games in 2018, how it makes use of objects of study of early American studies, how it represents them and how it is shaped by them to coalesce in the form of the ultimate mixed medium product that is the video game.
The first part of the paper looks more closely at the importance of popular media and culture for creating a collective identity, as well as the various forms and works that perpetuated the very myths and symbols that can be seen in the video game centuries later as a continuation of the multi-media representation and celebration of American identity. The paper goes on to analyse specific features and plot points of the game regarding how they relate to these myths and how they represent them in the new medium, while also paying homage and staying true to the source myths. The paper finds that the game does a good job at representing some key symbols of early American studies as well as showing they still exist in some form in the collective consciousness of Americans today and finds additional success through the uniqueness of its medium to represent them in a fresh way that is easily accessible and appealing to the popular culture of today. However, the game does little to add any additional layer of complexity to the myths and symbols it makes use of.
Keywords
Videogame; Red Dead Redemption; American Studies, Intermediality; Myths; Symbols
Hrčak ID:
317905
URI
Publication date:
17.5.2022.
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