The use of Ideology and Iconography in Video Games

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to discuss and analyse the use of ideology and iconography in video game narratives as well as assess if they are used effectively and how they can be used more effectively in the future. Ideology and iconography are commonplace in innumerable areas of day-to-day human life and are often so ingrained and obvious that they go unnoticed by the vast majority of the population. This dissertation will detail and analyse examples of ideology and iconography found in popular game franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Halo, The Elder Scrolls, Killzone and Mass Effect and compare them to real-world ideological and philosophical equivalents.

These equivalents include the work of philosophers and theorists such as Ayn Rand, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hobbes, Karl Marx, Plato and Slavoj Zizek. Through this comparison and analysis, an assessment will be made of how faithfully the ideological examples found follow the ideas and arguments made by these thinkers as well as to what extent they make new and interesting arguments on the topics. In terms of iconography, this dissertation will assess whether or not the iconographic elements present in games accurately represent the ideas that they come from as well as assess their effectiveness in conveying their message and to what extent they are accurately representing their ideals. This dissertation will conclude by presenting a final analysis and assessment of these factors and suggest how they could be applied more effectively in future titles as well as discuss if gamers play the games they do in an effort to find a cathartic release or if there are darker motivations behind their reasons to play.