The vision we share: Identification of Call of Duty's militaristic messages

Videogames have become a large part of American culture but the study of the medium is relatively space when compared with other media. Speficially, there is a lack of rhetorical analysis of the persuasive messages embedded within videogames. This thesis is a rhetorical analysis of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare using a Burkean analysis and a critical analysis to determine that Modern Warfare’s use of the first-person perspective to invite players to identify with the messages presented within the gameplay and story of the series. Using Ian Bogost’s notions of procedural rhetoric to study gameplay choices and theories of visual rhetoric to study the images of the game, this analysis contends that the Modern Warfare series use of militaristic messages could lead to bad implications. Finally, alternatives within contemporary games provide other options for scholars and players alike to enjoy and study.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Grantor

Texas Tech University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Potter, Andrew

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Langford, Catherine L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Gring, Mark A.
• Peaslee, Robert M.

• Rhetorical analysis
• Videogames
• Burke, Kenneth

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/2346/58551

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ttu-ir.tdl.org:2346/58551