Author

Trent A. Cruz

Date of Award

2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Program

Media Studies

Supervisor

Dr. Nick Dyer-Witheford

Abstract

The Second World War has become the dominant metaphor for those who would consider the War on Terror the next “Good War.” This rhetorical relationship between World War II and the War on Terror is played out daily in games that allow gamers to escape the moral ambiguity and epistemological uncertainty of contemporary conflicts by replaying a war where the cause is just, the enemies are known, and victory is assured. This thesis unpacks the various ways the World War II video games Brothers in Arms, Combat Mission, and Hearts of Iron II deal with the political and social complexities of war through the collision of two historical periods: the Second World War as reproduced and replayed in games produced and played during the Global War on Terror. Understanding how these games simulate the Second World War can provide insights into how dominant narratives of warfare in general are constructed.

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