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.
Recommended Citation
Cruz, Trent A., "GAMING THE GOOD WAR: PLAYING WORLD WAR II VIDEO GAMES IN THE SHADOW OF THE WAR ON TERROR" (2007). Digitized Theses. 5127.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/5127