Army Philosophy
An interesting opinion posted on the SMH about America’s Army asks “can a mass game-fan base translate into a mass fan base for war?”, speculating about the motives behind the US army’s first foray into the gaming market. The question posed is whether “politicians and interest groups [should] be kicking up a fuss” about what the author sees is an idealogical propaganda tool. If she’s worried about the US$7m spent to make the game, however, it’s worth noting that the US military budget is somewhere north of US$360 billion.
The author sees an opportunity to culture-jam the Army’s agenda via mods “to reveal “the deeper truth” behind the actions of the US war machine”. It would be interesting to see some levels released that allowed users to re-enact great US war crimes of their past.
The author also applauds the US Army for using games as more than just making money:
But I have to salute the United States Army as well, for being the first major public institution to recognise the video game as an important cultural medium. It has approached the game as a conduit for ideas, not merely the basis of a profitable industry.Interesting thoughts.Frightening as it is, America’s Army shows the world how the video game has opened up a there-for-the-taking cultural space we neglect at our peril.
And, as usual, Penny-Arcade have the last word.
posted by devo · at 2:20 am · filed under News
I suppose they spend most of the rest of that $360 billion on military hardware. Now THAT’s worrying.
Unfortunately, the article doesn’t exactly read as the author intended. I don’t expect politicians to bat an eye at the fact that AA might be propaganda. The ‘kicking up a fuss’ comment was actually meant in reference to something else. Here’s that para before it was edited:
“One might expect politicians and interest groups to be kicking up a fuss. After all, parents of slain Colombine High School students launched lawsuits against the game developers, decrying the brainwashing effects of hours spent shooting virtual weapons from a first person point of view.
Will parents sue the developers of this game, the United States Army? Or is their game somehow acceptable because the kids aren’t just learning to love violence, they’re learning to “defend freedom”?
It makes sense that the America’s Army logo incorporates the slogan “Defend Freedom”. Bush has used the phrase in practically every speech since September 11. Like Bush’s rhetoric – his narrative about an eternal war waged between the forces of ‘fear’ and ‘freedom’ – the Army’s computer game is a weapon honed for fighting their war on the ideological front.”