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Title POLITIC IN DIGITAL VIDEO GAMES: A MULTIMODAL GENRE ANALYSIS

Author(s) Ms. Isma Waseem

Abstract Title: Politic in Digital Games: A Multimodal Genre Analysis Despite the ubiquitous use of digital games, there are very few studies on the genre of digital games in the academic scholarship. This study is an attempt to develop understanding of this rapidly advancing genre. This research work is based on a holistic perspective of genre as suggested by Clearwater (2011). For this purpose, the researcher adapted an operational analytical framework. The key focus was to investigate the narrative poetics, the potential of rules and parameters to generate a procedural argument, and the process of framing used in developing perspectives in the narrative of the games. In this regard, this qualitative study selected three games: COD: WWII, COD: Black Ops II and GTA-V. The study investigated the structure of pattern of narrative progression and the role of player agency in structuring the narrative of games. Furthermore, the study also analysed the procedural and visual mode to find out how these modes contribute to meaning making. The study also investigated the process and functions of framing to identify how framing can manifest the underlying ideological constructs. The study indicated a triad configuration narrative pattern: overarching meta-arc, a network of subsidiary arcs and a network of micronarratives. The study reflected that despite a prevailing sense of freedom in micronarratives, the bounded player agency did not allow the player to steer the trajectory of narrative. Furthermore, the study pointed out that being an expressive medium, the selected digital games use the process of framing to emphasize and glorify American military heroism or deemphasize capitalism. Furthermore, the study revealed the potential of digital games to generate a procedural argument through its system of affordance and restrictions (rules and parameters). The study suggests that digital games should be investigated to explore their various communicative dimensions, specifically the procedural arguments which have not been focused in linguistics and communication studies. Key words: digital games, genre analysis, narrative, framing and procedural mode

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2037-04-15

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Contributor(s) Dr. Mian Khurram Shahzad azam

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