We Have to Reimagine What Video Games Can Do

Andor, Disco Elysium, and more demonstrate revolutionary action, but can they do more?

Art and media hold no revolutionary power. Such is the conventional wisdom of people in my circles, people like me. More specifically, art created under a capitalist economy cannot spark, and in fact will quell revolutionary sentiment or action. Art is the pressure valve for such feelings, allowing the viewer, reader, player to feel as if they have taken action simply by watching, reading, playing. I can't help but be a little disappointed in myself then as I watch episode 8 of the latest season of Andor and sob at what I'm seeing and what I know it represents. But then I wonder: am I not inspired by this? Am I not regularly inspired by art and compelled to write? Perhaps repurposing that inspiration is simply a change in mindset, a reimagining of what is possible.

People come together to make great pieces of art. Andor is produced by a massive team of talented writers, cinematographers, actors, designers, and so many more areas of expertise. How do they all feel about the themes of Andor? Given the opportunity to create a show like Andor, how would I make sure it had the most impact? Is Disney's mind-boggling release strategy of 3 episodes per week a sign that they do feel some pressure to dampen the show's reach?

I can also imagine the casual TV enjoyer who watches the new Star Wars show because they like Star Wars enough and they're already paying for the Hulu bundle. They might enjoy it for the excitement and the action and the drama and their eyes will glaze over the fact Karis Nemik writes a manifesto about how to overthrow an imperialist government. I understand this viewer. We've all had a long day of work and I just need flashing lights and quick movements on a screen at the end of the day. Disney is hoping we all feel that way.

Disco Elysium was produced by a team of close, likeminded friends who thanked Karl Marx for their win at The Game Awards. We know how they all felt when making this game, and how it was all ripped away and scattered to the winds in a haunting mirroring of the revolutionary war that took place in the game.

People also come together to experience great art! Barbenheimer weekend was a massive shot in the arm movie theaters desperately needed. While this action spelled massive profits for the studios that produced Barbie and Oppenheimer, there was perhaps a missed opportunity for the sentiment, and again the inspiration to action.

Pokémon Go on a near weekly basis has millions of players out congregating for special events. It is a game that lives or dies on players going out into their communities to play with others. This is not to mention the growing tension between players and Niantic/Scopely around monetization practices.

These are just some of the thoughts I have on the question of whether or not art holds revolutionary power. If not, lots of resources have been wasted in trying to suppress the reading of certain books, watching of certain films, etc. If we can remember that the art is the inspiration for the action and not the action itself, I believe we can do so much with the art that massive corporations have already so hubrisly provided.

If I'm going to challenge a popular psychological theory, I want to take the time to do it right. I'm certainly not an expert, but I have developed a deep understanding of how to motivate myself and utilize my energy and inspiration. I also play a lot of video games and watch a lot of movies (follow on Letterboxd)! Over the next few months I'm going to explore this idea using some of my favorite pieces of media that have inspired me. I'll examine what inspired me about them and how, if I'm able, I used that to do more good. "Good" in this case need not change the world. It shouldn't change the world, not yet. If we can start to see actionable change in the media we see everyday then we are truly unstoppable.

"The day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire's authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege. Remember this: Try." -from Karis Nemik's Manifesto, Andor