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The Coolest Medium: Thoughts regarding the future of videogames in an overheated culture

  • Author / Creator
    Klassen, James R
  • This study examines the nature of the medium of modern videogames explored through the works of Marshall McLuhan. I use McLuhan’s themes of hot and cold media, retribalization, and technology as a force that extends human perception in order to to analyze and explore the structure and possibilities for player agency that are present within videogames. The evolution of videogames into what McLuhan would identify as a very cool medium is an important part of his belief that technology is a motivator of cultural retribalization. I propose, therefore, that McLuhan’s theories should be included within the field of game studies as an additional framework with which we may discuss the medium.

  • Subjects / Keywords
  • Graduation date
    Spring 2014
  • Type of Item
    Thesis
  • Degree
    Master of Arts
  • DOI
    https://doi.org/10.7939/R3N87361K
  • License
    This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.