From: "Jose Rodriguez & Sally Everson" <pepor-AT-caribe.net>
Subject: Re: US army computer game
Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 10:59:11 -0300


I suppose to many US Americans it is no surprise whether or not this was
known to be a fact (that the US military produces its own video games to
attract recruits).
My own nephew just last year was seduced into joining the Army.  He had no
money and wanted to get educated.  Typical scenario.  But when I asked him
why the Army --  he said they had the best "toys" -- meaning
computer/electronic gadgets.  (Luckily perhaps for him he was discharged
during basic training). The movies have been selling the military for a long
time now so I guess making computer games was a logical next step.
I think a study on the intersections of computer games and colonial
discourse would be an excellent idea.  Esp. as a way to get students
attention and show them how this discourse pentrates their daily lives.  AS
for me (with a 3 and 5 year old at home) I am struggling over my kids' love
of "The Wild Thornberries" -- reeking of colonialism that is masked by some
feel-good environmentalism.

Good luck on your work if you pursue this.


Sally Everson
Ph.D. Candidate in Caribbean Literature
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras




-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Phillips <lawrence-AT-lphillips.freeserve.co.uk>
To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
<postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Date: Friday, May 24, 2002 8:09 AM
Subject: RE: US army computer game


>I was just astounded by this when it was brought to my attention. The US
>Army has made its own ultra-violent computer game to interest young
>people in the army. Well, we know one thing: the US army believes in the
>connection between violence and video games!
>
>http://www.americasarmy.com
>
>I'm not sure if this is the right forum to bring something like this up,
>but am I the only one to find this profoundly troubling? It also raises
>interesting questions about the relationship between the www and,
>perhaps, colonialism; violence and computer games; and even computer
>games and colonialism.
>
>I don't know if anyone here has given this much consideration, but I've
>been pondering the issue of the relationship between certain computer
>games and colonial discourse for a while, particularly the genre known
>as 'god games' which involve some sort of conquest motivation. In fact
>there is a series of games called Imperialism based loosely based on the
>history of European colonialism from Cortez onwards. Some details about
>the series can be found here:
>
>http://www.gamesdomain.com/demos/demo/327.html
>
>Does anyone feel like initiating a discussion about this issue?
>
>Best,
>
>Lawrence Phillips,
>Goldsmiths College,
>University of London
>
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