Description
War dominates headlines, but it also packs movie seats and breaks video game sales records. But how do such narratives contribute to our understanding of war? Do blockbuster films and hyper-realistic war simulation games ethically represent war in its complexity? The representation of war in literature and film was once the province of the soldiers, citizens, and news correspondents who fought and endured such conflicts. Today, the resulting narratives and images that permeate our national consciousness also represent an ever-present entertainment medium. How do first-person shooters like Call of Duty or films like Saving Private Ryan represent war and contribute to its non-military understanding—both historically and culturally? Does rendering war as entertainment affect the way we as a culture understand it? A Note: The thematic and narrative content explored in this course will require students to read and view graphic portrayals of war violence.