User:Berna Bereit Master Thesis Outline

What do you WANT to write? [What will the text be about? (thesis). What do you want to explore?

The thesis is concerned with analyzing how trade unions and labor movements are portrayed in video games. This includes the examination of narrative strands, game mechanics and aesthetic elements that focus on class struggles and collective organizations in games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Bioshock Infinite. It will also address the issue of trade unionism within the games industry itself, particularly in relation to the working conditions of developers.

The research builds on existing work in game studies, social theory and art studies that examine video games as a medium of social reflection.

The project builds on previous work on collective movements and their representation in digital media and expands the discourse to include the question of how class struggles and labor movements are visually and narratively realized in games. At the same time, the consideration of current working conditions (for example crunch culture) in the games industry itself will add an additional, practice-relevant dimension to the thesis.

Be clear about HOW you want to tell your story.

In the format of an academic language the thesis will be focussing on theoretical research, game analysis and current game developments.

In the theoretical research academic literature on trade unions in the fields of social theory, cultural and game studies will be examined. Analyzing the history of trade unions and labor movements in art, film and literature as a context for representation in video games.

On a selection of relevant games that address labor unions and workers’ struggles, explicit insights on the depiction can be gained. Examing the narrative and mechanical implementation of trade union themes in these games as well as analyzing the visual aesthetics and design of these games in relation to labor movements are part of the second part in the thesis.

In the third part parallels will be drawn to the game industry and current union movements for example at Microsoft.

Concluding in a discussion on how games as a medium reflect on social realities and which narrative and aesthetic decisions lead to a critical examination of labor struggles, the thesis will combine the theoretical and analytic exploration.

Outline three key issues you want to explore. (Please think of only 3 key issues):

Issue 01

video games as growing medium that are increasingly used as a platform for social and political discourse

Issue 02

understanding how the visual and narrative design of games affects the perception of social realities and to what extent these representations can stimulate reflection on labor struggles

Issue 03

Labor Unions in the game industry as a response to working conditions (crunch culture)