'Who thinks beating a child is entertainment?': Ideological constructions of the figure of the child in 'Detroit: Become Human'
'Who thinks beating a child is entertainment?': Ideological constructions of the figure of the child in 'Detroit: Become Human'
This article draws on sociological and anthropological theories relating to cultural constructions of the figure of ‘the child’ to determine whether Detroit: Become Human by Quantic Dream affirms or subverts ideological beliefs about children. It argues that much of the backlash Quantic Dream experienced following the premiere of the game’s trailer, which featured a scene of child abuse, can be understood part of a broader moral performance that relies on the sanctity of ‘the child’ to function as a touchstone for the modern Western society. It concludes that far from challenging dominant narratives about the moral value of ‘the child’, Detroit: Become Human replicates a conservative, reactionary, paternalistic view of children’s position within society.
child abuse, childhood, videogames, violence
Digital Games Research Association
Reay, Emma
07fd9558-6d41-426a-abba-c278b28a78f3
1 July 2020
Reay, Emma
07fd9558-6d41-426a-abba-c278b28a78f3
Reay, Emma
(2020)
'Who thinks beating a child is entertainment?': Ideological constructions of the figure of the child in 'Detroit: Become Human'.
In DIGRA '20 Proceedings of the 2020 DIGRA International Conference: Play Everywhere.
Digital Games Research Association.
13 pp
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
This article draws on sociological and anthropological theories relating to cultural constructions of the figure of ‘the child’ to determine whether Detroit: Become Human by Quantic Dream affirms or subverts ideological beliefs about children. It argues that much of the backlash Quantic Dream experienced following the premiere of the game’s trailer, which featured a scene of child abuse, can be understood part of a broader moral performance that relies on the sanctity of ‘the child’ to function as a touchstone for the modern Western society. It concludes that far from challenging dominant narratives about the moral value of ‘the child’, Detroit: Become Human replicates a conservative, reactionary, paternalistic view of children’s position within society.
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Published date: 1 July 2020
Keywords:
child abuse, childhood, videogames, violence
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Local EPrints ID: 472266
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/472266
PURE UUID: 3db32eba-5a95-494b-b74a-b4026fa08ed0
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Date deposited: 30 Nov 2022 17:42
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:15
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Author:
Emma Reay
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