Ep. 11: Why Are You So Angry? (Violence & Video Games Part 2)

Ian Danskin of Innuendo Studios joins JD this week to talk the WHY of violence. Specifically, why does violence matter so much to so many people who play games? Ian explores why the mission to keep violence in video games feels so personal to so many people, and why conversations about the cultural implications of violence in video games get so heated. A particularly relevant conversation, seeing as the past few years have seen a flurry of intense (and somewhat scary) responses to critiques of the ubiquity of violence in video games (Gamergate and the harassment directed towards Anita Sarkeesian being notable examples).

For Ian, regardless of how we think the violence affects us, there is the question of what the violence is used to sell and who it’s supposed to sell itself to. Tune in this week to learn about the ripple effects of censorship attempts, the gendered nature of marketing, and how the perceived naughtiness of violence in video games can affect our emotional attachment to these digital playscapes.

Ian Danskin is a New England media artist and video essayist. He makes videos about games and web culture on his YouTube channel, Innuendo Studios.

This episode is the second in a current mini series on violence and video games. For the first episode in the series, check out Episode 10: Moral Combat--Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong.

Stuff we mentioned...
Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong
90s Censorship Wars
Jack Thompson
Anita Sarkeesian and Feminist Frequency
Gamergate
DOOM: Bethesda E3 Showcase Gameplay Reveal
“Blood is Compulsory” video by Ian Danskin
Mortal Combat Blood Code
Supreme Court ruling on video games being art
Nancy Drew Games
"No Girls Allowed" Polygon Article on the relationship between stereotypes that "video games are for boys" and marketing
Dear Esther
What Remains of Edith Finch
Myst
Walking Simulators
Casual Games (and "Casual Revolution" by Jesper Juul, just for kicks)
Sonic the Hedgehog is so mean
Play it Loud Campaign
“Will thoust get the girl? Or play like one?”
Part 1 of Ian’s “Why Are You So Angry?” Series (part 2 gets to "bubble popping")
D.A.R.E.
The Sims

JD (The Broad)
Website: GamingBroadly.com
Twitter: @JayDeeCepticon
Instagram: @JayDeeCepticon

Ian Danskin (The Cast)
Twitter: @InnuendoStudios
Youtube Channel: Innuendo Studios
Patreon: Innuendo Studios
Tumblr: InnuendoStudios

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