Key Takeaways
- The Call of Duty video game series has been known to blur the lines between reality and fiction, often depicting future military events or wars.
- The 2013 installment, Call of Duty: Ghosts, sparked controversy in Venezuela due to its portrayal of a fictional alliance of South American countries as a military superpower and main enemy of the United States.
- Other video games, such as Battlefield and Medal of Honor, have also generated controversy and adopt a pro-military tone, often collaborating with former members of the special forces.
- The depiction of military conflicts in video games and cinema, such as Top Gun and American Sniper, can be seen as a form of cultural propaganda, transforming complex geopolitical conflicts into spectacles of immediate and frenetic action.
Introduction to the Call of Duty Series
The Call of Duty video game series has been a staple of the gaming industry for decades, with its 10th installment, Call of Duty: Ghosts, being released in 2013. The game’s storyline, which presents a fictional alliance of South American countries as a military superpower and main enemy of the United States, sparked considerable controversy in Venezuela. The country’s newly elected president, Nicolás Maduro, felt that the game was associating his country with a global military threat and symbolically positioning it as an antagonist. This narrative choice was seen as a reflection of the game’s ability to blur the lines between reality and fiction.
Predictive Programming and Controversy
Conspiracy theorists might argue that the Call of Duty saga participates in predictive programming, a term used to describe the supposed practice of introducing ideas or narratives into cultural products in order to psychologically prepare the population for future events. However, it is more likely that the game’s depiction of future military events or wars is simply a result of the thoroughness with which the Activision saga has blended reality and fiction. Other installments in the series, such as Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and Warzone, have generated controversy in other countries or geopolitical contexts, highlighting the potential for video games to influence public opinion and shape cultural attitudes towards military conflicts.
The Broader Cultural Context
The depiction of military conflicts in video games is not unique to the Call of Duty series. Other games, such as Battlefield and Medal of Honor, have also adopted a pro-military tone and collaborated with former members of the special forces. America’s Army, a video game developed directly by the U.S. Army, is a notable example of this trend. The game’s purpose is to serve as a communication and recruitment tool, highlighting the close relationship between the military and the gaming industry. Cinema has also followed a similar path, with films like Top Gun, 13 Hours, Black Hawk Down, and American Sniper depicting military conflicts in a way that is often seen as pro-military and patriotic.
The Cultural Ambassadors of Military Power
These types of games and films can be seen as cultural ambassadors of military power, transforming complex geopolitical conflicts into spectacles of immediate and frenetic action in which U.S. intervention is necessary and morally justified. The similarity between the depiction of military conflicts in these games and films and real-life events is striking, with many of the screenshots from the games matching the current situation in Caracas. The removal of Nicolás Maduro from power, for example, has been depicted in a way that is eerily similar to the gameplay of Call of Duty, with localized attacks, elite forces infiltrating silently into hostile territory, and surgical extraction operations.
The Impact on Public Opinion
The impact of these games and films on public opinion cannot be overstated. The depiction of military conflicts in a way that is often simplistic and pro-military can shape cultural attitudes towards war and military intervention. The fact that many people under the age of 40 have grown up playing games like Call of Duty means that they have been exposed to a particular narrative about military conflicts, one that emphasizes the importance of U.S. intervention and the need for immediate and frenetic action. This narrative can be seen as a form of cultural propaganda, one that is designed to shape public opinion and influence cultural attitudes towards military conflicts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Call of Duty series and other similar games and films have the power to shape cultural attitudes towards military conflicts and influence public opinion. The depiction of military conflicts in a way that is often simplistic and pro-military can have a profound impact on how people think about war and military intervention. As the world continues to evolve and new conflicts emerge, it is essential to consider the role that these types of games and films play in shaping our cultural narrative and influencing our attitudes towards military power. By examining the ways in which these games and films depict military conflicts, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural forces that shape our world and the ways in which they influence our perceptions of reality.