from philology to gaming
beyond the word forest
As a scholar of Arabic texts, I’ve dedicated myself to understanding the nuances of language and the intricacies of textual analysis. While linguistics forms the bedrock of my academic pursuits, gaming, with titles like The Witcher, God of War, and Red Dead Redemption 2, has served as a rich avenue of relaxation and inspiration, evolving into a lasting personal interest.
seeking new critical frontiers
While traditional philological landscapes offer a wealth of insights, I’ve felt a compelling draw towards fresh, unexplored territories where the worlds of gaming and critical theory merge. Here, I saw an opportunity to apply the depth of humanistic frameworks, typically reserved for traditional texts and arts, to interactive media. Among the corpus of interactive artworks that gaming offers, Death Stranding stands out for its multi-layered narrative, its provocative integration of game mechanics with symbolism, and its ability to resonate with contemporary issues of loss, connection, and redemption. While already regarded for its technical and artistic achievements, I believe Death Stranding warrants deeper scholarly examination to illuminate its cultural, psychological, and philosophical significance.
launching an integrative analysis
With this project, I aim to decode the multifaceted layers of Death Stranding. Eschewing standard approaches of game criticism or design analysis, I’m integrating theories and concepts from diverse fields, ranging from philosophy to psychology to environmental studies. My objective is to decipher the game’s metaphors, interpret its symbolic representations, and contextualize it within broader cultural discourses. This effort, propelled by intellectual curiosity, endeavors to highlight the boundless potential of gaming when viewed through a kaleidoscope of theoretical perspectives. My hope is that this exploration not only sheds a unique light on Death Stranding but also illustrates a more flexible, comprehensive approach to humanistic studies suitable for our digital age.