Abstract
This paper explores constructions of Silent Hill, Konami’s survival horror videogame series, as ‘art’. Adopting a discursive approach to formations of ‘art’ and ‘artistry’, I explore three aspects of the series. First, the Silent Hill game-texts are examined as evoking formal devices of art cinema: realism, ambiguity, psychological complexity, self-reflexivity. Next the games’ advertising is considered as emphasising these qualities, privileging narratological over ludological gaming aspects, and mobilising avant-garde visual strategies. Finally the games’ representation in the documentary ‘The Making of Silent Hill 2’ (MoSH2) is discussed as aligning the series with notions of authorship.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 314-328 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Games and Culture |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2010 |
Keywords
- art
- advertising
- cinema
- documentary
- Silent Hill