Amanda Phillips uses the term mechropolitics to connect the wider cultural traumas of the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam conflict with the popularity of headshot videogame effects.

Question

What is her argument?

Answer 1

Amanda Phillips argues that there is a connection between cultural traumas and the popularity of headshot effects in videogames. She coins the term "mechropolitics" to describe this connection. According to Phillips, mechropolitics is the intersection between technology and politics, where cultural traumas shape the development of new technologies and, in turn, those technologies reinforce the cultural traumas.

In this case, Phillips argues that the cultural traumas of the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam conflict have contributed to the popularity of headshot effects in videogames. These traumas have created a cultural fascination with violence and death, which has influenced the development of videogames that feature violent gameplay and realistic depictions of gore and death.

Furthermore, Phillips argues that these videogames not only reflect cultural traumas but also reinforce them by desensitizing players to violence and death. By making headshots and other violent acts in videogames seem like a normal part of gameplay, players become accustomed to violence and may be more likely to accept it as a part of real-life conflicts and political struggles.

Overall, Phillips' argument is that cultural traumas and technological development are interconnected and that understanding this connection can shed light on larger political and cultural issues.