Rules of the Father in The Last of Us: Masculinity Among the Ruins of Neoliberalism

The Last of Us is a Sony Playstation game that is widely regarded as one of the best games ever produced. It offers a narratively rich experience that prioritizes cultural and gaming genres that often prioritize frenetic violence by straight white male heroes. The game's development team self-consciously intervened in videogames' historical exclusion of women and girls by creating complex and agentive female characters. The book is the first comprehensive scholarly analysis of the zombie apocalypse/action-adventure/third-person shooter videogame The Last of Us (2013). It is a close, extended study of the game and its themes, genres, procedures, and gameplay, and a post-GamerGate reflection on the political and ethical possibilities of progressive play in algorithmic mass culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 148 pages
Publication date: 17 February 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Widely celebrated by critics and fans alike as one of the finest games ever created for the Sony Playstation, The Last of Us stands out for its ability to deliver a narratively rich experience within the confines of cultural and gaming genres that often prioritize frenetic violence by straight white male heroes. Moreover, The Last of Us is a significant milestone among mainstream, big-budget (AAA) games due to the conscious intervention of its development team in addressing the historical exclusion of women and girls in videogames. The game's co-protagonist, Ellie, is a teenage girl who is revealed to be queer in The Last of Us: Left Behind (DLC, 2014) and The Last of Us II (2020). At the same time, The Last of Us also centers around Joel, Ellie's fatherly protector.

How is patriarchy, the rule of the father, encoded in rule-based systems like videogames? How does patriarchal rule become an algorithmic rule and vice versa? These are the central questions at the heart of this book, the first comprehensive scholarly analysis of the zombie apocalypse/action-adventure/third-person shooter videogame The Last of Us (2013). On the one hand, the book offers a close, extended study of The Last of Us and its themes, genres, procedures, and gameplay. On the other hand, the book serves as a post-GamerGate reflection on the political and ethical possibilities of progressive play in algorithmic mass culture, of which videogames have now become the dominant form.

In exploring these questions, the book delves into the intricate relationship between power, gender, and technology in The Last of Us. It examines how the game employs narrative and gameplay mechanics to challenge traditional notions of masculinity, femininity, and power dynamics. By examining the roles of Ellie and Joel, the book highlights the ways in which gender is constructed and reproduced within the game world. It also explores the ways in which power is wielded and contested within the game, particularly in relation to the relationship between the player and the game's artificial intelligence (AI).

Furthermore, the book considers the broader implications of The Last of Us for the study of gender, power, and technology in videogames. It explores how the game contributes to the ongoing debate about the representation of women and girls in gaming and the potential for progressive play to challenge dominant narratives and ideologies. The book also considers the ethical implications of playing games that depict violence and exploitation, particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In conclusion, The Last of Us: A Critical Analysis of Gender, Power, and Technology in Videogames is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the game's themes, genres, and gameplay. By examining the ways in which The Last of Us challenges traditional notions of gender, power, and technology, the book provides valuable insights into the broader implications of videogames for the study of gender, power, and technology in contemporary society.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 148 x 210 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030896065
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022