Tomb Raider and Derrida?
"eidos, archè, telos, energia, ousia (essence, existence, substance, subject), aletheia..."
Derrida 354
Derrida offered a plethora of words I didn't understand but "Eidos" stood out to me because it's the name that pops up when you play Tomb Raider. So obviously it is a video game company, but what does it mean?
Dictionary. Com says as a noun it means the formal content of a culture, encompassing its system of ideas, criteria for interpreting experiences, etc. It also means something that can be seen, or 'image' in Greek.
Ahhh...good choice Eidos!
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Dennis G. Jerz on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: Michelle, I'll be offering the
Derek Tickle on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: Thanks, Michelle. The EL 250:
Michelle Tantlinger on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: Poor Lara Croft...no one ever
Derek Tickle on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: I am so glad that you brought
Derek Tickle on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: Thanks, Michelle. The EL 250:
Michelle Tantlinger on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: Poor Lara Croft...no one ever
Derek Tickle on Tomb Raider and Derrida?: I am so glad that you brought
I am so glad that you brought up the word "Eidos" because I recently, in the last year, took a course from Dr. Jerz about video games and their culture. In fact, I actually wrote a lengthy research paper on "Tomb Raider" and really enjoyed and learned a lot in the course.
The term seems to fit a video game if it is to mean "content of a culture." This would apply in a video game because a game uses content from culture. In "Tomb Raider," for example, Laura is displayed as a female who wears limited clothing. Is this a depection of the 20th century? Interesting...
As for the Greek meaning referring to "image," I would have to agree with that in a video game also. This is because a video game is designed as a visual tool that is used to attract people and create a psychological environment that is aesthetically pleasing.
So, if eidos refers to video games, then can we use a psychological criticism on it?
Poor Lara Croft...no one ever remembers that she speaks numerous foreign languages and has a deeply intimate knowledge of just about every ancient civilization on the planet. We only remember that she looks hot in booty shorts.
To answer your question about video games and psychoanalysis, I would say certainly. And I think it would be fun to psychoanalyze all the aspects of a video game like Tomb Raider because not only do we play video games in the 21st century, but we live them. The characters become real to us, just like the characters on television and in the movies.
I'd love to read your paper as well!
Thanks, Michelle. The EL 250: Video Game Culture and Theory course was excellent and I learned a lot of valuable information.
Michelle, I'll be offering the video game course again this January... I hope you'll consider taking it.