Title:
Playable Sound
Hauntology in Bioshock, a Video Game for a Lost Future
Abstract
The medium of VideoGames, recognised as a hyper-sensory event and a new “form of literacy” according to Zimmerman, allows for the creation of atmospheres which exceed the sum of the parts, meaning audio, graphics, mechanics etc. This paper focuses on the immersive, Dionysian aspect of sound which can create a nostalgic atmosphere for a lost future. Bioshock, displaying all sorts of atmospheric qualities, is a multi-awarded, first-person shooter game with RPG, horror and stealth game references. Its soundtrack will be analysed through the spectrum of hauntology, a term coined by Derrida, aiming to show how audio can be used to evoke extra-musical memories and contribute to the creation of a rich synthetic reality resulting in the longing of an unrealised utopia.
Keywords: soundtrack, video game, hauntology, memory, referential listening
co-authored with Polyxeni Mantzou
Conference:
4th International Congress on Ambiances, Alloaesthesia: Senses, Inventions, Worlds, Réseau International Ambiances
Date:
Dec 2020, France
Published:
Proceedings of the conference
Creating Atmospheres 