I think it’s a well executed analysis of the how the Vietnam Syndrome was overcome by re-branding war as patriotic entertainment. It is a little old now, so I hope a new version comes out with an extensive analysis of the explosion in military sponsorship of sports especially UFC and NBA!
The video to me offered sometimes, a disturbing insight into the ways that war is presented and viewed as entertainment or "militainment" in contemporary American popular culture. War has been the subject of entertainment for centuries, but Roger Stahl argues that a new interactive mode of militarized entertainment is recruiting its audience as virtual-citizen soldiers. He examines a wide range of historical and contemporary media examples to demonstrate the ways that war now invites audiences to enter the spectacle as an interactive participant through a variety of channels that range from news coverage to online video games to reality television. Basically, rather than presenting war as something to be watched, the new interactive militainment presents war as something to be played and experienced. Stahl examines the challenges that this new mode of militarized entertainment poses for democracy, and explores the controversies and resistant practices that it has inspired. This volume is key for anyone interested in the relationship between war and media, and it sheds surprising light on the connections between virtual battlefields and the international conflicts unfolding in today.
For my sources this week, I decided to keep it funny by adding some of the best moments I enjoyed from the government that elected former President George W. Bush, these are also known as "Bushisms"
Enjoy!
Since I'm in the military I can definitely relate to this one. I love plying Call of Duty and I know for a fact war video games do not help me prepare mentally or physically for combat in iraq or Afghanistan, at all. It was a good idea for the government to try and use video games to expand the military but, not very successful in my opinion. I don't know if war has exactly been the source of entertainment for centuries, but it definitely makes money. Some purposes may be just for making money, while most of the purposes reside in the individual who enlists and wants to serve his country. Very nice reflection from the document, you've pointed out some really interesting thoughts.
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