tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945107903045129102.post2752231225046439808..comments2024-03-08T01:15:49.006-08:00Comments on Video Games as Literature: Essays by Kirsten Rodning: Final Fantasy IX and the Shakespearean TraditionKirstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03510009425910015652noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945107903045129102.post-69469383637367775022014-07-25T06:19:15.605-07:002014-07-25T06:19:15.605-07:00It's fitting that video games, as a relatively...It's fitting that video games, as a relatively new form of literature and popular entertainment, would borrow thematic elements from Shakespeare (don't forget the battling brother princes in Much Ado), as we know Shakespeare himself borrowed liberally from myth and oral tradition to create the new literature and popular entertainment of his day. This may be why the Final Fantasy series is so beloved and memorable if it references these stories which are so deeply ingrained in human consciousness. Actually, many if not most video games these days roughly follow the monomyth and hero's journey. That could be a fascinating blog topic!Jigsawdivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705154781432589441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945107903045129102.post-64054748972599747262014-07-21T21:04:49.667-07:002014-07-21T21:04:49.667-07:00I've never played Final Fantasy, but always be...I've never played Final Fantasy, but always been a bit curious about the series. Now you got me wanting to play it! Good allusions and explanation of how you can see the Shakespearean influence.<br /><br />Bri Ahearnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03386299049588321078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6945107903045129102.post-8280937778200312582014-07-14T09:35:16.337-07:002014-07-14T09:35:16.337-07:00I'm not really all that into the Final Fantasy...I'm not really all that into the Final Fantasy series (never played them when I was young, and haven't exactly made time for them now), but I can appreciate the allusions (subtle and otherwise) to Shakespeare. When the term "archetype" is bandied about, the two pools of work that come to mind are Greek myth and Shakespeare. The two have provided the basic ingredients for every story I've ever come across. From The Lion King serving as a near identical parallel to Hamlet, to the ever present " hero's journey" motif, the two have served us well. it does my heart good to see something so integral to modern storytelling be brought into territory often times deemed to "unrefined" or "uncultured" for such material. By continuously embracing new forms of story telling and bridging the gaps between techniques and generations, we can continue to perpetuate story telling for its intended purpose, to enlighten, entertain, and inspire. if that means slipping in references to the Bard between boss battles, then so be it. Now, if only someone could concoct a working version of "Hamlet" featuring Hyrule, or the Mushroom Kingdom...Jamie Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08666353017670492753noreply@blogger.com