Multimodality and Communication in Interactive Film: An Analysis of the Video Game Beyond Two Souls

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Multimodalnost i komunikacija u interaktivnom filmu: analiza videoigre Beyond Two Souls
• Author: Marko Fijan
• Mentor: Marina Grubišić (mentor)
• Committee member: Anđel Starčević (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Janja Čulig (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marina Grubišić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

By analyzing the video game Beyond Two Souls (2013), the thesis illustrates in which ways interactive film video games utilize multimodality to convey meaning and facilitate communication between the game and its players. First, a theoretical framework is established with the purpose of defining the terminology and choosing the most appropriate approach in order to reinforce the analysis claims. The analysis examines the linguistic, visual, audio, spatial and gestural modes occurring in the target video game. Moreover, the thesis argues that video games are a valid target for (multimodal) critical discourse analysis and attempts such an analysis on the target video game on the example of gender. The results show that the target video game communicates in a multimodal and interactive way by employing all of the mentioned modes to various degrees. Moreover, they show that the modes complement each other. As a result, it is possible to attempt a multimodal critical discourse analysis; however the interpretations should be taken with a grain of salt as some instances could be purely coincidental. Finally, the thesis opens possibilities for further research either on the target video game or on video games in general.

Abstract (croatian)

Analizom videoigre Beyond Two Souls (2013), rad prikazuje načine kojima žanr interaktivnog filma koristi multimodalnost kako bi prenio značenje i pospješio komunikaciju između igre i njezinih igrača. Na početku je uspostavljen teorijski okvir sa svrhom definiranja terminologije i odabira najprikladnijeg pristupa kako bi se potkrijepile tvrdnje analize. U analizi su sagledani jezični, vizualni, auditivni, prostorni i gestikulativni modusi koji se pojavljuju u igri. Nadalje, rad tvrdi da su videoigre pogodne za (multimodalnu) kritičku analizu diskursa i pokušava primijeniti isto u odabranoj videoigri na primjeru roda. Rezultati pokazuju da odabrana videoigra komunicira na multimodalan i interaktivni način koristeći sve navedene moduse u različitoj mjeri. Uz to, rezultati pokazuju da se modusi međusobno nadopunjuju. Shodno tome, moguće je pokušati provesti multimodalnu kritičku analizu diskursa. Međutim, kod interpretacije valja biti oprezan jer je moguće da su neki primjeri slučajnost. Naposljetku, rad nudi mogućnosti za daljnja istraživanja, bilo navedene igre ili videoigara općenito.

• Keywords: multimodality; communication; interactive film; videogames; critical discourse analysis
• Keywords (croatian): multimodalnost; komunikacija; interaktivni film; videoigre; kritička analiza diskursa
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:966451
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-07 19:11:02