Video Games and Rationalization in the Society

Please submit a written OPINION RESPONSE to Paolo Pedercini's video lecture, "Videogames and the Spirit of Capitalism". View the video: https://vimeo(dot)com/86738382 or there is a pdf version.



First, give a sense of the talk's key messages. Then, reflect on these ideas.

Within the context of Pedercini's talk, RATIONALIZATION means replacing human behavior and motivation with quantification and calculation.



RATIONALIZATION creates efficiency, but can also lead to EXPLOITATION of worker and ALIENATION in the modern world.



Pedercini says: “Computer games are the aesthetic form of rationalization.”



Questions: Do you think games impose a rationalizing standpoint on the player, even if one is “playing”? Does Pedercini offer any ray of hope, i.e. any possibility of “hacking a counting machine into an expressive machine?” Give your opinion of what he is suggesting, referring to his text to support your position. Of course, you may agree or disagree, it's your choice.



Please use paragraph format, and spell-check—no bullet points. Responses will be assessed based upon the quality and specificity of your summary as well as attention to key ideas from the reading.



Length: 300 word