Red Deadology: What the Best Video Game in History Can Teach Us about America

Since its launch in 2018, the Rock Star-produced video game Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 62,000,000 copies and grossed over $3,600,000,000.  It is among the best reviewed games ever.  An essential element to the game’s success is its immersive world of turn of the century America.  In this research and writing focused seminar we will study that world and ask important questions about its environments, societies, cultures, technology, and economies as an introduction to some of the disciplinary methodologies practiced by professional scholars and scientists.

We will pay particular attention to RDR2 as a work of historical interpretation, as a commentary on the contemporary world, and as a modern example of a classic genre in American literature and film. We will also spend some time investigating some of the methodologies used in video game studies, including the ethical and social responsibilities of video game makers and players.