America’s Digital Messiah(s) of Detroit: Become Human (2018)

Izabela Tomczak

Abstract


The article explores the relation between implicit biblical patterns existing in American popular culture and video games. In analyzing a blockbuster video game, Detroit: Become Human developed by Quantic Dream studio in 2018, the text establishes three examples of the representation of a new model of messiahs/prophets in the digital context. The entire narrative revolves around undermining binary oppositions, as between religion and technology, mass culture and high culture, and Christ/Antichrist. To account for this fluidity, the major concept employed to discuss particular aspects of the games’ characters is Beebee’s definition of hybrid-messiahs. 


Keywords


intermedia; game studies; religious studies; myth; mythical patterns; biblical patterns; digital religion; popular culture

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/nh.2019.4.158-172
Date of publication: 2019-09-13 22:32:50
Date of submission: 2018-12-29 18:39:28


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