Abstract

Video game adaptations of the classical world are becoming increasingly intricate, and the study of video games as artifacts of classical reception and adaptation is likewise becoming increasingly important for the field of historiography. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, set during the Peloponnesian War, recreates, among other aspects of the Greek world of the period, the political setting of Periklean Athens. This thesis examines instances of Athenian political representation within the game which depart from the typical image of Athens' politics as informed by primary source accounts, knowledge of sociocultural practices, and archaeological finds. It argues that the game depicts the Athenian democracy as a republic with a strong aristocratic element rather than as a direct, participatory democracy. The paper recalls the tradition of reception and adaptation of democracy in political thought and examines some of the resulting attitudes towards democracy. It suggests that the game's depiction of democracy as an oligarchic republic is a result of the developers' passive adoption and repetition of popular theories regarding the form and function of democracy, past and present. Players' likelihood of adopting and perpetuating a misshapen image of democracy is briefly discussed. The conclusion considers the potential for video games to influence players' perceptions of political systems and participation in them and, in light of that capacity, advocates for closer scrutiny of adaptations of the classical world which engage in political representation. It also ponders the possibility of novel interpretations of democracy as the next step in the tradition of democracy's reception and adaptation.

Degree

College and Department

Humanities; Comparative Arts and Letters

Rights

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