Rhetoric

The definition of rhetoric (Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus, 2006, pg.653) is

‘1. art of effective speaking or writing. 2. artificial or exaggerated language.’

This can be applied to many aspects of life, as rhetoric is not restricted to texts. Rhetoric is persuasive language, which can be very upfront or very subtle in which the speaker/writer attempts to persuade the viewer of certain values and beliefs. It can be present in texts such as newspapers, or even the clothing and makeup of an individual.

Rhetoric can also be present in digital games. Either the rhetoric representations of a game, or the rhetoric within the games themselves.

To study rhetoric in the representations of a game you have to look at what is being said and how it is said. E.g. A digital game trailer. The rhetoric could be the music playing in a trailer and what particular scenes have been chosen to show.

To study the rhetoric within the game itself you can look at the characters of the game, their clothing, even the environment in which the game is taking place in.

Rhetoric in ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’.

Representations of the game.
In the trailer, it starts with the character being told that his job is to ‘take these guys out’ and then a series of scenes follow which include shootings, fast cars, prostitutes, car jacking and running away from the police.

Representations within the game.
The clothing of the main character is casual, almost gangster. The setting is Vice City, where areas are known ‘gang territories’ in which you try to take over.

Objective: ‘Finish off’ people, earn money through dodgy jobs, take over the gangs of Vice City.
Emphasis: Shooting, car jacking, getting away from the police.
Value: Fight back, don’t follow the law.
Rhetoric: It’s OK to shoot people, sleep with prostitutes, car jack and run away from the law.

So, the rhetorics of the game ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’ may be frowned upon. However it has been argued by game developers that the representations of games do not reflect their own personal values and beliefs and those of the players and so this should be taken into account by critics when blaming a game for a particular event in the media as this could create a moral panic.

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Bibliography.

Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus (2006) 2nd edn, Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers.