Playable Sound. Hauntology in Bioshock, a Video Game for a Lost Future

Marilena Georgantzi (1) , Polyxeni Mantzou (2)

1 Hellenic Open University [Patras]
2 DUTH - Democritus University of Thrace

The medium of VideoGames, recognised as a hyper-sensory event and a new “form of literacy” according to Zimmerman, allows for the creation of atmospheres which exceed the sum of the parts, meaning audio, graphics, mechanics, etc. This paper focuses on the immersive, Dionysian aspect of sound which can create a nostalgic atmosphere for a lost future. Bioshock, displaying all sorts of atmospheric qualities, is a multi-awarded, first-person shooter game with RPG, horror and stealth game references. Its soundtrack will be analysed through the spectrum of hauntology, a term coined by Derrida, aiming to show how audio can be used to evoke extra-musical memories and contribute to the creation of a rich synthetic reality resulting in the longing of an unrealised utopia.

Mots clés: Soundtrack; Video Game; Hauntology; Memory; Referential Listening

Domaines: Architecture, aménagement de l'espace

Marilena Georgantzi, Polyxeni Mantzou. Playable Sound. Hauntology in Bioshock, a Video Game for a Lost Future. Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Ambiances, Alloaesthesia: Senses, Inventions, Worlds, Réseau International Ambiances, Dec 2020, e-conference, France. pp. 42-47, ⟨10.48537/hal-03220361⟩. ⟨hal-03220361⟩