Criticizing the Discourse of Colonialism in Africa through Metal Gear Solid V

Muhammad Hafiz Kurniawan; Dadang Sudana; Wawan Gunawan

doi:10.30998/scope.v9i1.20764

Criticizing the Discourse of Colonialism in Africa through Metal Gear Solid V

Muhammad Hafiz Kurniawan^(1*), Dadang Sudana⁽²⁾, Wawan Gunawan⁽³⁾

(1) Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
(2) Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
(3) Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Taking the setting in Africa, two missions in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain entitled ‘The White Mamba’ and ‘Blood Runs Deep’ has an antagonist character named Eli who is described as white child laboring more than ten African Children as his soldiers. This boy, depicted with an arrogant pose, always tries to challenge the main character who is predicted to be this boy’s father. This paper aims to analyze the language and image strategies in representing Eli and African Child soldiers by using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis with social semiotics approach to video game. The method of collecting the data of this research is using recorded video game and the transcription of conversation about Eli and Child Soldiers in video game cutscene, gameplay, and dialogues in cassette tape in video game. The data of this research are the verbal and non-verbal semiotic sources. Verbal semiotic sources are in form of sentences and phrases, while non-verbal semiotic sources are in form of screen captures of gameplay and stories of the video game. This research found that the verbal strategies in criticizing social actor representing the colonialism are by using label in specification and objectivation, while in visual strategies, the camera vertical angle can show the support of video game developer to oppressed and colonized people and the criticism to oppressor and colonizer.

Keywords

Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis; Social Semiotic Approach; Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; Colonialism in Africa

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30998/scope.v9i1.20764

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