This week was spent further researching my addressed topic and refining my question which has been difficult. Currently I’d say my largest issue is there’s too many threads and methods of approach to my topic of ‘manufactured nostalgia’ in media which itself is difficult to define.
When it comes to terminology two terms I have found that address this specific kind of nostalgia, one for a time not experienced, is ‘Sehnsucht’ and ‘Anemoia’. The issue is that neither of these terms have any large mainstream use and sometimes the nostalgia I refer to is simply called ‘nostalgia’ making papers and data to find in regards to this topic difficult. The next question is ‘what is my approach’ to I examine how games as a product are being made to exploit this feeling for sales? Do I approach games as art forms and examine why this emotion might be being explored in games. Who do I place the onus on? The players for engaging with it and that engagement resulting in it’s exploration? Is it the makers who themselves wish to explore it and the player’s engagement is not a factor? Do I address it as a mix of both?
As I continue to research the topic I have come to a current interpretation of what I believe I wish to explore with this topic. I wish not to explore the ‘games’ themselves but rather use them as a point of example as a vehicle for this emotion. I wish to argue that games are vehicles for this emotion that both creator and player engage in and reflect towards one another.
