Dissertation Index
Author: Grosser, Michelle L Title: Experiencing Avatar/Player Virtual Subjectivity: The Role of the Soundtrack in Open-World Video Games Institution: University of Toronto Begun: September 2020 Completed: June 2024 Abstract: In this dissertation I consider the role of music in supporting the avatar/player’s virtual subjectivity in open world video games. I discuss the philosophical foundations of virtual subjectivity and the ways in which the player and the avatar have agency as one subject. I discuss theories of control, agency, and learning, as well as embodied music cognition, all of which come together to support music’s role in facilitating this subjectivity. I present six case studies, across three genres of open-world video games, to demonstrate these theories in action. In these case studies, I demonstrate that there are many effective ways to apply music to gameplay in order to support virtual subjectivity. Drawing together the conclusions from each of the case studies, I contend that in order for music to support avatar/player virtual subjectivity, it ought to be congruent with in-game events, setting, or player action, allowing it to carry information to the player about the game and aid in the world building of an immersive environment. Keywords: Video Game Music, Music Cognition, Virtual Agency, Player Experience, Open-World Games TOC: Chapter 1: Virtual Subjectivity and Distributed Agency Chapter 2: Analyzing Open-World Games Chapter 3: Open-World Role Playing Games: Skyrim and Dark Souls Chapter 4: Metroidvanias: Hollow Knight and Guacamelee! Chapter 5: Procedural Generation: Don’t Starve Together and Minecraft Conclusions Contact: michellegrosser01@gmail.com |