Video games as medium in the formation of popular memory: The representation of the First World War in Battlefield 1.

Abstract

By representing the First World War in its narrative, Battlefield 1 (EA DICE) adds to the popular memory of this war. This subject is treacherous to represent, not only because of its painful image due to the huge losses the war caused, and the uncertainty that still remains today, due to a lack of a specified 'good' and 'bad' side, but also because of the inconsistent image of the memory itself. Each medium leaves its own footprint on the representation of the war, specified by the mediums characteristics. Due to the personal involvement of the player that distinguishes the medium video games from all other media, Battlefield 1 achieves a representation of the war that both calls for awareness to perceive the subject of the War as a serious, and sensitive memory, and broadens the historical perception of the player on the war.