A narrative of synthetic fear

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how synthetic fear functions in a virtual world by focusing on the researcherÕs immersion within a video game. It takes the form of an arts-based autoethnographic study in order to interpret and creatively explore that experience. This study explores the concept of synthetic fear, the pervasive influence of created images of fear in digital visual culture by using this framework as a lens to explore themes in a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Using alternative ethnographic methods drawing from arts-based educational research and autoethnographic methods, this study experiments with narrative voice to explore real and virtual experiences in the voices of both the researcher and the avatar, or game character. Themes such as race, gender, citizenship, identity, exploration, surveillance, and political rhetoric illustrate the way that synthetic fear works as an underlying framework for these gaming experiences. This study is not intended to prescribe art education curricula for incorporating digital media in the classroom, but is instead intended to raise questions and encourage art educators to look at digital media and its influence on students in a more critical way.