That is probably more a subject for a thesis, not a blog post, but here anyway is a simple introduction for everyone that also introduces the philosophers Deleuze and Guattari .
Deleuze and Guattari’s classic text Anti-Oedipus (1972) maps out, among other things, a theory of desire which might shed some light on MMOs.
Desire in Anti-Oedipus starts as an alchemy of nature that rises up in our bodies. It is unthinking - it just happens and is played out as pure energy, pure physicality.
Later, according to D&G (yep, they are in many ways the Dolce & Gabbana of Post Modernism), desires are represented to us as “something”. In other words desire is identified, given meaning, as in - “Dude, I just totally ate that cookie ‘coz I was hungry *burp*”.
Deleuze and Guattari’s classic text Anti-Oedipus (1972) maps out, among other things, a theory of desire which might shed some light on MMOs.
Desire in Anti-Oedipus starts as an alchemy of nature that rises up in our bodies. It is unthinking - it just happens and is played out as pure energy, pure physicality.
Later, according to D&G (yep, they are in many ways the Dolce & Gabbana of Post Modernism), desires are represented to us as “something”. In other words desire is identified, given meaning, as in - “Dude, I just totally ate that cookie ‘coz I was hungry *burp*”.
This representation can be influenced by many things, including society. A lot of Anti-Oedipus is about the way capitalism misrepresents desires to us.
For D&G, therefore, desire exists on two levels - the pre-conscious body where it originates and, later, the more insubstantial level of representation, influenced by such evil forces as society, capitalism, the family, or whatever else is around to provide meaning.
How might MMOs fit into this scheme?
Well, avatars are certainly not physical - if anything they are representations, as is their online environment.
So are MMOs representations of desire?
It’s certainly not hard to see them this way - and it explains a lot.
In Anti-Oedipus, representations of desire are seen not just as images but as conduits - they grab desire and direct it - often limiting its opportunities to find expression. And because desire is seen as a force independent of human consciousness - where it is lead is where humanity gets dragged along after it, for good or for ill.
Perhaps this an explanation for people getting so strangely involved in mass numbers with the crazy all-consuming pastime of MMO gaming.
Many activities in MMOs - perhaps all activities in MMOs - can be seen as driving desire, from building up power and reputation and possessions, to the outer edge of MMO behavior, where real romantic connections spring up between players.
Try reading accounts of people who have fallen in love through MMOs, describing how significant and authentic an MMO relationship can be (check out MMO Couples for more).
From all this an important question can be asked about MMOs - is this system of representation opening up creative possibilities for desire, or is it locking it down into regimes of repetitive, limited meanings and behaviours?
This relates to a lot of issues that MMOs are involved in at the moment, including design issues.
MMOs and desire, I would argue, are intimate bed-partners, and must be treated as such.
(Look out for other mini-intros in this Blog. Next fun intro: MMOs and Lacan)
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