Anthropology 295: Anthropology of Media

Hi folks. So after giving my guitar hero presentation the other day, I rewarded myself by playing Guitar Hero. It was such a reminder that although I understand all this academic, sociological stuff going on behind the game, I'm still sucked into it because it is - gasp - fun. Addictively so I would say. Yesterday I moved up from 'easy' to 'medium' on the song settings, which meant that another button got implemented and the game got much harder for me. Because I was playing on a new difficulty level, I didn't do so hot. When the video crowd booed me off for the first time, I got enormously stressed out and HAD to try again immediately. And when the game got intense, I found myself swearing and getting physically antsy and tense. And yes, it's just a game, but it sucks you in!! After playing the game and feeling the sense of accomplishment one gets from getting through say, a really hard solo section, I can see why people are so into this game... Critics have said that the game is a mindless obsession. Well. I can understand that, it does get under your skin and make you just want to play more and more, but it is actually LEGITIMATELY impressive when someone is good at it because it's actually hard. Never mind how they got there via hours of playing. Still impressive. In case you're having ADD at the library as you might be, I've youtubed some select guitar hero videos for your viewing pleasure, starting with the clip that I showed in class.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/downloads/preview/?id=7560
This is in insane video of an 8 year-old playing on expert level - this is basically insanely hard. At one point in the video, he actually turns away from the TV because he has memorized what his fingers are supposed to be doing. -- it's been viewed over 4,000,000 times. WHAT?!?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yEjyuw42YY
This gives you an idea of how the buttons work on the screen - also it's a killer song and ALSO this is just one of many, many, many videos that people put up of the screen as they play along to songs on Guitar hero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLmYPe_jLqg
So, guitar hero is forming its own virtual, ridiculously massive culture and maybe that's ok? Yea, maybe it's a bit pathetic, but it's what's popular today. Whenever there is a party and Guitar Hero is there, people want to play it. Never shuts off. Possibly all this virtuality is just the natural progression of where things are heading...