Lecture Notes: Millennial Writing in Modern Media

Introduction

• Topic: Exploration of a writing style termed "Millennial writing."
• Characteristics: Seen in tweets with a casual, ironic tone.

Millennial Writing in Video Games

• Saints Row Reboot:

  • Criticism of character design and dialogue style.
  • Characters perceived as overly verbose and politically charged without substance.

• Tales from the Borderlands & Borderlands 3:

  • Shift in writing style noted with excessive pop culture references.
  • Critique of character development and plot arcs.
  • Humor perceived as outdated and lacking depth.

• Wolfenstein Games:

  • Change in tone and character portrayal from "The New Order" to "Youngblood."
  • Concerns over frivolous treatment of violence.

• High on Life:

  • Noted for verbose dialogue and lack of editing.
  • Overuse of swearing and comedic elements that feel forced.

• Destiny 2:

  • Dialogue style seen as sardonic and passive-aggressive.

Characteristics of Millennial Writing

• Vocabulary: Includes words like "shitty," "weird," "yikes," and "my dude."
• Tone: Often passive-aggressive and condescending.
• Cultural References: Heavy use of pop culture and internet lingo.

Political Messaging in Games

• Current Trends:

  • Games often reference political and social issues superficially.
  • Criticism that games feel obliged to be political without depth.

• Comparison with Older Games:

  • Older games presented nuanced ethical dilemmas and respected player choice.
  • Modern games seen as forcing opinions rather than encouraging thought.

Influence of Social Media

• Role of Twitter:
  • Perceived as the source of current trends but criticized for representing a vocal minority.
  • Suggestions for creators to find broader societal trends beyond social media.

Conclusion

• Advice: Encourages creators to disconnect from social media to gain broader perspectives.
• Final Thought: A call to be less condescending and more concise in communication.

Key Takeaways

• Millennial writing characterized by verbose, ironic, and condescending tone.
• Modern games frequently criticized for shallow political commentary.
• Social media, particularly Twitter, seen as a misleading source of cultural trends.

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