Thomas Spies, PhD, from the University of Cologne gives a guest lecture on the hero figure in the videogame Disco Elysium (ZA/UM 2020)
The lesson examines the representation of mental health issues in the computer role-playing game Disco Elysium by using Albert Camus’ theory of the absurd as a basis. Through his daily work routine as a detective,the protagonist Harry DuBois’ trauma unfolds through the course of the game while simultaneously revealing the psychosocial aspects of trauma. Interpreting Harry’s existential struggles as those of an absurd hero supports the idea that finding (greater) meaning is not a necessity when coping with trauma.
The guest lecture by Thomas Spies is arranged by the ENCODE research network and funded by the Erasmus+
framework.