Home Library Grand Theft Auto 4: Liberty City too close to home.

GTA 4

Action Adventure
Released: 04.09.08
Rockstar North
Rockstar Games
ESRB: Mature

Grand Theft Auto 4: Liberty City too close to home.

by Sarah Schutz

Nearly every news media form on the planet has, in some way, addressed the release of Grand Theft Auto 4. Nearly every game review locale has given the game near-perfect scores, only discounting it for the marginally annoying cover system, the too-sturdy-for-nature poplar tree, and the eerie similarity to earlier installments of the series. The general consensus, however, is that Grand Theft Auto 4 is one of the best games of all time with an engaging storyline, exquisite gameplay and an immersive, insanely detailed world that can be explored endlessly. The game is gorgeous. Buy it. We're not here to deliberate that fact and the extensive media coverage has outlined nearly every reason why this game is such a landmark in gaming history, except for one: it is perhaps one of the smartest and most socially relevant games we've ever come across, even though cloaked in grotesque violence, gluttony and the most despicable facets of our every day lives. Grand Theft Auto 4 manages to subvert its cliche violence and overt social commentary to convey a message about our screwed up society. What better way to get people to think about society than comment through the stereotypically most base form of media: the videogame.

Since its inception, the Grand Theft Auto series has gotten a lot of slack from mainstream media. While gamers everywhere rave about the series' gameplay qualities and became addicted to the sandbox format, most news outlets had tunnel vision towards the game's bat-wielding main character, gory violence, illicit drug use, hookers and grand theft larceny. What were we teaching our children? Not much has changed with the next generation installment, yet the gamer's main defense remains. Grand Theft Auto is clearly for adults. Politicians and mainstream news reporters alike uphold the stereotype that video gaming is child's play so ignore the ratings and the warnings and scream at the game's creators and the industry at large for creating such a monstrosity, while never actually picking up the game themselves. Yes, it's violent. So is HBO. What these GTA opponents never fully explore is what the GTA series could potentially offer to social and media commentary. Since they never actually pick up the controller, they fail to soak in the nuggets of wisdom that Nico and friends have to offer. GTA 4 specifically with its in-depth mock advertising, radio commentary and "televised" programming, manages to subvert its own cynical presentation and comment on the very society that attempts to tear the game apart. While parents, politicians and pundits are plastering scarlet letters on game creators everywhere, these very game creators have managed to subvert this controversial media form to create a smart, witty and relevant commentary on its own relationship to society.

While much of the game does entail blasting baddies, drug running and driving over telephone poles, if you take the time to listen to the radio programming or lounge in your safehouse while watching T.V. or even just look around at the bright billboards throughout the city, it becomes evident how much thought was put into the creation of Liberty City. And while the game's violence is no doubt over the top, when understood in the context of Liberty City, this is no paradise, but an exaggeration of the very society we live in. From the moment Nico and Roman step off the boat, Nico comments on the limited opportunities for immigrants in "the land of the free" and the slavery to the country that follows the indebtedness of many Americans. Like Nico we are encouraged to create our own success and climb to the top, yet doing so takes money and status that most don't have - or must pursue in illegal and illicit ways. While Nico succeeds by blasting away higher-ups in organized crime, we later see his friend on the boat barely making it, selling fake purses in the equivalent of Times Square. Liberty is not for all.

The America of Liberty City loves itself. An ad on the radio outlines just why America is number one: an incompetent buffoon for a leader, gas-guzzling citizens, freedom from thought and a lifelong party that never ends. The ad warns Liberty City to not make a mistake in the upcoming election and choose a leader who would mess it all up. We shouldn't make the mistake of trying to change anything.

The mock-advertising throughout the game reflects the underlying commentary on America throughout the game. Aside from the occasional branded outfit or the homage to brands through mockery, there is no real in-game advertising in GTA, but that is not to say there is no commentary on advertising. Mock advertising is everywhere in the game, commenting on our own commercial brainwashing and the global usurping of commercial commodity.

Money can buy anything and everything, no matter how pointless or unethical. Commercials for genetically manufacturing your own baby or purchasing Babies Overnight demonstrate that even children are a commodity here. Women can head over to Ladies' Night at the Liberty City Gun Club - because sometimes guys are asking for it (which may be well and true). Laziness and gluttony abound in Liberty City. Ads for Scooters that take you everywhere ensure you won't have to waste any energy walking. The snarky Ricky Gervais, who makes frequent appearances in the game, is the Greek Chorus commenting on how out of control commercialism and laziness have become. Why not just create moving cement to ensure you don't even have to walk to the scooter? Beer commercials praise the alcoholic ability to eschew responsibility in favor of apathy. The ultimate goal in this society is to do little while having lots.

Liberty City's society has seemingly come to accept its moral depravity. DNA tests are advertised so you can determine if you were the product of a 70s car key party - because DNA never lies "except in some sexual assault cases." They've become accepting of television shows such as "I'm Rich" - which celebrates greed 5 nights a week by portraying directionless heiresses that are entirely reminiscent of those real-world counterparts that are featured on all of our tabloid covers. These heiresses have so much money they will buy any unnecessary luxuries rather than do something generous or productive - exemplified in Chloe Parker's ruby-filled breasts. These heiresses literally shit away money and television viewers of Liberty City watch - and so do we. CNT - Conglomerated National Television - features Drunk Daddy and the Door. America's Next Top Hooker celebrates judging women for televised profit. The Weazel network (an obvious homage to Fox) features "hard news" programming that only seems to hyperbolize and sensationalize the news.

GTA 4 doesn't fail to comment on the current political climate, Neocon trend and the liberal reaction. In Liberty City's parks, conversations trashing the current president can be overheard. Weazel runs a Nonstop Terror Marathon wherein they "blame liberals for everything." American Asshole features LCPD Brian O'Toole who became a cop to "protect freedom" whatever the cost and spends his days arresting peaceful protesters. This is all-too similar to our real-life battle with terrorism and the "securing" of our cities which often only impinges the freedom we are trying to protect.

In all of Grand Theft Auto 4's cynicism and violence, we begin to understand that what we hate so much in the game is what we hate in our own society. Reverence for violence, gluttony, laziness and hate does exist in our world. Perhaps it doesn't exist so blatantly, but all we need to do is turn on our television or view sensationalist news programs. We spend so much time reading about people who have more and spending so we have more and criticizing videogames that may or may not be rotting our brains that we fail to think about what we do and why we do it. And while you may or may not think Grand Theft Auto 4 is art, you can't deny that it may be a bit more truthful and thought-provoking than the many other ways we are dumbing down America every day - and through many more outlets than the videogame.

Jesus

YES. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. There is nothing i can say, you said it all. If we all thought this way, im sure things would be differant but you'll always have "the oblivious mass." sheep to the slaughter, I say. Thanks for writing this.

#1 - CxOxRxY - 09/03/2008 - 04:39

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