American Exceptionalism in Death Stranding: Videogames and Culture

Abstract

With videogames being one of the most popular and widespread forms of entertainment media to date, this essay wishes to regard the medium as a cultural artifact that both shapes and continuously is shaped by culture. For this purpose, this essay analyzes the 2019 videogame Death Stranding, delving into the game’s central theme of reconnecting a post-apocalyptic United States during a time of deep division, tying this to a criticism of the ideology of American exceptionalism. Through analysis of both the game’s narrative elements and the ways in which the game is played, this paper makes evident how Death Stranding deconstructs American exceptionalist narratives with the intention of laying bare foundational issues within American society, problems that all stem from the same narratives that so deeply define the Unitet States' national identity.