Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2026
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in English
Department
English
First Advisor
Dr. Doug Stark
Second Advisor
Dr. Penelope Ingram
Third Advisor
Dr. Stephanie Kinzinger
Abstract
Due to economic and environmental barriers, encounters with animals and nature have become increasingly inaccessible for many people, while video games have emerged as a common site for simulated environmental interaction. This thesis conceptualizes video games as synthetic contact zones, or digital spaces where representations of humans, animals, and environments interact, conflict, and shape one another. Drawing on the theories of Mary Louise Pratt, Donna Haraway, and Alenda Y. Chang, this project analyzes how video games model relationships between players, animals, and ecological systems through interactive mechanics and environmental storytelling. Explorations of Red Dead Redemption 2, Blair Witch, Fresh Start, and Minecraft, among others, interrogate how different games facilitate different forms of environmental and animal interaction, ranging from aesthetics and resource extraction, to care, respect, and restoration. Ultimately, the project argues that the effects of these synthetic contact zones extend beyond gameplay itself, influencing how players conceptualize and engage with animals and nature in the real world.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
McPherson, Sarah C., "Synthetic Contact Zones: Meeting Nature and Animals in Video Games" (2026). English Theses. 2.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/english_theses2/2