Violence in Video Games

     In his article “How evil should a video game allow you to be?” posted in The New Yorker in 2013, Simon Parkin explains how violence in books or movies is easily dismissible because ‘we are merely spectators,’ However, violence in video games is not so easily dismissible because in video games we are active participants to crime and violence we decide to commit. Parkin explains this by comparing violent video games such as, Grand Theft Auto v, Metal Gear Solid, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, to American literature such as George Steiner’s “The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H.” I agree with some of Parkin's article but I feel that the violence in video games is not a threat to anyone. The violence in video games, though it may not seem like it, are to many a work of art. I don't see much of a difference between violence in books and violence in video games, other then the visuals. Although I agree at times the violence can be a little too graphic, if it's part of the creators vision, who are we to demand censorship.