The Paranormal in Jane Jensen’s “Gray Matter”
Religions April 18, 2018 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3390/rel9040134 via DOAJ
Summary
The article examines how Western esotericism shapes computer game plots, using the game "Gray Matter" by J. Jensen as a case study. Jensen employs occultural bricolage, mixing elements from Stephen King, the Society for Psychical Research, parapsychology, and neuropsychology. The game presents three competing explanations for paranormal events: a magician who denies the supernatural, a neurobiologist who sees mind as objectifiable energy, and a psi-specialist who affirms super-abilities and an afterlife. The authors argue that Jensen promotes the last perspective, making it the game's central thesis.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The game "Gray Matter" promotes the view that super-abilities and an afterlife are real, using occultural bricolage of Stephen King, psychical research, and parapsychology. |
Abstract
The main research issue of this article is to determine the extent to which Western esotericism influences the formation of computer game plots. The methodological framework is the occultural bricolage theory (C. Partridge). This article looks at how the paranormal is represented in the game “Gray Matter”, created by J. Jensen. Jensen has always used occult bricolage as the main method for creating her games, but in “Gray Matter” this method is perfected. Although the game plot is built around paranormal events, they are not given any unambiguous interpretation; their status is the main question of the game. There are three answers to this question. The first answer is the beliefs of Sam Everett, a girl magician who does not believe in the supernatural. The second answer is the research of Dr. Styles, a neurobiologist convinced that the mind is an energy that can be objectified after death. The third answer is the theory of Dr. Ramusskin, a psi-phenomena specialist, who believes that super-abilities are real, and that spirits and the afterlife exist. It is the last answer that Jensen promotes in creating the game. The basis of “Gray matter” is a bricolage of Stephen King, the works of the Society for Psychical Research, works on parapsychology and the debates around psi-phenomena in neuropsychology.