Take Responsibility - Ananya Bhardwaj (Week 9)
“With great power comes great responsibility.”
Power and responsibility are intertwined and fundamentally inseparable, as famously expressed by Spider-Man. These seem like nebulous concepts—what does it mean to hold power? Does it mean shooting webs to stop supervillains, or harnessing the power of nature to restore balance?
I find that power means taking responsibility when in a position to do so; whether it be in the small things, like being an officer of a school club or an older sibling in a time of crisis. No piece of fiction exemplifies the relationships between leadership, power, and responsibility better than Mouthwashing.
Mouthwashing is a psychological horror game that takes place aboard the Tuplar, a spaceship stranded in the middle of outer space. The game tackles multiple themes ranging from capitalism and sexism, and is quite dark. I’d recommend it to anyone able to stomach gorey horror—the game definitely is not for the faint of heart. There’s a masterfully crafted narrative with amazing symbolism underneath the darker elements at the forefront of Mouthwashing.
In the game, the Tulpar and its crewmates are stuck in outer space after a crash with an asteroid. The members are miraculously alive; however, the captain of the ship, Curly, is horribly disfigured, and co-captain Jimmy takes charge of the ship. The story is told in a non-chronological order; you play as Curly before the crash and as Jimmy after the crash. Playing as the captain instills the reader with an inherent sense of responsibility. Only you, the player, have access to various items on the ship, meaning that you wield all power on the ship. However, as the truth about the crash unfolds, it’s revealed how little responsibility the captains actually take when it comes to the well-being of their crewmates, especially Jimmy.
There is this one moment in the game that stands out to me the most—it’s a small moment that defines what I believe the relationship between power and responsibility to be. Before the crash, Curly and the ship’s nurse, Anya, have a conversation in front of a hologram of the night sky; Anya remarks about how there is one dead pixel on the moon, and how she can’t help but notice it every time she looks at the screen. Curly, on the other hand, says that he prefers to ignore it and keep up the illusion of a perfect sky. Anya has been abused and is in a precarious position regarding her job and health; she’s also the only woman on the ship. Curly on the other hand, as the captain and as a man, is much better off socially and financially, and he’s oblivious to Anya's struggles, even as she attempts to voice them.
This difference in outlook shows how when institutions that allow for an abuse of power to take place, a lack of responsibility from more privileged individuals only makes situations worse; having power instills responsibility. It instills duty, and it instills trust that those in power will wield it for justice.
Hi Ananya, I was so excited to read your blog! I have heard alot about the game Mouthwashing lately from my friends and gaming content creators! Personally, I have not played the game before, but I have heard of the game's amazing demonstration of the relationships between leadership and power. I was really interested with the beginning of how the captain was severely injured, and how it signifies the change of power because of how Curly had to take up the responsibility of guiding the other crew mates.
ReplyDeleteHey Ananya! Your blog was so interesting and the Mouthwashing game image immediately caught my attention. I remember when you recommended the game to me but I was instantly averse to the idea of playing it due to my incapacity to handle gore. Your connection between the quote from Spider-Man to the story behind the Mouthwashing game is so thought-provoking. I love the analysis of how privilege often blinds those in power to the struggles of others, even if those struggling actively speak up. Using a video game to critique real-world institutions which enable inequality is a great choice, as it successfully showcases how unchecked power can lead to harm. Do you think this message of power imbalance was intended in the game?
ReplyDeleteHi Ruhika! The question you asked at the end of your comment made me realize how much more I wanted to talk about Mouthwashing's portrayal of power imbalance—I don't typically respond to blog comments. Unfortunately, the word limit for blog posts did stop me from further analyzing and talking about this aspect of the game.
DeleteTo answer your question—yes, the developers of Mouthwashing fully intended to show how power in the wrong hands can result in disastrous situations. In fact, it's the central message of the game, as the words "Take Responsibility" flash on the screen at numerous points, especially when the player is confronted with the consequences of their actions. The moment with the dead moon pixel that I highlighted in my blog is actually a very small moment that most fans skip over on a first watch. I would highly, highly recommend checking out this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkfhwbriKtw); it thoroughly explains both the game and its masterful use of symbolism.
Hi Ananya!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! Starting with the quote from Spiderman instantly drew me in, and I loved how you used that quote as a “lens” to explore the dynamics of power and responsibility. Although I haven’t read or played Mouthwashing, your blog did make me more interested in it. The moment with Curly and Anya sounds incredibly impactful, and the way you tied it to privilege and responsibility was incredibly thought-provoking. I think it’s crazy how a video game can mirror such complex social dynamics and make you reflect on real world issues. Great blog!