1. There is an abundance of visual rhetoric throughout the America's Army website. Everything about the website is stamped with 'army', which would persuade many potential players that their game is worth investing in. The intended audience is young adults, and anyone interested in the Army and video games (there is even employment information for the website!). The background image contains camouflage, and digitally created army members, which already sets the Army mood of viewers. The gray and greenish colors add a serious feel to the website, which reflects that the game will be close to real-life, and that viewers will virtually be immersed in the atmosphere that real soldiers are in. Since there is so much visual rhetoric, i believe the website is pretty effective in appealing to it's audience. Plus, the website has managed to merge real-life (interactive gaming events) with fantasy (the game). There is information about real life hero's, which could influence people to join the army, and there are videos and information about the game.
2. I do not agree with Boyle that this website/game indoctrinates the ideology of war. I understand that you can practice teamwork and strategy in the game, but I do not think that through the game or website you can fully comprehend war ideology. Someone would have to be involved in real-life activities to understand it. My best friend's dad went to Iraq for a couple months, and from what my friend has told me about his experiences, i do not believe anyone could feel the extent of his emotions from playing a game. He was in a life-threatening situation, away from his wife and daughters, and away from the comforts of America.
On the website i found the following quote:
"Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army." Although the game demonstrates these qualities, i do not believe that it can teach them.
3. I think that this website is more intent on providing entertainment for individuals, and to interest them in becoming part of the Army. For some people, it's hard to separate reality from fantasy, so it could cause them to act violently from playing this game or a game like this. However, i do not believe the web site's intention is to promote violence or to make teens more violent.
Side note: I believe that there is a time for fantasy, and a time for reality, and that they shouldn't be as closely intertwined as they are in games like this. From the readings, I saw many differing opinions about violence in video games and it's effects on people. Jones viewed violent media as an outlook for some of kids emotions. I can understand this because the games can take kids away to a place they'd never be in real life, and let them do things they couldn't do in real life. In addition, i understand what Provenzo Jr. was saying, that in society today kids are spending so much time in simulations that it's taking away from encounters in the real world. As long as people can separate fantasy from reality in real life, i do not see video games as much of a problem.
