Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Program

History

Department

History

Major Professor

Dr. James Mokhiber

Second Advisor

Dr. Marc Landry

Third Advisor

Dr. Andrew McKevitt

Abstract

Historians have long spent time utilizing more traditional forms of media –music, literature, film- to understand how enjoyers analyze historical moments. This thesis intends to pursue that same train of thought using video games. Key to this thesis is Fallout, which will be used to analyze how developers and players understand fascistic moments throughout the history of the United States by using a pseudo-governmental organization from the Fallout universe. This group is the Enclave, a fascistic group of political and business leaders. This thesis will analyze the representation of capitalism and authoritarianism as they present themselves in the United States through the lens of the Fallout series. While using the alternate history of Fallout may seem contradictory to traditional historicity, this thesis will show how video games can and should be used to better understand and explore how people develop historical conciousness through popular media.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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