Living in a Susiety
It all changes when those goggles are worn, and that red suit is placed upon us. When the title of 'impostor' is donned, is it something that is forced upon us or is it something that we choose to crown ourselves with? As humans, we often inadvertently place ourselves in positions that force our hand, whether the outcome is something we crave or dread. Our behaviour in these scenarios can only be described as a component in the machine that is the human condition. However, in these components, we can see clear parallels from the most recent pop-culture video game, 'Among Us'.
Time and time again, humankind have found themselves often categorised into two halves. One seeks to maintain and create peace, and the latter strives to create strife and chaos in their wake. The iconic game 'Among Us' is a metaphorical representation of this duality in a contemporary setting. Whether one seeks to murder their fellow as the 'impostor' or to expose the 'impostor' in the name of justice, there is a link between us as humans and the character that represents us. Our willingness to betray those among us for temporary satisfaction or the gain of a 'dub' in a game merely imitates our day-to-day behaviour.
In the ever-continuing struggle to climb the rungs of our respective fields, it's not uncommon for shortcuts to a higher position to appear—shortcuts that require us to exploit others to further our careers. While the issue is an ethical dilemma that most people find themselves pondering in their lifetime, the conclusion hardly leaves a positive impression. However, in the game 'Among Us', we willingly place ourselves within these situations. These situations force us to choose the invaluable trust that our peers place in us or our own personal advancement at the cost of others. The rise in popularity of the game 'Among Us' is a reflection of the continued normalcy of this concept, a concept that pits us against one another in an endless game of lies and deceit.
While ostensibly innocent, the game 'Among Us' is more accurately a metaphor for the modern human condition. Its facade of innocent characters participating in a sci-fi themed game of Mafia provides a representation of a societal trend. A trend that sees us revelling in a terrifying power struggle, void of empathy and trust.
Article by Shaiming Lee
This article appeared in the The Gavel #1 ‘The Among Us Issue’ (2021) Publication