@article{EVENT,
      recid = {14510},
      author = {Doostdar, Alireza and Hayek, Ghenwa},
      title = {Call of Duty: Modern Warfare},
      address = {2024-03},
      number = {EVENT},
      abstract = {&lt;p&gt;This episode of &lt;a  href="https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/collection/Gaming%20Islam?ln=en"  target="_blank"&gt;Gaming Islam&lt;/a&gt; consists of eight videos  in which the presenters talk about "Call of Duty: Modern  Warfare" (Infinity Ward 2019) - how it mixes the real with  the fictional, its language and gender politics, and its  depiction of empire and the morality of war. This episode  is also available on &lt;a  href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyIKiLdiuvRYlMtTfkyi0rcCrEPaPKpTT"  target="_blank"&gt;YouTube&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 1: Introduction.   We introduce Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, its relationship  to the U.S.-led "Global War on Terror," and how the game  tries to take a nuanced perspective on events in the Middle  East but ends up with some of the same old American clichés  about the region and its people.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 2: Language  Politics.  Why do the citizens of the fictional country of  Urzikstan speak the real language of Arabic? And do they  all speak it equally well? If so, why did "Haidar" misspell  his name as "Hadir"?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 3: On Flags.  Which  real-world country's national emblem inspired the flag of  Urzikstan? Is al-Qatala's flag modeled after Hezbollah, or  ISIS? Is Urzikstan a narco-state?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 4: Gender  Politics.  A lot of women carry guns in this game, but  which ones are on "the good side"? Does the game give us  any hints based on their style of dress? We try to find out  who Call of Duty thinks are the good Muslim women and who  are the bad ones.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 5: Imperialism.  It's true  that Russia is an imperialist power. But Call of Duty makes  Russians into such extreme cartoon villains that it  obscures how the United States is a much bigger imperialist  power.  Also, why does the game displace American crimes  onto Russia? Watch the segment to hear us speak about water  boarding and the so-called Highway of Death.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Here  are some links on the Highway of Death controversy: &lt;ul&gt;    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a  href="https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/30/20938550/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-highway-of-death-controversy"  target="_blank"&gt;Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s Highway of  Death controversy, explained&lt;/a&gt; (Polygon)&lt;/li&gt;   &lt;li&gt;&lt;a  href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/modern-warfare-the-highway-of-death-and-call-of-dutys-exploitation-of-the-past/"  target="_blank"&gt;'Modern Warfare,' The Highway of Death, and  Call of Duty's Exploitation of the Past&lt;/a&gt; (Vice)&lt;/li&gt;  &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Video 6: A Spectrum of Morality.  There are  no pacifists in Modern Warfare. But some groups are  justified in their violence, while others are not. Which  combatants kill for good, sensible reasons? And which ones  kill merely to cause chaos and irrational destruction?  Where does each group stand on the spectrum of  morality?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Video 7: Martyrs &amp; White Saviors.  What  does Alex the rogue CIA agent have in common with Jake  Sully from Avatar? Watch as we explore the topic of  martyrdom and Hollywood's white savior complex.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p&gt;Video 8: Undying Heroes.  As an Arabic saying goes, "the  hero never dies." What does that have to do with U.S.  military recruitment? Watch as we draw some final  conclusions about Modern Warfare and its ties with the US  Army.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Gaming Islam is:  &lt;ul&gt;   &lt;li&gt;written and  presented by Alireza Doostdar and Ghenwa Hayek&lt;/li&gt;    &lt;li&gt;produced and mographed by elfrzdq&lt;/li&gt;   &lt;li&gt;filmed by  Thomas Maguire&lt;/li&gt;   &lt;li&gt;with generous support from the  Martin Marty Center for the Public of Understanding of  Religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School &lt;a  href="https://martycenter.org/"  target="_blank"&gt;https://martycenter.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;   &lt;/p&gt;},
      url = {http://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/14510},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.6082/uchicago.14510},
}