Francis the Gamer is mad…. For real? Or satire?

Francis is upset with Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the Diablo III video game for making some changes to the game (before releasing it). Full disclosure here: I’m not a gamer. I know gamers and I know that they’re fiercely competitive and take their gaming seriously. Sometimes too seriously. Let’s take a look and listen at Francis —

So is Francis really mad and just venting on YouTube to his fellow gamers or is there something more diabolical going on here?

Maybe a look at a scene from one of the best satires of the ’70s (and IMHO one of the best ever) — screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky’s “Network” — will give us some perspective. Here’s Peter Finch as Howard Beale giving his now-famous rant —

Anger can be funny. Especially over-the-top anger. And that’s one criterion for satire — exaggeration. So who or what is Francis satirizing? Gamers in general? Taking their “toys” a bit too seriously?

Some will say that this is simply a parody — fun for fun’s sake. That to be satirical it should get you thinking about the deeper issues underlying the humor. Well, it certainly got me thinking… and watching some of his other videos. (Part of his insidious plan?)

My guess is that Francis is satirizing “Francis the Gamer.” And he’s doing it in a playful but calculated fashion.

Don’t think so? Let’s take a look at another one of his videos.

And now the clincher….

So, what do you think? Is Francis for real? I say Francis is an actor. He’s not for real; he’s for reel. Go get ’em Francis!

What do you think?

Previous Post

When Irony Meets Satire: Ice Cream, Mandrake. Children’s Ice Cream!

Comments

  1. Salut, have been looking on Google for that topic and took me ages to finally find a blog that provides the needed infos – and that not in boring way, quite opposite. Rarely to find and the design is cool as well. Maybe just change the link colour to black, but that just besides. Thanks again and I’ll check this blog more often now. Site bookmarked! Many thanks for sharing it up! Tschau

  2. Ho ho, who wodlua thunk it, right?

Leave a Reply to Quellbereicht Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *