Bogost is not a Marxist

For a more reasoned approach to the issues described below, and an excellent discussion about academics and politics, go check out Ian Bogost's recent post here. He makes some good points:

I almost always find intellectual appeals to "the world" and "the public" to be disingenuous. For one part, who are we, holed up like we are with our French theory and our espresso, to talk of being "political?" If it means incanting Foucault and Žižek at one another, then that's not politics. If it means blogging about injustice to a group of twenty friends and acquaintances, then that's not politics. If it means gasping about injustices at wine bars and gallery openings, than that's still not politics.

Bogost is a perfect example of what academics should be about in my view: clear, relevant, humble and engaged. I find his work exceptionally accessible and pragmatic.

Ian Bogost is an Assistant Professor in the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture, at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also the author of Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogame Criticism and Unit Operations: An Approach to Videogame Criticism, both published by the MIT Press. Bogost is also a founding partner of Persuasive Games LLC. 

Below is Ian talking about the power of video games: