Summer "Reading"

Kassandra in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

So rather than spend my summer reading up on ancient texts, I have been doing some intensive "homework" for class by binging Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. It's no secret that I love the AC franchise because of its historical themes and spectacular visuals, but I find myself somewhat surprised that I engage (sometimes enthusiastically) in the violent aspects of the game. This brought up some personal questions that several of you might want to consider for your projects.

1. First, in modern culture, do media outlets (such as television, video games, etc.) use historical focuses as an excuse to show violence? Does placing a violent narrative in a historical setting make it somehow less controversial?

2. Do we really believe that eras of the past were more brutal and more violent than "modern" times, and why? Where do these notions come from? In some instances, is there circular logic involved? For instance, do I believe that medieval people were as violent as they are in Game of Thrones because that's what I've always seen on TV? Or is there is a historical precedent for this information?

3. How do historians use stereotypes of the past to justify the present? I know this is a highly charged question, but think about it. If we want to show that modern times are more enlightened, more civilized, and all around "better," what more effective way than to show the past as barbaric and violent?

4. Lastly, since we have so few unbiased, first-hand accounts of the eras (compared to our own), is it accurate for scholars to base their knowledge on literature, theater, and art? And if so, what will future generations assume about our culture based on our tv shows, books, and video games? On the flip side, does art reflect more about society than we give it credit for?

Ok, that's enough of the theoretical discussion for now. I need to go sack some bandit camps in Sparta!