A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
Dawn of a New Year, and the curious case of the Happy Mask Salesman in Termina.
Discussing a Happy New Year, and analyzing the Happy Mask Salesman.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
Interlude: of theoretical gaming analysis, and “Majora’s Mask” versus James Joyce.
In this post, I take a first pass at articulating the rationale behind my approach to "Majora's Mask," and what I am ultimately after with this tack of video game analysis.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
Why can’t Skull Kid be healed? Part III of III examining the Song of Healing.
Given the analysis I have offered of the Song of Healing, how can we account for the fact that Link cannot use the song to heal Skull Kid / Majora?
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
“If you truly can see me, then follow behind me.” Part II of III examining the Song of Healing.
A first pass at what Darmani and Mikau can teach us about heroism in Termina.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
What can Deku Link teach us about the nature of gaming? Part I of III examining the Song of Healing.
In the first of three posts about the Song of Healing, I argue that Deku Link offers us unique insight into video games as an aesthetic object.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
You don’t have to know anything about Buddhism to appreciate “Majora’s Mask,” but it helps.
I model Termina and Link through Buddhist philosophy, and move towards explanations of masks and their Salesman.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
Mister Owl, how many timelines does it take to get to the center of free will and determinism?
With the background of Kaepora Gaebora, I take a first pass at sketching a Majoran thesis of free will / determinism.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
“Majora’s Mask” addresses marginalized groups in a way you might miss—and that’s the point.
"Majora's Mask" contains a thesis on how groups are marginalized by society. Here, I argue that the ease with which one can miss this game element is precisely what makes its content so impactful.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
Interlude: why games matter, and what Jane Austen has to do with it.
Many people view video games much more as toys than as serious works of art. In light of this, without dwelling on it too long, I would like to dedicate one post to an attempt to convince the cynic that video games deserve to be taken seriously as aesthetic works.
A Comprehensive Theory of Majora's Mask
“Even if I die… It won’t be in peace.” The dynamics of death in “Majora’s Mask.”
In this post, I explore what about "Majora's Mask" and the world of Termina makes death more imminent and haunting than any other "Zelda" title could.