New Books Network Adrienne Domasin ed., "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Last of Us" (Playstory Press, 2025)
Nov 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Adrienne Domasin, an editor and scholar specializing in media and post-apocalyptic narratives, dives deep into her latest work, exploring the psychological themes in The Last of Us. She highlights how trauma, grief, and morality influence character choices, particularly in the contrasting narratives of the games and HBO adaptation. Adrienne also examines the ethics of player perspectives, especially through characters like Joel and Abby, and how these experiences reflect larger human struggles within the framework of a post-apocalyptic society.
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Post-Apocalypse As Utopian Thought
- Post-apocalyptic narratives let us imagine alternative social orders beyond capitalism.
- Adrienne Domasin sees The Last of Us as a utopian site for rethinking communal life after collapse.
Jackson As A Model Of Collective Life
- The Last of Us shows how ordinary people could rebuild equitable social structures.
- Domasin points to Jackson being described as a commune that operates democratically.
Medium Shapes Story Choices
- Different media afford different narrative choices and constraints.
- Domasin emphasizes that television and games tell the same story via distinct technological and industrial logics.