Digital Fiction Meets Critical Theory: A Gramscian Analysis Of Socio-Political And Economic Exploitation In A Place Called Ormalcy

Abstract

Rising authoritarianism, isolation and dehumanization are some of the issues that are on the rise across global societies, raising urgent concerns. Erosion of individual freedom and privacy in an increasingly surveilled world has become a dangerous threat. A Place Called Ormalcy (2018) is a digital 3D/VR fiction by Mez Breeze that serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unbridled power and the suppression of freedom that resonates with the current predicament of our modernized society. The cartoonish environment and the playful language underplay the dystopian world of subjugation in the beginning, but the narrative soon unfolds the fascist principles that dominate Ormalcy. This paper examines Mez’s work through the lens of Antonio Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony, which posits that dominant classes secure consent from subordinate groups by normalizing oppressive ideologies as common sense through institutions like education, media, and law. Rather than relying solely on coercion, authoritarian systems maintain control by manufacturing consent, leading to internalized compliance. A Gramscian reading of Ormalcy reveals how these dynamics are embedded in the life of the protagonist, Mr.

Ormal, who begins as a contented citizen but becomes a dehumanized enforcer of the very regime that oppressed him. The study seeks to promote ways to develop a counter-hegemonic culture in order to create a more humane, and resilient society, where the well-being of individuals and communities is prioritized alongside progress of the nation.