Research: Is Dark Souls a Pilgrimage?

[Pareod]

Hi again guys, so I'm doing some research for a class on pilgrimages. What better way to assess Dark Souls as a pilgrimage than to ask you guys: the possible pilgrims? So what do you think? Is Dark Souls a pilgrimage TO YOU? Why, or why not? Short answers are just fine, please keep the discussion scholarly.

TL;DR is Dark Souls a pilgrimage in your eyes? Why, or why not?

[The Bells Toll]

Ummm, sort of. There is some elements of the story that are pilgrimage-like, but the overall travel and advancement is very low imo. Too much going in circles, too many questions left unanswered.

The pilgrimage in Dark Souls would be the travel to Anor Londo to receive answers from the Gods. 'Course, the Gods just send you to do something else, which I guess could be considered an extension, but to me the pilgrimage part ends at Anor Londo. The mission given to you there is more of a... quest, or task, than a pilgrimage. "Here's what you have to do now, so go do it!"

To me, a pilgrimage is not about completing some mission, but rather the search for an answer, often involving travel to some holy site or person of repute to seek said answer. So, those Undead traveling to Anor Londo/Lordran to seek something, primarily the source of the Undead plague itself and the darksign, would to me qualify as a pilgrimage. The character we play as, though, sort of "jumps the line" so to speak, being deposited really close to the "goalline" with little effort or thought upon leaving the Undead Asylum. Yes, we have to ring the two bells, which can be a decent trek in the game, but honestly, all we're doing is walking around Lordran, and a small part at that (ever look out at the rest of the city while at Firelink Shrine?).

So, to me, while Dark Souls can certainly qualify as a pilgrimage, the characters we play aren't necessarily on a good one, or one at all. If we had more info on the travels of the various NPCs and characters of lore in the world, I'd say look to them over our own Chosen Undead.

Course, all of that is from the ingame storyline viewpoint. As for the players themselves, us, I'm not sure at all. It's hard to judge if the players themselves, including my own experience, was really a search for answers or just playing through a game. To learn vs to be entertained. I know I enjoyed the game primarily for two reasons - I love the way the story is presented, and I don't get bored. But did I really play it to learn something? Other than just how to play the game better? Not really.

[Arlen Tektolnes]

If you're looking for games that may be relevant, check out Journey.

[LagMan_PT]

If by pilgrimage you mean epic journey to the unknown only hoping that it will mean something in the end then yes :) The game even establishes it at the intro. Its the same thing that drives people to walk for miles to get to some sacred place, hoping their praises will be answered by some god, hoping their curses will go away, hoping for happyness, its all based on faith and hope and capacity to endure, just like the chosen undead: Sometimes the unknown can be better than what you already have, thats what a pilgrimage is for me at least, its a journey to find yourself thru sacrifice and will, to be deserving of a better soul . Dark souls stands as the perfect meaning of strugle and how sometimes it can be bitter even with sucess, but allways worth it. Just like the ash maiden for example, you feel that sadness when she is gone and you want to save her, avenge her, she gave you peace and fire and now that is gone, but when you resurect her, shes not glad, her tongue restored she feels impure and begs you not to talk with her such is the power of her destiny, it made me feel strange but still glad i endured and saved her,

[Lman]

Of course it is. You create the character, start hollow with low strength and endurance and with time you build your strength. Never giving up at every death with the resolve to put an end to the curse of the undead. Over coming every adversity presented to you despite how difficult the foe. Enduring a depraved world decaying away. Should you give up this endless struggle? or gain the strength to conquer it?. That is what makes dark souls a pilgramige. It reflects your own determination to either win or lose. You the player are a pilgrim hence the title entrusted upon you as the "choose undead".

[RockoDyne]

First, define pilgrimage and then the context that you are refering to. Is it a personal pilgrimage for me? Is the story a pilgrimage? what?

[Lman]

von eredeti hozzászólása:

First, define pilgrimage and then the context that you are refering to. Is it a personal pilgrimage for me? Is the story a pilgrimage? what?

He's asking about who are the pilgrims, can be argued that you are a pilgrim(player) or other npcs. It's subjective.

[LagMan_PT]

Pilgrimige is usually a quest for spiritual significance, Like the caracter in the game he strugles to remain human or retain humanity/souls , to not go hollow physically, mentaly ,spiritualy. I think the game fits the concept of pilgrimige very well. Its a quest for significance, what are you in this world if just other undead waiting for madness otherwise

[Pareod]

In this class we are trying to define pilgrimage and religion, and so I cannot offer one to you. Rather than using definitions, we have been studying theoretical models that suggest attributes a pilgrimage needs in order to be considered a pilgrimage. I will be citing a few responses here and apply theoretical models to them.

Also, when I ask if this game is a pilgrimage, you can argue yes or no in the terms of you (the player) as a pilgrim playing this game, or you (the character) in the actual story. One last thing to consider is NG+, where the player revisits the pilgrimage site, perhaps as a part of a grander pilgrimage, or perhaps simply revisiting the same pilgrimage, but with new revelations from the first pilgrimage.

Thank you for your replies thus far, and please continue discussing.

[Kibbles]

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

In this class we are trying to define pilgrimage and religion, and so I cannot offer one to you. Rather than using definitions, we have been studying theoretical models that suggest attributes a pilgrimage needs in order to be considered a pilgrimage. I will be citing a few responses here and apply theoretical models to them.

Also, when I ask if this game is a pilgrimage, you can argue yes or no in the terms of you (the player) as a pilgrim playing this game, or you (the character) in the actual story. One last thing to consider is NG+, where the player revisits the pilgrimage site, perhaps as a part of a grander pilgrimage, or perhaps simply revisiting the same pilgrimage, but with new revelations from the first pilgrimage.

Thank you for your replies thus far, and please continue discussing.

Uh something tells me the teacher wouldn't really understand this game. I mean, I guess it's a good idea, but you really have to try dark souls to understand why it's so great.

[Lman]

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

In this class we are trying to define pilgrimage and religion, and so I cannot offer one to you. Rather than using definitions, we have been studying theoretical models that suggest attributes a pilgrimage needs in order to be considered a pilgrimage. I will be citing a few responses here and apply theoretical models to them.

Also, when I ask if this game is a pilgrimage, you can argue yes or no in the terms of you (the player) as a pilgrim playing this game, or you (the character) in the actual story. One last thing to consider is NG+, where the player revisits the pilgrimage site, perhaps as a part of a grander pilgrimage, or perhaps simply revisiting the same pilgrimage, but with new revelations from the first pilgrimage.

Thank you for your replies thus far, and please continue discussing.

What class? religion or english?.

[Pareod]

Kesler eredeti hozzászólása:

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

In this class we are trying to define pilgrimage and religion, and so I cannot offer one to you. Rather than using definitions, we have been studying theoretical models that suggest attributes a pilgrimage needs in order to be considered a pilgrimage. I will be citing a few responses here and apply theoretical models to them.

Also, when I ask if this game is a pilgrimage, you can argue yes or no in the terms of you (the player) as a pilgrim playing this game, or you (the character) in the actual story. One last thing to consider is NG+, where the player revisits the pilgrimage site, perhaps as a part of a grander pilgrimage, or perhaps simply revisiting the same pilgrimage, but with new revelations from the first pilgrimage.

Thank you for your replies thus far, and please continue discussing.

Uh something tells me the teacher wouldn't really understand this game. I mean, I guess it's a good idea, but you really have to try dark souls to understand why it's so great.

Well I considered this, and she has approved my idea, but Dark Souls will not be the entirety of my arguement. I am comparing it to other pilgrimages we have studied in order to make it more understandable with respect to the class. Obviously someone who has not played the game will not fully understand it, but then again someone who does not practice a certain religion will not fully understand that either.

[Pareod]

ラルス eredeti hozzászólása:

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

In this class we are trying to define pilgrimage and religion, and so I cannot offer one to you. Rather than using definitions, we have been studying theoretical models that suggest attributes a pilgrimage needs in order to be considered a pilgrimage. I will be citing a few responses here and apply theoretical models to them.

Also, when I ask if this game is a pilgrimage, you can argue yes or no in the terms of you (the player) as a pilgrim playing this game, or you (the character) in the actual story. One last thing to consider is NG+, where the player revisits the pilgrimage site, perhaps as a part of a grander pilgrimage, or perhaps simply revisiting the same pilgrimage, but with new revelations from the first pilgrimage.

Thank you for your replies thus far, and please continue discussing.

What class? religion or english?.

Comparative Religions with a focus on pilgrimages at my university.

[Lman]

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

ラルス eredeti hozzászólása:

What class? religion or english?.

Comparative Religions with a focus on pilgrimages at my university.

You doing this as a part of a module? what course is this?. Sorry if I sound nosey but I am interested.

[Pareod]

ラルス eredeti hozzászólása:

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

Comparative Religions with a focus on pilgrimages at my university.

You doing this as a part of a module? what course is this?. Sorry if I sound nosey but I am interested.

It is my final paper for the class. It is an honors class, so it has a unique theme and structure, so I cannot really tell you what class is equivalent to it.

[Lman]

Pareod eredeti hozzászólása:

ラルス eredeti hozzászólása:

You doing this as a part of a module? what course is this?. Sorry if I sound nosey but I am interested.

It is my final paper for the class. It is an honors class, so it has a unique theme and structure, so I cannot really tell you what class is equivalent to it.

I see and have you taken time to play some dark souls? ;). I have yet to make it to university and waiting to do exams to get into university :L. What you do in dark souls is like a pilgrimige so you could argue that the player is on a pilgrimige and that could be good to talk about.