It’s fitting that Pac-Man was released in 1980, right after what is commonly known as the “Me Decade” (1970’s) had concluded and the money obsessed 80’s had just begun. While the game seems innocent enough, it’s obvious that it is actually a commentary on popular consumer culture. Pac-Man is an allegorical character meant to represent the average consumer while the pellets represent material possessions. Think about it: the only way for Pac-Man, who was depicted as a featureless mouth, to progress was to “consume” everything on the board and the only way you could gain power over your enemies was to eat the biggest and shiniest pellets available. They might as well have replaced the pellets with televisions and SUVs and named the ghosts Boredom, Loneliness, Doubt and Pain. Now, if you”ll excuse me, I have to go to the mall.
