French Literature Reviews - 2026
B. Lavigne, Le Petit Surhomme des jeux vidéo et la gamification du monde – Éthique de la manipulation par l’interactivité ludique
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
The video-game overman: the very real effects of virtual reality, networks, digital imagery, and video games on human interrelations through the lens of Nietzschean philosophy—a brilliant essay stemming from the posthumously defended dissertation of Benjamin Lavigne (1981–2020), offering a unique, rigorous, and engaged critique of the technological foundations of contemporary society.
The notion of the overman is primarily associated with Nietzschean philosophy, notably through the figure of Zarathustra, a lucid prophet who acts according to his will to power to affirm the values of existence. Saying yes to life means surpassing oneself, outdoing oneself, and redoubling one's inventiveness and creativity in the image of Dionysus, the god of intoxication and dance. "Become who you are" should be the credo of every human being. In his dissertation, Benjamin Lavigne establishes a connection between this Nietzschean concept and the video game. While playing is a beneficial activity cognitively and visually, video games are nonetheless addictive, as the player is driven to play beyond reason. By leading players to believe, through rewards and gratification, that they have "almost" won, the petty overman is more occupied with becoming what he thinks he is than with seeking to become who he truly is.
Across chapters of great conceptual density, the author offers a critique of the technological foundations of contemporary society. Connections with the arts, specifically the visual arts, enable him to diagnose a "malaise in culture." While thinkers of the mid- and late 19th century may have believed that culture offered a welcome alternative to the ideology of progress, Benjamin Lavigne reminds us that video games are not cultural goods like any others; rather, they are the symptom of a society gripped by a profound crisis of values.
Preface by Olivier Lussac.
Preamble by Dominique Lavigne-Bichet.
Benjamin Lavigne (born in 1981 in Mâcon) explored the themes of toys and the aesthetic customization of humanity as early as his secondary school studies. For his final-year project at the École des Beaux-Arts in Besançon, he designed a "generic" role-playing game—a playful experience inviting emancipation, both within the game and in "real life." In 2004, he was awarded his National Diploma in Fine Arts with the jury's unanimous praise. Alongside this, he worked on educational projects with children and survived on precarious jobs. In 2006, he once again received the jury's highest honors for his National Higher Diploma in Plastic Expression (art option). He participated in various group exhibitions (in Besançon, Geneva, and New York) before undertaking, between 2010 and 2014, the writing of a philosophical video game project, which he termed an "art game" or "expressive game," rooted in Nietzschean philosophy. This game offers a reflection on humanity and on a medium that incites players to move toward the "overhuman." Benjamin Lavigne then pursued his research, expanding upon Laurent Trémel's insights regarding the "cult of the overman" and exploring the idea of the "gamification of the world" outlined by Mathieu Triclot. In 2014, he enrolled at the University of Lorraine (UFR ALL) and began writing a 1,060-page dissertation, upon which he worked tirelessly for six years. Adopting a frugal lifestyle and deeply concerned for the planet's future, he initiated a community vegetable garden at the foot of his apartment building. True to his wishes, it became a collective effort with the participation of neighbors drawn to his engaging personality. The years 2019 and 2020 subjected him to a battle against an incurable illness. He passed away on August 7, 2020, at the Besançon University Hospital. Thanks to his friends and the warm bonds forged with his research supervisors, the defense of his dissertation took place posthumously on September 18, 2020. The members of the jury awarded him honors paying tribute to Benjamin Lavigne's labor, commitment, and humanity.
The intersections between digital media, interactive technologies, and philosophical inquiry have long occupied cultural critics examining modern technological societies. Works in this tradition frequently draw upon established concepts from European philosophy to interrogate how virtual environments alter human behavior, social bonds, and individual agency. By analyzing the structural mechanics of play and digital engagement, such studies seek to understand the broader implications of immersion and interactivity in contemporary everyday life. The text examines the effects of virtual reality, networks, and video games on human interrelations through the lens of Nietzschean philosophy.
This volume presents Benjamin Lavigne’s critical assessment of the technological foundations of contemporary society, connecting the concept of the overman to modern interactive media. The study addresses video games as symptoms of a culture gripped by a crisis of values, incorporating connections with the visual arts and engaging with discussions around gamification and digital interaction. Readers interested in contemporary philosophy, media studies, and critiques of digital culture may find this work relevant to their inquiries into modern technological landscapes.
Read excerpts and the table of contents on the publisher's website...