In this sense, the representation and consumption of food and drink in science fiction games can be rich with meaning, particularly as uncovered through an analysis of the process of acquiring those substances as well as the consequences for consuming them. Like much science fiction film and television, many video games also incorporate the representation and consumption of food and drink, though their added element of interactivity means that the player is often tasked with having their character consume those substances, usually as a means to heal or boost their abilities. As she elaborates, “food and science fiction provide a valuable means of understanding the link between the individual and controlling powers around her/him, often because of their ongoing concerns with the body and with technology” (p.
As Laurel Forster (2004) has argued, “food appears as an important element in a surprising number of … science fiction films” because, like science fiction itself, food is a useful object of study for “investigat the relationship between social function and individual existence” (p. The representation and narrative role of food and beverage consumption in science fiction media can communicate messages, reinforce or challenge beliefs, and evoke anxieties about the relationship between culture, technology, the environment, and the body.
