What is the symbolic meaning behind "the white room?"

[Rindill the Red]

It's one of those things... I just know that it's got to have some deep metaphorical or other meaning, but I can't seem to figure it out.

What does forum think?

Is it just to solidify Darrow as king of the Pretentious Old Men?

Does it represent Megan's naivete, or... I think, more likely, Jensen's?

Does it represent "heaven" for Jensen? Or perhaps just a white-washed illusion?

Is Darrow secretly color blind?


(click image to enlarge)

[Tuttle]

Darrow, a man who isn't stuck in the past (Black) nor accepting of the future (Yellow)

Edit: Well, that's how I looked at it anyway

[MaxxQ1]

What is the symbolic meaning behind "the white room?"

Easy! Someone on the dev team, or maybe Darrow himself, is a fan of classic Cream.

<If you don't get it, look it up. I'll give you a hint - Eric Clapton>*

*"You" in the general sense, not you, Rindill, specifically.

[Kodaemon]

Just putting this out here:

[Pinky_Powers]

I was unclear. Was it Darrow's room or Megan's? Were they sleeping together?

[JCpie]

Originally Posted by Pinky_Powers

I was unclear. Was it Darrow's room or Megan's? Were they sleeping together?

So Jaron just stood there and watched?

[Rindill the Red]

Originally Posted by JCpie

So Jaron just stood there and watched?

Maybe it was Megan who stood there and watched?

[unbeatableDX]

i was meant to be standing there watching, but i got cut.

[AgentExeider]

Originally Posted by Kodaemon

Just putting this out here:

that is exactly what i thought. the moment i saw the room.

[PugPug]

Originally Posted by Kodaemon

Just putting this out here:

Originally Posted by handgriff sorgfältig

hmm...state of mind + bucket of paint = white room ... unavoidable !

Please don't just post images without any explanations. It isn't cool or mysterious, it's just annoying.

Anyway the first thing I thought of was the white room from The Matrix, but it doesn't really fit.

[handgriff sorgfältig]

Originally Posted by PugPug

Please don't just post images without any explanations. It isn't cool or mysterious, it's just annoying.

Anyway the first thing I thought of was the white room from The Matrix, but it doesn't really fit.

bah... the first pic doesn't need explanation; it's common knowledge (...it should be so far...) ...the second pic doesn't need explanation; it shows a white room ( from a cancelled tv-show, but with summer glau ^^) ... your matrix link on the other hand shows just a blank space ( with selected objects + combatants)...

...and just for the record; this one doesn't need explanation either ^^

[bionicman1723]

can someone explain the meaning of the crash test dummy in the room? I drug him around the room a few times but there didn't seem to be anything special about him.

[itsonyourhead]

Originally Posted by bionicman1723

can someone explain the meaning of the crash test dummy in the room? I drug him around the room a few times but there didn't seem to be anything special about him.

Think about it... it's pretty obvious.

[JCpie]

Originally Posted by bionicman1723

can someone explain the meaning of the crash test dummy in the room? I drug him around the room a few times but there didn't seem to be anything special about him.

[Dracorat]

I felt it was a play on the way "Illuminati" sounds.

[miraa]

It is my opinion that the White Room represents Megan's view on the world. Megan only cares about the science, she does not concern herself with the impacts of her actions as long as she is researching and studying something exciting and new. This is very apparent in the ending IMO...

To Megan there are two worlds.. black and white... basically, that which appeals to her scientifically and that which does not. Morality and ethics, the consequences of her actions do not concern her at all.

Just my opinion anyway...

[Vasili]

Originally Posted by miraa

It is my opinion that the White Room represents Megan's view on the world. Megan only cares about the science, she does not concern herself with the impacts of her actions as long as she is researching and studying something exciting and new. This is very apparent in the ending IMO...

To Megan there are two worlds.. black and white... basically, that which appeals to her scientifically and that which does not. Morality and ethics, the consequences of her actions do not concern her at all.

Just my opinion anyway...

I thought the same thing. It's quite a contrast to seeing the black and yellow universe of HR also - Maybe it has something to do with that too?

[Agent707]

Originally Posted by miraa

It is my opinion that the White Room represents Megan's view on the world. Megan only cares about the science, she does not concern herself with the impacts of her actions as long as she is researching and studying something exciting and new. This is very apparent in the ending IMO...

To Megan there are two worlds.. black and white... basically, that which appeals to her scientifically and that which does not. Morality and ethics, the consequences of her actions do not concern her at all.

Just my opinion anyway...

I pretty much agree with this view.

Although, I was quite - - when I entered this instance of the game.

It felt a bit...

[Enemy242]

WARNING, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN HERE, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SPOILERS.

I think it has nothing to do with the characters as a symbolism for them, and instead is much broader. BUT WHY, WE CAN ONLY FOCUS ON SMALL THINGS HERE you might say, but I think it is a pivotal point and there is a reason everything is white. If you notice, even the computer, where every other interactable computer in the game has that orange background, this one is white/grey/black. it's almost as if the entire room was a normal color, and then simply painted white. My reasoning behind this is quite simple, and has to do with the art design and how it relates to the philosophy of the game world/story.

They've always stated how the black and gold design was to signify the renaissance, the furthering of what humans can be and defining what is human; it all ties into pushing mankind forward and discovering new ideas and casting off the shackes of before, just like in the renaissance how it moved out of the dark age, yet it has the black as well to signify the darkness than can come with some of those discoveries.

When you get to that point in the story, and discover a fully white room, I think it has to do more with the entire game world and philosophy itself. At that point everything is going fine, augmentation is becoming more popular, science is skyrocketing into the future, and then BAM, that entire chip issue goes and everyone goes insane. You have no idea whats going on at the time fully of course, but essentially that white color for the entire room is the white coating on top of all the renaissance colors, and represents the wiping the slate clean of the progress. Everything was going with renaissance colors up until then, and the white color scheme essentially blankets everything that would normally have that color, and since white is the lack of color, it's representing the blank face that results from the wiping away of all these enlightened ideas and reducing us back to our previous state. it's not a black room because it's not portrayed as some huge evil event, but simply it takes all the color, the progress, the innovation, our trasendence and then puts us back to square one with the world coming down around everyone in that room.

While some may interpret it as having to do with those specific characters and the work that's being done etc, I really think it's just adam stepping into that room at the time, trying to come full circle as the world turns a new corner, and then everything being wiped away and all the renaissance aspects being crushed, turning us into a science fearing society and burning our wings (like the icarus myth) due to us evolving so far and the creator saying enough, and shutting it all down.


There are a lot of good arguments for how blank megans personality is and the moral grey area that results from all this, and you can easily relate it to the characters and immediate situation, but with the way the white is literally thrown onto objects which would normally have that renaissance style, I really think it has more to do with the event and how the feeling just goes from this futuristic and promising society and movement, and becomes instantaneously erased through the potential actions of darrow threatening all that society has moved toward, and that room is a visual representation of that point in the story, and that point in the game world.

I really loved the room because at first I was like wtf is this, but then when I was exiting, thinking of all that was in the room, and what just happened, I realized all this and just laughed at how awesome the art design and philosophy is. even if they didnt have my meaning when they created it, the fact that it could fit so perfectly well really shows they created true art with this game.

[Rindill the Red]

So maybe it represents Megan living in a different world than Adam all together.

[mad825]

Originally Posted by Rindill the Red

So maybe it represents Megan living in a different world than Adam all together.

Indeed, difference between Megan's and Adam's character design is great.

They seem to be at different poles from each other, Adam is mostly black while Megan is in white. Adam mostly sees the world in black (and orange) Megan sees it in white.

Perhaps Megan feels what she is doing is right and is confident of her actions,to the contrary,Adam thinks what he is doing is wrong and is very doubtful of his actions.

Maybe I'm just over thinking this

[lowenz]

Originally Posted by mad825

Indeed, difference between Megan's and Adam's character design is great.

They seem to be at different poles from each other, Adam is mostly black while Megan is in white. Adam mostly sees the world in black (and orange) Megan sees it in white.

Perhaps Megan feels what she is doing is right and is confident of her actions,to the contrary,Adam thinks what he is doing is wrong and is very doubtful of his actions.

It's why we love so much Adam.

[glyph07]

Originally Posted by lowenz

It's why we love so much Adam.

And yet, as "everubody lies" and nothing is like it appears to the eyes, if white also indicates candore/honesty etc..., than Adam is white inside while the deceitful Megan's got all the tones of colours of ambition and personal satisfaction.

I love Adam's simplicity. He's a kind of character so down to earth who u could really picture in real life, without augs, as a normal guy. Thing that u could never do with JC....but that's another matter.

[chabbles]

black n white, sterile, cold hearted, emotionless

[Locutus of BORG]

Originally Posted by Rindill the Red

It's one of those things... I just know that it's got to have some deep metaphorical or other meaning, but I can't seem to figure it out.

What does forum think?

Is it just to solidify Darrow as king of the Pretentious Old Men?

Does it represent Megan's naivete, or... I think, more likely, Jensen's?

Does it represent "heaven" for Jensen? Or perhaps just a white-washed illusion?

Is Darrow secretly color blind?


(click image to enlarge)

I took it to symbolize the point where Jensen's story comes full circle. By that point, he's avenged his team against the Tyrants, avenged himself against Jaron and he's reunited with Megan, and so his story can move on... It's also the point where the full truth behind his tragedy is revealed, and not necessarily in a good way, imo (ie: subject x, megan's possible complicity, etc.).

^I emphasize "Jensen's story", because up to that point, his chief motivation seems to be to find Megan (eg: the way he talks to Taggart when you choose the 'proper' dialogue path). I noticed that the underlying conspiracies in the game don't actually seem take center stage for him until after he realizes Megan's probably moved on. Notice that the two don't exactly 'reconnect' after they meet, and he doesn't really ever talk about Megan again after the White Room.