“Mom, I’m majoring in GTA!” – When GTA Meets GPA…

Photo courtesy: Play Station

If you’ve ever hijacked a car, pulled off a five-star heist, or just went for a late-night drive, cruising down the highway in Los Santos for the vibes — you’re not alone. To most people, that’s just another Friday night in Grand Theft Auto. But at the University of Tennessee, it’s a part of history. 

Grand Theft Auto, or GTA, is one of the most renowned (and controversial) video game series of all time. Recently, the University of Tennessee introduced a history course focused on this game, titled “Grand Theft America: U.S. History Since 1980 through the GTA Video Games.” And no, it’s not about cheat codes for unlimited ammo or heist strategies. Instead, the class looks at how GTA reflects real events, values, and issues, depicting the evolution of American culture.

For over two decades, the game has sparked controversy and conversation through its open-world chaos, biting satire, and dark humor. Here, players are encompassed in a hyperrealistic city setting that really has no limits. 

So how did a game once blamed for glorifying violence become the core subject of a history class? The answer is simple: GTA is the epitome of modern America. Beyond the controversy, the series has always been a mirror that reflects a glimpse into what GTA truly exposes.

Vice City’s neon setting glows with the greed and glamour of the 80s; San Andreas captures the rise of gang culture and social inequality of the 90s; GTA V lands us in the influencer age, where money and fame define one's value. Together, these worlds embody a fractured yet honest reflection of America’s identity, marked by corruption, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of status. 

But perhaps what makes GTA so compelling for all players is that it blatantly disregards the social conventions set by society. This raises a deeper question: When the game itself rewards individuals for stealing, cheating, and murdering their way to success, what does that say about us? Maybe GTA isn’t just a game about crime; maybe it’s a story about the American Dream itself.

For Gen Z, this resonates even more. We’ve essentially grown up in a digital world where image, reputation, and attention often feel like some sort of currency. Grinding for cash or flexing luxury cars in GTA isn’t really far from people chasing likes or followers on social media. These aspects of both worlds blur the line between ambition and obsession. GTA feels so familiar because its chaos mirrors our own culture. 

At the end of the day, GTA isn’t a simple game that’s made for entertainment. It’s a broader reflection of reality. Also, let’s be honest – most of us would take a history class through GTA rather than a dry lecture on “History 101 on the Intricacies of the Cold War Era Bureaucratic Policy”. Because whether in San Andreas or in the classroom, the best way to understand the world is by stepping into the madness that defines it.