Women and videogames: blog tasks
Medium article: Is Female Representation in Video Games Finally Changing?
Read this Medium feature on whether female representation in videogames is finally changing. Answer the following questions:
1) How have women traditionally been represented in videogames?
Women have traditionally been objectified or been represented as "Damsels in distress". Examples are Lara Croft and Princess Peach. Lara Croft is usually in shorts and a vest and Princess Peach appears in 14 Mario Games and has been kidnapped 13 times.2) What percentage of the video game audience is female?
42%3) What recent games have signalled a change in the industry and what qualities do the female protagonists offer?
Tomb Raider, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, The Last Of Us, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and The Walking Dead.
4) Do you agree with the idea that audiences reject media products if they feel they are misrepresented within them?
I don't agree with that statement because if it was true, then their wouldn't be such a high percentage of women playing video games. If women rejected games where they are obviously misrepresented in a hyper sexualised manor, then not as women would be playing video games.
5) What does the writer suggest has changed regarding recent versions of Lara Croft and who does she credit for this development?
Lara Crofts character was developed in a more modern way as players could identify with her more compared to previous games. In the reboot of "Tomb Raider" and the sequel "Rise of the Tomb Raider" these changes had been seen as Crystal Dynamics had hired a Rhianna Pratchett as the lead writer. She is a a woman who "had a long history of working on games with complex female protagonists".
Tropes vs Women in Video Games – further analysis
Visit Anita Sarkeesian’s ‘Tropes vs Women in Video Games Series 2’ YouTube playlist and watch ONE other video in the series (your choice - and feel free to choose a video from season 1 if you prefer). Write a 100 word summary of the video you watch:
Title of video:
100 word summary:
Anita Sarkeesian Gamespot interview
Finally, read this Gamespot interview with Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency and answer the following questions:
1) What reaction did Anita Sarkeesian receive when she published her videos on women in videogames? You can find more information on this onSarkeesian’s Kickstarter fundraising page.
2) How does Sarkeesian summarise feminism?
Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings. Feminists want an end to gender-based oppression.3) Why do stories matter?
Narratives have always been a core way human beings learn about, make sense of and understand the world we live in.4) How does Sarkeesian view Samus Aran and Lara Croft (the two protagonists from our upcoming CSPs)?
Samus Aran being revealed in less clothes the faster the game is completed is an example of women being seen as a reward. Lara Croft is an example of "ironic sexism" as the developers rely on her sexualisation to the games success, using this as the games appeal.
5) How has the videogame landscape changed with regards to the representation of women?
Female characters have evolved since the original Metroid and Super Mario games as there are a slightly larger number of female characters and female protagonists.
6) Why are Mirror’s Edge and Portal held up as examples of more progressive representations of women?
7) What are the qualities that Sarkeesian lists for developers to work on creating more positive female characters?
8) What is the impact of the videogames industry being male-dominated?
9) What did Sarkeesian hope to achieve through her ‘Tropes vs Women in Video Games’ series?
10) What media debates did Sarkeesian hope to spark with her video series?
Read this Medium feature on whether female representation in videogames is finally changing. Answer the following questions:
1) How have women traditionally been represented in videogames?
Women have traditionally been objectified or been represented as "Damsels in distress". Examples are Lara Croft and Princess Peach. Lara Croft is usually in shorts and a vest and Princess Peach appears in 14 Mario Games and has been kidnapped 13 times.2) What percentage of the video game audience is female?
42%3) What recent games have signalled a change in the industry and what qualities do the female protagonists offer?
Tomb Raider, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, The Last Of Us, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and The Walking Dead.
4) Do you agree with the idea that audiences reject media products if they feel they are misrepresented within them?
I don't agree with that statement because if it was true, then their wouldn't be such a high percentage of women playing video games. If women rejected games where they are obviously misrepresented in a hyper sexualised manor, then not as women would be playing video games.
5) What does the writer suggest has changed regarding recent versions of Lara Croft and who does she credit for this development?
Lara Crofts character was developed in a more modern way as players could identify with her more compared to previous games. In the reboot of "Tomb Raider" and the sequel "Rise of the Tomb Raider" these changes had been seen as Crystal Dynamics had hired a Rhianna Pratchett as the lead writer. She is a a woman who "had a long history of working on games with complex female protagonists".
Tropes vs Women in Video Games – further analysis
Visit Anita Sarkeesian’s ‘Tropes vs Women in Video Games Series 2’ YouTube playlist and watch ONE other video in the series (your choice - and feel free to choose a video from season 1 if you prefer). Write a 100 word summary of the video you watch:
Title of video:
100 word summary:
Anita Sarkeesian Gamespot interview
Finally, read this Gamespot interview with Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency and answer the following questions:
1) What reaction did Anita Sarkeesian receive when she published her videos on women in videogames? You can find more information on this onSarkeesian’s Kickstarter fundraising page.
2) How does Sarkeesian summarise feminism?
Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings. Feminists want an end to gender-based oppression.3) Why do stories matter?
Narratives have always been a core way human beings learn about, make sense of and understand the world we live in.4) How does Sarkeesian view Samus Aran and Lara Croft (the two protagonists from our upcoming CSPs)?
Samus Aran being revealed in less clothes the faster the game is completed is an example of women being seen as a reward. Lara Croft is an example of "ironic sexism" as the developers rely on her sexualisation to the games success, using this as the games appeal.
5) How has the videogame landscape changed with regards to the representation of women?
Female characters have evolved since the original Metroid and Super Mario games as there are a slightly larger number of female characters and female protagonists.
6) Why are Mirror’s Edge and Portal held up as examples of more progressive representations of women?
7) What are the qualities that Sarkeesian lists for developers to work on creating more positive female characters?
8) What is the impact of the videogames industry being male-dominated?
9) What did Sarkeesian hope to achieve through her ‘Tropes vs Women in Video Games’ series?
10) What media debates did Sarkeesian hope to spark with her video series?
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