2020
Käsmä, Marjukka
Social difference as action: A nexus analysis of gender and ability in World of Warcraft game culture Väitöskirja
Englantilainen filologia, Oulun yliopisto, 2020, ISBN: 978-952-62-2713-9.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Avainsanat: ability, englanninkieliset väitöskirjat, equality, gender, nexus analysis, online gaming
@phdthesis{Käsmä2020,
title = {Social difference as action: A nexus analysis of gender and ability in World of Warcraft game culture},
author = {Marjukka Käsmä},
url = {https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:9789526227139},
isbn = {978-952-62-2713-9},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
school = {Englantilainen filologia, Oulun yliopisto},
abstract = {Online human action takes on forms which are characteristic of each platform and community. At the same time, societal phenomena are present in technologically mediated interaction. This dissertation explores how this kind of complex activity emerges, and how it affects opportunities for equal participation of minorities. This dissertation explores these issues in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment, 2004). The study considers discriminatory practices discernible in World of Warcraft game culture by describing the discursive network of gender, social ability and the demands of the game. Players on occasion reference this network to justify valuing aspects of gender and ability in the game world. In doing so, they aim to preserve the game culture in accordance to their values as the game environment changes.
The dissertation also analyzes how the game environment affords the emergence of a separate subculture for players who do not feel a sense of belonging in the mainstream game culture due to its particular social character. They establish safe practices for themselves and control others’ participation in their communities.
Player practices are approached following the principles of nexus analysis. The research materials generated consist of the game environment, game culture artefacts and accounts of player experiences of interaction. Through this process an understanding was formed of the actions with which players strengthen or subvert the social order of the game world. At the same time, the multifaceted role of the game environment in these actions was described. Analyzing World of Warcraft game culture provides an example of how the accessibility of online spaces for minorities can be studied. The results can also be applied in the creation of accessible games and gamified applications.},
keywords = {ability, englanninkieliset väitöskirjat, equality, gender, nexus analysis, online gaming},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
Online human action takes on forms which are characteristic of each platform and community. At the same time, societal phenomena are present in technologically mediated interaction. This dissertation explores how this kind of complex activity emerges, and how it affects opportunities for equal participation of minorities. This dissertation explores these issues in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment, 2004). The study considers discriminatory practices discernible in World of Warcraft game culture by describing the discursive network of gender, social ability and the demands of the game. Players on occasion reference this network to justify valuing aspects of gender and ability in the game world. In doing so, they aim to preserve the game culture in accordance to their values as the game environment changes.
The dissertation also analyzes how the game environment affords the emergence of a separate subculture for players who do not feel a sense of belonging in the mainstream game culture due to its particular social character. They establish safe practices for themselves and control others’ participation in their communities.
Player practices are approached following the principles of nexus analysis. The research materials generated consist of the game environment, game culture artefacts and accounts of player experiences of interaction. Through this process an understanding was formed of the actions with which players strengthen or subvert the social order of the game world. At the same time, the multifaceted role of the game environment in these actions was described. Analyzing World of Warcraft game culture provides an example of how the accessibility of online spaces for minorities can be studied. The results can also be applied in the creation of accessible games and gamified applications.
The dissertation also analyzes how the game environment affords the emergence of a separate subculture for players who do not feel a sense of belonging in the mainstream game culture due to its particular social character. They establish safe practices for themselves and control others’ participation in their communities.
Player practices are approached following the principles of nexus analysis. The research materials generated consist of the game environment, game culture artefacts and accounts of player experiences of interaction. Through this process an understanding was formed of the actions with which players strengthen or subvert the social order of the game world. At the same time, the multifaceted role of the game environment in these actions was described. Analyzing World of Warcraft game culture provides an example of how the accessibility of online spaces for minorities can be studied. The results can also be applied in the creation of accessible games and gamified applications.