Tomb raider analysis

  • Radical text – challenges the dominant ideology.
  • In society, the dominant ideology is that men are generally stronger than women and are more likely to assert their dominance and can be more confident to do so.
  • In tomb raider, the main character is a woman which challenges the dominant ideology that men are superior. Lara was sexualised to attract a male market. 
  • Breaks stereotypes and shows strength and could inspire other women.
  • Lara Croft – iconic sign
  • Woman being strong is an indexical sign to breaking stereotypes (For example the image is an NVC because she is in a strong pose which makes her look confident. There are also images on the back of her abseiling and shooting monsters).
  • One of the first protagonists in the gaming industry (breaks stereotypes as she knows how to use more weapons than most military people)
  • Female empowerment – fending for herself
  • ‘Adventurous babe’ – juxtaposing radical statement that challenges the dominant ideology of what a ‘babe’ is seen as.

Representation

  • Sexualising female game characters is common for game designers as its target audience (male) have the biggest influence on the gaming industry as gaming is stereo typically for males (reactionary)
  • In general characters of both genders are represented in an ideal way that would appeal to the target audience
  • Not all women are really thin and not all men are really strong and muscly
  • Games and magazines put ideas into people’s heads of what is seen to be ‘normal’ which makes them feel insecure about their real appearance

TOMB RAIDER

Tomb Raider – Lara Croft

  • Radical text – challenges the dominant ideology.
  • In society, the dominant ideology is that men are generally stronger than women and are more likely to assert their dominance and can be more confident to do so.
  • In tomb raider, the main character is a woman which challenges the dominant ideology that men are superior. Lara was sexualised to attract a male market. 
  • Breaks stereotypes and shows strength and could inspire other women.
  • Lara Croft – iconic sign
  • Woman being strong is an indexical sign to breaking stereotypes (For example the image is an NVC because she is in a strong pose which makes her look confident. There are also images on the back of her abseiling and shooting monsters).
  • One of the first protagonists in the gaming industry (breaks stereotypes as she knows how to use more weapons than most military people)
  • Female empowerment – fending for herself
  • ‘Adventurous babe’ – juxtaposing radical statement that challenges the dominant ideology of what a ‘babe’ is seen as.

Representation

  • Sexualising female game characters is common for game designers as its target audience (male) have the biggest influence on the gaming industry as gaming is stereotypically for males (reactionary)
  • In general characters of both genders are represented in an ideal way that would appeal to the target audience
  • Not all women are really thin and not all men are really strong and muscly
  • Games and magazines put ideas into people’s heads of what is seen to be ‘normal’ which makes them feel insecure about their real apperance

The main character is radical to the genre of the magazine as woman are typically show to be sexualised in popular games, however it is also reactionary as i used a female character as the strong protagonist where as they are typically presented as men in the media.