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My video game cover is inspired by the movie Cat Woman and is mainly targeted at teenage girls, 12+ due to mild violence, who are interested in video games and the DC comics and films. In the game, the Joker comes to Gotham City to cause chaos and with Batman out on a vital mission, Selina Kyle must fight his wrath solo. In one version she will be represented in a reactionary manner as she will be dressed in smaller, more sexual clothing – typical of the videogame industry – as if she is being portrayed through the eyes of the straight male. Whereas, in the second version, Selena will be presented in a more radical form due to dressing in a more modest and practical way.

I created a dominant signifying image of Selina Kyle and have represented her as feminine. This corresponds to Toril Moi’s analysis of the distinction between female, feminine, feminist categories of representation (1987). This can be identified in the posture that I created for my protagonist , as she is perfectly aligned and upright.

Further to this I have exaggerated the feminine attributes of my character with bouncy styled hair, eye makeup and big cat-like eyes. However, I also included clothing , practical and athletic, that is not particularly feminine but that is sensible in terms of her active role in the game. In some ways this juxtaposes Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze in that my main character is not designed in such a way that she appears sexualised or provocative – in the words of Mulvey, she is a not a character whose “appearance [is] coded for [a] strong visual and erotic impact” (“Visual and Other Pleasures”, 1989). However, the notion of the male gaze is quite distinct as it relates to the sexualisation of the dominant signifier, which is not the case for my character.

Whilst in everyday society my representation of Selina Kyle would be viewed as reactionary, due to the increasing independence and empowerment of women, in terms of the video games industry however, she is essentially represented in a radical manner. This is because typically, if there is a women represented in a combat game at all, videogame designers more than often sexualise a female character in order to attract their common white male target audience in order to gain profit. Whereas in my representation, due to strategic angling and clothing choices, the audience mainly focus on just the protagonist’s face, which is mostly covered by a mask anyway, rather than the ‘normal’ image of enlarged breast and a provocative stance. Additionally, the plot line of my game also contrasts the stereotypical representation of women in the video game industry as my character is not relying on a male character to come to her rescue. Whereas customarily, according to Anita Sarkeesian from Feminist Frequency women are often presented as the ‘damsel in distress’ and ‘must be saved by a male character’ as ‘motivation for the protagonists quest’ which is not the case for my videogame.

I think this is a positive representation of femininity  as I personally believe that all women should aspire to be strong-minded, independent individuals similar to the way in which I have portrayed my character. However, if I was to create this product again, I would use the opportunity to represent a more diverse character in terms on ethnicity due to the extreme lack of representation of people of colour in the video game industry. According to Nadine Dornieden from PBS, a 2015 study showed that ‘83% of non-Hispanic Black teenagers play video games, compared to 71% of Caucasian teenagers’ (Levelling Up Representation: Depictions of People of Colour in Video Games (2020)) which seems completely ludicrous compared to how little representation they have in the games they are playing. I could do this by changing the colour of my characters skin and hopefully send out a much more positive message about racial injustice – a portrayal that uses a positive countertype to present a radical and challenging representation, contradictory to the typical white protagonist, which could help gamers to adopt a new ways of thinking about different ethnic representations, with more positive role models for young people to aspire to. As Keith Stuart notes ‘the power of video games [is] a reflective, empowering and emotional influence on the lives of players’. (Why diversity matters in the modern video games industry, Guardian, 18 July 2017).

KEY TERMS: REPRESENTATION

Male gazeWays of how a straight male is seen to sexualise women
VoyeurismGaining sexual pleasure from watching others get naked or engaged in sexual activity
PatriarchyThe belief that the male is the superior gender; a society dominated by men
Positive and negative stereotypesThe socially looked up upon (positive) and looked down upon (negative) stereotypes. Positive examples (looked up upon) could be men being good at sport and women being caring, whereas negative examples (looked down upon) could be most Muslims being thought of as terrorists when in fact that is not the case.
Counter-typesSomething that goes against the traditional stereotypes of people
MisrepresentationFalse claims or ideas about how people are represented. This can give the wrong idea about someone.
Selective representationWhen groups or people are selected to important positions and represent the majority.
Dominant ideologyIdeas or beliefs accepted by the majority of society.
Constructed realityThe process of people developing ideas and beliefs about themselves
HegemonyDominance or leadership of one specific group.
Audience positioningHow a certain type of audience might react to certain ideas or values.

David Gauntlett

Fluidity of identityIdentity changing through time, for example maturing when getting older.
Constructed identityThe process of developing beliefs and ideas of ones self.
Negotiated identityThe negotiation of changing your identity (eg. changing into your uniform for work) you negotiate your identity.
Collective identityThe idea of fitting into certain groups, whether its through, age, gender or hobby.

key terms: representation

Male gaze-the perspective of a notionally typical heterosexual man considered as embodied in the audience or intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women.

Voyeurism –  an interest in observing unsuspecting people while they undress, are naked, or engage in sexual activities.

Patriarchy-Society in which men are dominant and hold power and women don’t.

Positive and negative stereotypes- encourages a certain attitude on how we see things and how things are accepted on not accepted.

Counter-types- a positive stereotype and emphasizes the positive features about a person.

Misrepresentation – The action or offence of giving a false or misleading account of the nature of something.

Selective representation- when groups of people/ things are represented/highlighted more then others.

Dominant ideology- values and beliefs in a group or social majority.

Constructed reality- the way we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well as by our life experiences.

Hegemony – Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.

Audience positioning-Audience positioning refers to the techniques used by the creator of a text to try to get the audience to understand the ideology of the text.

Constructed reality – The term social construction of reality refers to the theory that the way we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well as by our life experiences.

Negotiated identity–  refers to the processes through which perceivers come to agreements regarding the identities that targets are to assume in the interaction.

Collective identity– refers to all the affective aspects deriving from belonging to certain groups with which adolescents identify themselves and which place them within certain social categories such as ethnicity, nationality, or gender.

Fluidity of identity– Having a fluid identity means having the ability to change how you see yourself, the world, and your actions.

Constructed identity– individuals’ sense of belonging to a group.

Key Terms Representation

  1. Male Gaze – When women in the media are portrayed from the eyes of a heterosexual man and that these women are represented as passive objects of male desire.
  2. Voyeurism – Gaining an interest in observing in sexual activities.
  3. Patriarchy – Men are the primary authority figures and hold their authority over woman and children.
  4. Positive and negative stereotypes – The positive stereotypes are related to the number of negative consequences for their emotional state.
  5. Counter-types – Highlights the positive features of the person of the group.
  6. Misrepresentation – Something that was misunderstood of their idea.
  7. Selective representation – Showing the main events of your presentation and not chosen only the important parts.
  8. Dominant ideology – Beliefs about gender roles and the economy.
  9. Constructed reality – Not to believe everything in media and reality.
  10. Hegemony – The power that media holds to the global dominance.
  11. Audience positioning – Where they construct places for the audience to encode the meanings.
  12. Fluidity of identity – To create identity of society and create specific ideas.
  13. Constructed identity – Having the ability to change how you see yourself or the world.
  14. Negotiated identity – To come to an agreement to target the audience in the interaction.
  15. Collective identity – Sense of belonging to a group.

key terms – representation

Male GazeThe idea of how men look at women and sexualise and objectify them.
Voyeurismthe interest in getting sexual pleasure from watching/engaging in sexual activity and nudity
PatriarchySocial system which states men take power and gain social privilege.
Positive and negative stereotypesthe traits and characteristics that link to certain social classes. (good and bad)
Counter-types a positive stereotype and emphasizes the positive features about a person or thing.
Misrepresentationsomething that misrepresents an object, idea, fact or person.
Selective representationonly presenting some ideas and fats but not all. selecting the good bits to put out but ignoring and leaving out all the bad.
Dominant ideology the attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of the people in a given society
Constructed realityThat we construct and create our own reality and what we do affects the reality we’ve constructed.
Hegemonyleadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others
Audience positioningthe relationships between the audience and the text, how an audience receives, reads and responds to a text
Fluidity of identityhaving the ability to change how you see yourself, the world, and your actions.
Constructed identity conventional models of the person as a bounded or monadic individual with a fixed or essential identity
Negotiated identity the processes through which people reach agreements regarding “who is who” in their relationships
Collective identityall the cognitive and affective aspects deriving from belonging to certain groups with which adolescents identify themselves and which place them within certain social categories such as ethnicity, nationality, or gender

Key terms respresentation

  1. Male gaze– the perspective of a notionally typical man considered as the intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women.
  2. Voyeurism– the practice of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.
  3. Patriarchy– a system of society, family or government in which the eldest male is head of the family and the head is passed on to the next male, never the female.
  4. Positive and negative stereotypes – The positive, socially accepted and negative, frowned upon aspects of different stereotypes. Positive examples could be men being good at sport and women being caring, whereas negative examples could be most Muslims being thought of as terrorists when in fact that is absolutely not the case.
  5. Counter-types – An idea that challenges a traditional stereotype, for example a princess saving a prince.
  6. Misrepresentation – False claims or ideas about how certain people of things that are not made by the people themselves. This can give others the wrong impressions and ideas about people.
  7. Selective representation– the action or offence of giving a false or misleading account of the nature of something.
  8. Dominant ideology– the attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of the people in a given society.
  9. Hegemony– leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
  10. Audience positioning– refers to the techniques used by the creator of a text to try to get the audience to understand the ideology of the text.
  11. Constructed reality – The term social construction of reality refers to the theory that the way we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well as by our life experiences.
  12. Negotiated identity–  refers to the processes through which perceivers come to agreements regarding the identities that targets are to assume in the interaction.
  13. Collective identity– refers to all the affective aspects deriving from belonging to certain groups with which adolescents identify themselves and which place them within certain social categories such as ethnicity, nationality, or gender.
  14. Fluidity of identity– Having a fluid identity means having the ability to change how you see yourself, the world, and your actions.
  15. Constructed identity– individuals’ sense of belonging to a group.

key terms: representation

Male GazeFeminist theory that the perspective of a typical heterosexual man considered as embodied in the audience or intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women,
VoyeurismObtaining sexual pleasure from watching others in a sexual way.
PatriarchySociety in which men are dominant and hold power that women don’t.
Positive stereotypeSubjectively favourable belief held about a social group.
Negative stereotype Subjectively unfavourable belief held about a social group.
Counter-TypesA contrast to a stereotype.
MisinterpretationFalse understanding of someone or something.
Selective representationOnly showing some events/conflicts.
Dominant ideology The attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of the people in a given society.
Constructed realityThe process of people developing ideas and beliefs about themselves
HegemonyDominance or leadership of one specific group.
Audience positioningHow a certain type of audience might react to certain ideas or values.
Fluidity of identityHaving the ability to change how you see yourself or the world.
Constructed identityTo create identity of society and create specific ideas.
Negotiated identityTo come to an agreement to target the audience in the interaction.
Collective identitySense of belonging to a group.

Key Terms: Representation

Male gaze – Looking at things through the eyes of a straight male, which can lead to sexualising and objectifying women.

Voyeurism – Gaining sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.

Patriarchy – The belief that males are superior: a society dominated by men.

Positive and negative stereotypes – The positive, socially accepted and negative, frowned upon aspects of different stereotypes. Positive examples could be men being good at sport and women being caring, whereas negative examples could be most Muslims being thought of as terrorists when in fact that is absolutely not the case.

Counter-types – An idea that challenges a traditional stereotype, for example a princess saving a prince.

Misrepresentation – False claims or ideas about how certain people of things that are not made by the people themselves. This can give others the wrong impressions and ideas about people.

Selective representation – When certain groups or types of people are selected to feature in important positions more than others, for example when women weren’t allowed to vote at certain points in history.

Dominant ideology – Ideas, beliefs and opinions shared by the majority of people in society.

Constructed reality – When people interacting in society create mental beliefs about each other, and these concepts become somewhat reality out of habit.

Hegemony – Dominance or leadership of one specific group of people over others.

Audience positioning – How a designated audience might react to certain ideas, values or concepts.

David Gauntlett

Fluidity of identity – The concept of identity changing because of time, for example maturity or change of circumstances.

Constructed identity – The process of people developing ideas and beliefs about themselves.

Negotiated identity – The process of people fidning out “who is who” in society.

Collective identity – The idea of fitting into certain categories or groups, perhaps based on interests, gender or age.

representation

  1. Male gaze – the male gaze is the act of depicting women and the world in a heterosexual masculine way and seeing women in a erotic way
  2. Voyeurism – a sexualisation of private actions such as undressing and other sexual actions
  3. Patriarchy – a hierarchy where men are on top of woman where men are seen as better and woman were objectified
  4. Positive and negative stereotypes
  5. Counter-types – A representation that highlights the positive features of a person and in a group
  6. Misrepresentation – where a person is discriminated against or excluded
  7. Selective representation – only showing and representing specific things or not at all
  8. Dominant ideology- values and beliefs in a group or social majority
  9. Constructed reality – The theory that the way we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well as by our life experiences.
  10. Hegemony –  leadership or dominance of one group over another
  11. Audience positioning – the way a writer wants his audience to believe by the representation and points he is making forcing his views by the way he structured his sentence
  12. Fluidity of identity – identity that is changing over time at time goes on
  13. Constructed identity – how someone is making a identity by the things around them
  14. Negotiated identity – Identity negotiation refers to the processes through which perceivers and targets come to agreements regarding the identities that targets are to assume in the interaction
  15. Collective identity – an individuals’ sense of belonging to a group where they have similar views and identity

key words: representation

Male Gaze- The act of depicting women and the world, from a straight (heterosexual) male perspective that sexualises women for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer.

Voyeurism-An interest in observing unsuspecting people while they undress, are naked, or engage in sexual activities. The interest is typically more in the act of watching, rather than in the person being watched.

Patriarchy-a social system in which the male gender hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.

Positive Stereotype– refers to a subjectively favourable belief held about a social group. Some popular examples of positive stereotypes can be Asians with better math ability or African Americans with greater athletic ability.

Negative stereotype-a stereotype that describes the undesirable, objectionable, or unacceptable qualities and characteristics of members of a particular group or social category.

Counter-Type-a positive stereotype that emphasizes the positive features about a person. An example of a countertype is that all woman are nurturing.

Misrepresentation-an inaccurate statement of a material fact made by one party which affects the other party’s decision in agreeing to a contract. If discovered, the contract can be declared void.

Selective representation– is only showing some events, not all, sometimes chosen based on importance or viewer preference.

Dominant ideology– the attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of the people in a given society.

Constructed reality– when people and groups interact in a social system create concepts or mental representations of each other’s actions.

Hegemony- Perceived process by which certain values and ways of thought promulgated through the mass media become dominant in society.