Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Virtual Avatars: Trans Experiences Of Ideal Selves Through Gaming, Kai Baldwin
Virtual Avatars: Trans Experiences Of Ideal Selves Through Gaming, Kai Baldwin
Markets, Globalization & Development Review
This article aims to explore the experiences transgender gamers have with avatars. Building on a foundation of identity construction theories from both media studies and queer studies, this study theorizes that these gamers will use their virtual world avatars to experiment with gender performance and ideal selves. These theories of identity construction are explored and examined through digital ethnography, by using the participant observation method, in which trans gamers are interviewed about their experiences with avatar creation and use. Based on the evidence gathered from those interviews, this study concludes that trans gamers in general tend to create avatars who …
Gay For Play: Theorizing Lgbtq Characters In Game Studies, Marc A. Ouellette
Gay For Play: Theorizing Lgbtq Characters In Game Studies, Marc A. Ouellette
English Faculty Publications
Despite, and perhaps because of, popular press reactions to stereotypical depictions of beefy boys and busty babes in video games, the realm of gender, sex, and sexuality remains a lacuna in the emerging field of game studies. Of particular interest is the notion of performance and the ways this impacts both on gender and on game play. The combination might be expected to offer a very interesting way of approaching LGBTQ characters in digital games, especially given the recent inclusion of such characters in some popular and well-studied game franchises, including Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar 1997-present), Jade Empire (BioWare 2005-08) …