We’ve got another great episode in store for you How Do You Like it So Far? fans! This week, Henry and Colin are joined by Kishonna L. Gray, an Assistant Professor in Communication and Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Co-Editor of the book Woke Gaming: Digital Challenges to Oppression and Social Injustice. Woke Gaming argues that the intersection between the gaming culture and identity is deeply entangled with systematic exploitation and oppression in mainstream society. The book also explores what alternatives to mainstream gaming — whether through the indie game movement or fan reworkings and moddings of games — might contribute to the reimagining of games as a medium. Using Assassin’s Creed as an example, Gray discusses here how the dearth of female characters in the game serves as a mirror for the inequalities and social injustices that are pervasive in today’s society. Her discussion of minorities in gaming includes the Girl Games Movement, Gamergate and the difference between the black gaming culture and the black games movement. Listen in as Gray imagines a world where the gaming culture breaks down persistent racial stereotypes by becoming more diverse, equitable and inclusive. She even mentions a book that Henry edited in the 1990s!
Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:
From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games – Henry’s book with Justine Cassell
Follow Up Books to From Barbie to Mortal Kombat:
Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat
Diversifying Barbie and Mortal Kombat
Gaming Devices:
Sega
Nintendo
Dreamcast
Playstation
XBox
Games:
Apex Legend for the PC
World of Warcraft
League of Legends
Zelda
Mario
Super Smash Bros.
Call of Duty
Assassin’s Creed – no female characters
Examples of games from Woke Gaming:
Hair Nah
FanCons – public gaming spaces
Games are a medium, not a genre – insight from Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics
White males have more access to games
Black youths savvy with technology
Pokemon Go → Southside of Chicago:
Tech inaccessible on the Southside
Esports hybrid network in libraries
Girl Games Movement:
Brenda Laurel – a key leader of the Girls Games Movement
Black Games Movement
Lincoln Clay – Mafia III storyline
Race Games Movement:
Diversifying video games
Black female gamers
Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry and Colin and also through email at annlab@usc.edu!
