FD Finalist Talks Gamer Stereotypes and Cultural Perception in Anime
Jul 19, 6:00 am
VIDEO CONTENT SUBMISSION:
We’re all aware of some of the more common gamer stereotypes – sports gamers, casual gamers, FPS gamers and girl gamers. However, there’s also a really interesting stereotype that applies to RPG gamers. The perception of gamers that play RPGs varies, though many “hardcore” gamers seem to think RPGs are easier than traditional games. In this video I explore some of these opinions, and talk about how I think today’s RPGs incorporate elements from many different genres.
Okay – I know what you’re thinking. Anime is educational? Really? Bear with me. It makes sense, I promise.
I’m a huge anime fan. However, unlike some fans, I don’t discriminate by genre. I’ll watch any anime series once, even if it falls outside my interests. This is because I don’t see anime as just entertaining – it’s a valuable tool to teach us more about culture perceptions.
Seriously? Yes, seriously.
If you’re not a big anime fan, I’ll give you a quick explanation. In most anime that’s made in Japan, there are cultural references unique to the Japanese culture. As an American, I used to find myself a bit lost when watching certain anime series. These references may pertain to food, or clothing styles, or even certain seasonal events that are held in Japan.
Anime also gives us a really interesting insight onto how some people from other cultures perceive Americans. For example, in the anime Samurai Champloo, there’s an episode where the Japanese “feudal-age” protagonists meet up with some Americans for a game of baseball. The Americans are fat, loud and totally obnoxious. Instead of being offended, I found it fascinating, and a bit funny that the developers chose to include this in their series.
Even in popular movies, like “Spirited Away”, the American father utters phrases like, “I’ll just buy everything with my credit card!”. Of course, this is right before he gorges himself on so much food that he’s magically changed into a pig.
Starting to make sense? Though these references to our culture may seem a bit underhanded, don’t we do the same thing? Shows like “Robot Chicken” and “South Park” often use humor that presents other cultures in a negative light.
This is one of the main reasons why I’m so interested in new anime series. Aside from being fun to watch, I think they also provide us with an important window onto how our culture is perceived in other parts of the world.
This blog is apart of a series related to our Casting Call. To learn more about our hiring process and the other finalists make sure you read “Frag Doll Casting Call 2011” by Rhoulette.
Jul 19, 6:00 am
Frag Doll Finalist
NAME: Carolyn
GAMER TAG: Arumia
FAVORITE GENRES: RTS, RPG, FPS, Adventure, Rhythm
FAVORITE GAMES: Starcraft, Persona 3, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Zelda: OOT, Chrono Cross
VIDEO CONTENT SUBMISSION:
We’re all aware of some of the more common gamer stereotypes – sports gamers, casual gamers, FPS gamers and girl gamers. However, there’s also a really interesting stereotype that applies to RPG gamers. The perception of gamers that play RPGs varies, though many “hardcore” gamers seem to think RPGs are easier than traditional games. In this video I explore some of these opinions, and talk about how I think today’s RPGs incorporate elements from many different genres.
WRITTEN CONTENT SUBMISSION:
“Anime as a Valuable Cultural Tool”
Okay – I know what you’re thinking. Anime is educational? Really? Bear with me. It makes sense, I promise.
I’m a huge anime fan. However, unlike some fans, I don’t discriminate by genre. I’ll watch any anime series once, even if it falls outside my interests. This is because I don’t see anime as just entertaining – it’s a valuable tool to teach us more about culture perceptions.
Seriously? Yes, seriously.
If you’re not a big anime fan, I’ll give you a quick explanation. In most anime that’s made in Japan, there are cultural references unique to the Japanese culture. As an American, I used to find myself a bit lost when watching certain anime series. These references may pertain to food, or clothing styles, or even certain seasonal events that are held in Japan.
Anime also gives us a really interesting insight onto how some people from other cultures perceive Americans. For example, in the anime Samurai Champloo, there’s an episode where the Japanese “feudal-age” protagonists meet up with some Americans for a game of baseball. The Americans are fat, loud and totally obnoxious. Instead of being offended, I found it fascinating, and a bit funny that the developers chose to include this in their series.
Even in popular movies, like “Spirited Away”, the American father utters phrases like, “I’ll just buy everything with my credit card!”. Of course, this is right before he gorges himself on so much food that he’s magically changed into a pig.
Starting to make sense? Though these references to our culture may seem a bit underhanded, don’t we do the same thing? Shows like “Robot Chicken” and “South Park” often use humor that presents other cultures in a negative light.
This is one of the main reasons why I’m so interested in new anime series. Aside from being fun to watch, I think they also provide us with an important window onto how our culture is perceived in other parts of the world.
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