Driest, et al.
Stereotypes in GTA
The Meaning and Reception of Stereotypes in Computer games
Driest, Joris
Janssen, Marije
Kasanredjo, Ponijem
Walter, Marjolijn
Ethnic stereotypes in media, such as movies, have been the subject of much research. Ethnicity in computer games is largely uncharted, though. This paper will investigate the nature of the stereotypes, compare them to stereotypes in other media, and look at their reception by the game player. Grand Theft Auto is set on contemporary earth and features a wide range of ethnicities, and is a logical subject of study. On top of that, it is a very popular game. The research will focus on the question ÎWhat is the influence of ethnic stereotypes on the perception of the user?â. The level of awareness of the stereotypes is our main concern. First, however, we semiotically analyze the stereotypes in the game. A similarly-themed movie, Scarface is analyzed to see how representation works in movies, opposed to games. The reception of stereotypes by both experienced and inexperienced game players is charted next by conducting interviews. Though we expect to encounter as many stereotypes within the game as in a movie as Scarface, the players are probably not very aware of them. As with all strong stereotypes, their influence is almost subconscious, something we hope to expose in our paper.
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