Discuss two examples of contemporary popular culture that have undermined traditional binaries associated with race andor gender how and why has this occurred

Some games have overcome traditional stereotypes and social norms by constructing stories in which women take on leadership roles or men are portrayed with emotional depth, which opens u

DIPLOMATIC ACADEMY OF VIETNAM FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION & CULTURE

ASSIGNMENT TOPIC

Assignment 2: Discuss two examples of contemporary popular culture that have undermined

traditional binaries associated with race and/or gender How and why has this occurred?

Assignment 3: How do social media, technologies and popular culture inform one another? Using ONE example of a socially mediated platform (Instagram, TikTok, Discord, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Spotify, Thread ) examine how the technological interface (smart phones, computer, camera, etc.) shapes our individual and social experience of popular culture How are we and our social relationships interpellated through these social media platforms, their networks and our devices? What do they enable or disable, add to and/or subtract from our social experience of popular culture?

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Hanoi - 2024

Assignment 2: Discuss two examples of contemporary popular culture that have undermined traditional binaries associated with race and/or gender How and why has this occurred?

Video games have long been a cultural space where identities are constructed and reinforced through binary categories, such as male/female, dominant/dominateds, and white/other The use of binary categories often reproduces and reinforcesxdominant ideologies by reproducing ingrained stereotypes, thereby limiting diversity in the representation of gender and race For example, traditionalemedia often portrays women as secondary characters or passive objects, while men are portrayed as symbols of action and power (Beasley and Standley 280) In video games, malexcharacters are oftenxassociated with aggression and strength, while femalexcharacters are confined to passivexor supporting roles This reflects broader social patterns where whiteness is dominant and other groups are placed in a lower position (Erdur 86; Maharditya 391) Nevertheless, video games are not just

a form of entertainment with many stereotypes, but also a platform to challenge social norms Some games have overcome traditional stereotypes and social norms by constructing stories

in which women take on leadership roles or men are portrayed with emotional depth, which opens up a new perspective on gender and race (Maharditya 394)

To clarify the above argument, this article applies the method of semiotic and content analysis, based on Stuart Hall's representational theory, to explore how visual and content elements in video games challenge inherent stereotypes and highlight the transformative potential of popular culture

First, in a general context, despite advances in media, video games often reaffirm traditional gender stereotypes, such as sexualizing women and idealizing men as strong heroes Female characters are often portrayed with overly attractive appearances and unrealistic clothing, which makes them objects of male desire (Dill et al 1402) This not only reinforces social stereotypes but also degrades women by placing them in a subordinate role compared to male characters (Loughnan et al 709) On the constract, male characters are often portrayed as strong, violent, and assertive, which reflects traditional masculine norms (Dill and Thill 51–865)

Paradoxically, although women now make up nearly half of all gamers, female characters are still limited in number and often relegated to roles such as “princess in need of rescuing” or sexualized side characters who appear only as rewards or obstacles to the male protagonist (Fox et al 930) Even when female characters take on major roles, such as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, their attractive appearance often overshadows their actual abilities and qualities (Mikula 79–87) These images not only exist in games but also in real life, with studies showing that exposure to sexualized female characters in games increases tolerance of

false stereotypes about sexual harassment and violence (Fox and Bailenson 931) However, some games have begun to offer new and more inclusive representations, such as Genshin Impact and The Sims

Genshin Impact, the 2020 open-world RPG from HoYoVerse, has quickly become a cultural phenomenon not only for its engaging gameplay but also for its innovative approach

to diversity and inclusion Set in the colorful and imaginative world of Teyvat, the game deftly blends stories inspired by global mythology with diverse cultural elements, creating a space where inclusivity is as important as combat mechanics

One of the defining features of Genshin Impact is how the game subverts traditional gender stereotypes through character design, story, and cultural symbols Drawing on Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory, the game challenges binary stereotypes about gender identity (Barthes 110) The most prominent example is Venti, a male musician with a graceful appearance, soft demeanor, and a magical style that harmoniously combines masculine and feminine traits Venti’s genderless image goes beyond traditional expectations of male characters in games, which are often constrained to a strong and dominant archetype (Erdur 81)

Similarly, the character Alhaitham, whose focus is on intellectual strength rather than physical strength, challenges the typical image of a male hero, which is often only about action and muscle Such character designs clearly demonstrate the developer’s conscious effort to expand the expressive range of male characters and provide players with new, deeper, and more diverse perspectives on gender identity

Fig 1 "Venti Character Artwork."

HoYoVerse Accessed from Genshin Impact

Wiki,

https://wiki.hoyolab.com/pc/genshin/entry/3

838?lang=vi-vn

Fig 2 "Alhaitham Character Artwork." HoYoVerse Accessed from

https://wiki.hoyolab.com/pc/genshin/entry/4

733

The female characters in Genshin Impact continue to break traditional gender stereotypes Unlike many previous games that often portrayed women as sexualized objects for male pleasure, Genshin Impact builds female characters as independent, strong, and multi-dimensional individuals For example, Raiden Shogun is not only a symbol of strength but also represents wisdom and power – qualities often attributed to male characters in games Her elegance combined with her majestic demeanor challenges the notion that femininity must always be associated with passivity Similarly, Nahida – another central goddess – redefines the goddess image with a youthful, innocent appearance, emphasizing wisdom over physical maturity This is a meaningful change, breaking away from the stereotype where female power is often confined to sexualized images or associated with motherhood (Erdur 85) Genshin Impact does more than just use gender-neutral pronouns, avoids binary language, and builds characters with a balance of emotions, intellect, and physicality This ensures that no gender is pigeonholed into a fixed stereotype This approach reflects Stuart Hall’s concept of “negotiated reading,” which encourages players to explore and interpret characters in their own way (Hall 138) Through these elements, the game becomes a space to redefine and change perceptions of gender, meeting the expectations of a global community that increasingly values diversity

Genshin Impact’s story and character development also contribute to challenging old stereotypes Female characters like Kamisato Ayaka and Lisa not only break familiar stereotypes but also take on leadership roles that are both intellectual and action-oriented Ayaka is portrayed as a talented diplomat and a strong warrior, combining authority with empathy Meanwhile, Lisa – a scholar and mage – demonstrates superior intelligence without being confined to passive or supporting roles (Erdur 83)

Not only female characters, male characters in the game are also built with emotional depth, in contrast to the rigid, cold hero image in many traditional games Kaeya, for example, is a character with clear inner conflicts and vulnerabilities, making him more approachable and complex, far from the image of the often emotionally distant heroes This construction is consistent with Judith Butler's theory of "gender performativity", that identity

is not fixed but is formed through repetitive behaviors and interactions in society (Butler 25)

In Genshin Impact, characters are shown with flexible, diverse identities, creating a richer and more inclusive world

The Sims has long been a symbol of opening up a free space for players to express themselves through creating their own characters and stories Since its launch in 2000, this game has always been constantly changing to suit changes in society Notably, in 2016, The Sims 4 introduced gender customization, which marks an important step in promoting inclusivity in the gaming industry This feature allows players to adjust features such as their character's body, clothing, and voice without being constrained by traditional gender stereotypes (Chess 89) Thanks to that, players can create characters that reflect all identities, from non-binary to transgender, in a flexible and free way This design is not only a technical innovation, but also closely tied to Judith Butler's theory of "gender performativity." Games are not simply a place for entertainment, but become a space where players explore and shape gender identities through personal choices This is the innovation that makes the game a platform to promote understanding and respect for diversity in society (Butler 25)

Fig 3 "Create-a-Sim Interface in The Sims 4, showcasing customizable gender

options." Accessed from TheGamer https://www.thegamer.com/sims-4-play-time-2021-create-a-sim/

Visually and in content, The Sims works closely to challenge social stereotypes The game allows players to freely combine hairstyles, clothing, and body shapes, erasing rigid boundaries between masculinity and femininity (Arcellus et al 98) Not only that, The Sims also offers the ability to create unique stories with many different types of families, including same-sex families or polyamorous relationships The inclusion of gender-neutral pronouns is also a testament to the game’s commitment to promoting diversity, which makes it one of the first titles to take this approach These choices not only help The Sims become a creative platform, but also contribute to the normalization of non-traditional identities; and a space for players to explore and feel their identities in their own ways

The change in gender representation in Genshin Impact and The Sims is driven by both cultural, theoretical and commercial factors Feminist theories (especially Judith Butler’s notion of “gender performativity") have played a major role in redefining gender These theories challenge the notion that gender is immutable, and encourage creators to explore its fluid nature As a result, games like Genshin Impact and The Sims broke down binary stereotypes, delivering characters and stories that reflected the complexity of identity (Erdur 75)

Not only theoretical, the change in the demographics of the gaming community is also

an important factor If in the past gaming was considered a playground for men, today this community has become much more diverse Nearly half of gamers today identify as female

or gender non-binary, creating a growing demand for characters and stories that reflect their realities (Zhu 213) This forces developers to abandon outdated stereotypes and offer more diverse representation

Interaction with the community is also an indispensable factor in this change In the modern gaming environment, feedback from players has great influence in shaping content Genshin Impact is a prime example because the developer has always listened to and integrated opinions from the global player community Similarly, The Sims' loyal community has long pushed for the game to become more diverse, forcing the development team to continuously innovate to meet this need Collaboration between players and developers not only helps games stay relevant, but also reflects social changes in a realistic way

Commercial factors also play an important role in this inclusive trend The success of Genshin Impact and The Sims proves that diversity is not only a moral or social imperative, but also an effective business strategy By breaking traditional stereotypes and allowing players to freely explore different identities, these two titles have attracted a large global audience, proving that representation does more than just enhance prestige but also brings significant profits In short, the evolution of gender representation in games like Genshin Impact and The Sims not only reflects societal changes, but is also the driving force behind those changes These games have challenged traditional stereotypes, opening up space for players to explore more diverse and inclusive identities By combining cultural theory, community engagement and business performance, they demonstrate that games are not just a form of entertainment but also a powerful tool to inspire, change perceptions and redefine how we represent humanity in all its diversity

References

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21–29

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Role Stereotyping in Video Games.” Mass Communication and Society, vol 5, no

3, 2002, pp 279–293

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pp 74–93

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Gender Roles: Young People’s Perceptions Mirror Sexist Media Depictions.” Sex Roles, vol 57, 2007, pp 51–865

Dill, Karen E., et al “Effects of Exposure to Sex-Stereotyped Video Game Characters on

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Ellis, Blake "The Sims 4: How Much Time Players Spend Creating Sims." TheGamer, 2021,

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Assignment 3: How do social media, technologies and popular culture inform one another? Using ONE example of a socially mediated platform (Instagram, TikTok, Discord, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Spotify, Thread ) examine how the technological interface (smart phones, computer, camera, etc.) shapes our individual and social experience of popular culture How are we and our social relationships interpellated through these social media platforms, their networks and our devices? What do they enable or disable, add to and/or subtract from our social experience of popular culture?

The 21st century has seen a huge explosion in social networks and technology, leading to significant changes in popular culture Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are no longer simply content sharing tools but have become powerful factors in creating and transforming culture This shift illustrates the interplay between technology, social media, and popular culture, and raises important questions about their mutual influence This essay will focus on three key questions: How do social media platforms, technology and popular culture influence and shape each other? How have these platforms, and their associated networks and devices, redefined our social relationships and personal identities? And finally, how has our social exposure to popular culture been enhanced, diminished, or fundamentally changed by these technologies?

Relationships among social media, technologies, and popular culture

Fig 1 Relationships among social media, technologies, and popular culture

Technology, especially digital technology, acts as an independent force driving the development of digital popular culture This relationship is shaped by four important elements of technology: universal accessibility, personalization, interactivity, and diversity

Universal accessibility has changed the way we consume information by making content accessible anytime, anywhere According to Sullivan (2022), the accessibility and portability of media devices have blurred the lines between private and public space This has created an “always-on” culture, where people are constantly interacting with media content This easy access has shaped new habits and expectations, changing the ways and contexts in which we consume content

Personalization is another important aspect of digital technology Given that ssers today have unprecedented control over their content consumption, it could be said that they have the freedom to choose content that suits their personal preferences To prove this point, Deuze (2006) emphasizes that this user-led customization not only diversifies the way information is accessed but also transforms the way individuals participate in digital environments In conclude, personalization amplifies and accelerates inherent human behavior, thereby enriching the cultural landscape

Interactivity brings about a fundamental change in communication, from one-way transmission of information to two-way exchange This shift empowers users to become active participants, promoting dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation Platforms such as social networks, blogs, and online forums are prime examples of this interactivity Deuze (2006) points out that blogs challenge traditional and democratic models of communication,

by inviting public participation and feedback

Diversity is an indispensable element in the digital environment, where users from different backgrounds interact and contribute to the cultural ecosystem This diversity expands the cultural narrative, allowing for richer and more comprehensive perspectives to be expressed This is an important factor in shaping digital popular culture, creating a more colorful and inclusive cultural space

In short, digital technology not only acts as a supporting medium but also a major driving force behind the evolution of popular culture, opening up new approaches and changing the way people connect with the world around them

The influence of technology on digital popular culture is expressed through three main dependent factors: remediation, participation, and bricolage Firstly, remediation is the process by which new media reinterpret and innovate on old forms To clarify, Bolter and Grusin (1999) argue that although new media have their own unique characteristics, they often reinterpret old media, which forces traditional forms to adapt to maintain relevance To add in, Deuze (2006) emphasizes that this process often challenges existing norms, thereby opening up opportunities for cultural innovation Secondely, regarding participation, it reflects the active role of users in creating, sharing, and interacting with content Unlike passive consumption, participation allows individuals to contribute to cultural dialogue