Violence and Misogyny in Video Games Essay

In the final report, the topic of gender representation in Grand Theft Auto 5 will be analyzed. Grand Theft Auto 5, the video game, is the best-selling video game in history notching well over 6 billion dollars in revenue since its initial release. The video game has many critical views, one topic in particular about gender representation. Why is this game so successful? How are women and men represented in action-adventure video games such as Grand Theft Auto 5? Considering this is a best seller, people are engaged, stay engaged to find out why that is exactly. The video game hosts three primary characters named, Trevor Philips, Michael De Santa, and Franklin Clinton. Throughout gameplay, the player will have the experience of free-roaming a fictional state( San Andreas) based in Southern California. While also, having the experience to enjoy online gameplay with many other individuals across the real world with internet access. Trevor Philips, one of the three protagonists, is characterized as a psychopath. He is extremely violent and lacks remorse for any of his victims. However, Trevor is extremely loyal to those he holds dear and can often be brutally honest. Michael De Santa, the second protagonist, is a close friend of Trevor Philips. Michael is like the average upper-class citizen of America. Married, children white picket fence, and financially stable. The stable life he was practically given comes from a deal made with law enforcement in exchange for confidential information that would incriminate fellow convicts. And lastly, Franklin Clinton the final protagonist. Franklin is a former gangbanger who has aspirations to be wealthy and successful. In an attempt to save his future, Franklin works a legal job up until meeting Michael De Santa. The player experiences hundreds of different missions from each of the character’s perspectives.

Rationale/Research Question:

The topic area of gender representation is important because it is a significant thought being developed. It is a method for diving into how social norms and power structures sway the lives and openings accessible to various gatherings of people. All-inclusive, a larger number of women than men live in poverty. Women are additionally, more likely than men to get essential training and to be delegated to a political position broadly and globally. Understanding that people, young men, and young ladies experience poverty distinctively and face various obstacles in getting to administrations, financial assets, and political opportunities will help target necessary interposing. As stated earlier, Grand Theft Auto 5 is a top-selling game for a reason. The portrayal of men and women in the game is not new to the franchise but as time progresses it has become more and more parallel to modern society. This raised interest because people seem to love the game and the reviews/feedback tend to be more positive than negative. Gender representation has evolved constantly throughout the years. While there is a belief that art imitates life, this final report will exploit the brilliance in gender representations with a correlation to modern society.

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Literature Review:

In articles Keeping Abreast of Hypersexuality(2010) and The Virtual Census: Representations of Gender, race, and age in video games(2009). It was found that in contrast with male characters, females were essentially bound to be indicated somewhat naked, highlighted with an unreasonable self-perception, and delineated wearing explicitly uncovering dress and improper clothing as additionally anticipated. Suggestions for these discoveries are examined utilizing social cognitive theory as a theoretical anchor. A huge-scale content investigation of characters in video games was utilized to address inquiries regarding their portrayals of sex, race, and age in contrast with the US population. The example included 150 games from a year across nine stages, with the outcomes weighted by game deals. This development influenced the outcomes to be broken down in extent to the games that were played by people in general and subsequently permitted the main proclamations ready to be made speculations regarding the substance of famous video games.

As for Gender and race representation in casual games. Findings showed to be much different than action-adventure video games. Females are excessively spoken to as essential characters yet investigations show no huge contrasts between genders as far as how they are depicted: of note, neither guys nor females are delineated sexually. These outcomes strife with past investigations of sexual orientation portrayal in-game characters: this paper proposes that inspecting philosophy and the generally new pattern of easygoing games avoided this subset of games from earlier look into. This article looks at sexuality and race portrayal in casual games through substance examination. Meanwhile, professors Volpato, Bushman BJ, Andrighetto L, and Gabiadini A. found interesting details in their study Acting like a Tough Guy: Violent-Sexist Video Games, Identification with Game Characters, Masculine Beliefs, & Empathy for Female Violence Victims(2016). This examination researches how introduction to misogynist video games can decline sympathy for people exploited by female violence. 154 members were arbitrarily doled out to play a violent sexist game, a violent-only game, or a peaceful game. After interactivity, proportions of recognizable proof with the game character, customary manly convictions, and sympathy for female brutality exploited people were surveyed. It was found that members' sexuality and their relationship with the aggressive male video game characters directed the impacts of the presentation of sexist-aggressive video games on manly convictions. The outcomes upheld the forecast that playing fierce misogynist video games builds manly convictions, which happened for male (however not female) members who were profoundly related to the game character. Manly convictions, thus, contrarily anticipated compassionate affections for female brutality unfortunate casualties. In general, the study indicates who is most influenced by the presentation of chauvinist brutal video games, and why the impacts happen.

In another scholarly journal, titled “Hiding in Plain Sight: Reproducing Masculine Culture at a Video Game Studio.” (Johnson, Robin) This study was evaluated to discover more information about the cultural identity of masculinity. Numerous variables identify with manliness in video games, in any case, the significance of physical appearance is critical for deciding the fundamental idea of manliness applied in video games. A significant factor to know about is the historical backdrop of GTA and its portrayal of gender representation. GTA encapsulated sex generalizations in that the fundamental male characters are constantly depicted as hyper-manly, predominant, and forceful. As mentioned earlier, art imitates life and that is what the article attempts to exploit. This study attempts to distinguish the job of video games' portrayal of its male characters utilizing Grand Theft Auto V, or GTA V as it is typically adapted, and other video games to investigate the various ways these games impact players. The study given would investigate the connection between video games portrayal and player's underlying reactions and impact. Therefore, the basic objective of the study will affirm video games as a medium more than just 'recess' and 'idealism', but rather as a medium containing secretive sociological messages that should be deciphered. In the findings, It has been discussed throughout the study that GTA V contains manly subjects and substance and that it offers nothing for players who don't gravitate to manliness. This demonstrates not only is GTA V's substance happens to be manly, but that the game itself is expected for men to play. As recently expressed, GTA V offers no other substance that isn't established by manliness. It is basic to bring up that video games assume the default player is male as it means a definitive rejection of players who don't adjust to such manly components in video games. Taking a look at GTA V from a female player's point of view, the game offers next to nothing for women. The way that all the playable characters in the game are male may strike female players as disheartening and even chauvinist. Indeed, even the game's authentic spread craftsmanship lights up manly subjects and suggestions.