The Robot, the Alien and the Woman: The Representation of “Otherness” in the Mass Effect Trilogy.
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2016-08-28
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en
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Abstract (in dezelfde taal als je masterthesis)
Within science fiction narratives, the figure of the “Other” is often used to touch upon current issues regarding technology, gender and race. Video games serve as a valuable contemporary case study for looking at representations of “Otherness”. This thesis analyzes the Mass Effect trilogy created by Canadian developer BioWare. This thesis looks specifically at the representation of three “Other” figures in science fiction: the artificial “Other”, the alien “Other” and the female “Other” in order to answer the following research question: how is “Otherness” represented in the Mass Effect trilogy? When analyzing these representations it becomes clear that the Mass Effect trilogy for the most part adheres to the conventions within contemporary science fiction cinema and portrays the “Other” in a positive light. The notable exception is the figure of the female “Other”, who due to the medium’s primarily male audience is often reduced to a sexualized stereotype intended to facilitate male pleasure and fantasy fulfillment.
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