PLAYING TRANSNESS: AN ANALYSIS OF MEANINGFUL TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATION IN VIDEO GAMES

Transgender media representation is generally plagued with problems, and rarely have I experienced transgender media representation where I feel seen, or where I feel as though it is made from a distinctly transgender-centric perspective. This dissertation develops a theorization of meaningful transgender representation in video games from the perspective of transgender people. Meaningful representation entails thoughtfully included, complex, and trans-coded characters as seen as such by transgender people, and as such require transgender people to be involved in their creation. Situated between literature on cultural studies, transgender studies, and game studies, I interrogated the following research questions: what does meaningful transgender representation look like in video games? What is involved in making meaningful transgender representation in games? And what do players think about transgender representation in video games? Starting autoethnographically from my own experience with trans video game representation, I used a combination of textual analysis and close reading on eight characters in video games with significant transgender representation, analyzed paratexts like published interviews and game wikis, and utilized semi-structured interviews with three game creators and consultants, one game journalist, and 31 players that had encountered these eight characters to answer my research questions. I argue that there are distinctive features of meaningful transgender representation that include characters being significantly present; characters and their transness being thoughtfully included in the game; having an alignment being transgender identity, physical appearance, and voice acting; and characters looking and feeling distinctly transgender. In addition, I argue that trans involvement is important to crafting iii transgender representation as I found demographic differences in how transgender players thought of and received these characters in comparison to others. This finding also signals that transgender audiences are receiving, and therefore thinking about, this representation in different ways than cisgender or LGBQ players. As explored through paratexts and interviews with game creators and consultants, game companies that valued diversity, involved transgender folks in the process of creating these characters, and prioritized organic inclusion (Christian & White, 2020) created the most meaningful transgender representation. By offering specific evidence across the textual, producer, and audience sides, I show that including transgender folks in the creation process leads to more meaningful representation as read by all players in my sample, as articulated by folks I talked to and read about in the production process, and in the same way that transgender characters being incorporated thoughtfully throughout the game leads to more meaningful transgender representation. Ultimately, meaningful transgender representation is that which is made by, about, and for transgender audiences. Meaningful transgender representation offers the possibility for transgender folks to feel seen and to experience media that feels real; in addition, it encourages cisgender folks to experience media through a trans-centric gaze.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• McLaren, Jackson

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Shaw, Adrienne, 1983-

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kingston Mann, Larisa
• Creech, Brian
• Cavalcante, Andre

• Mass communication
• LGBTQ studies
• Communication
• Meaningful representation
• Trans-coded
• Transgender representation
• Video games

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/10910

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/10910