'Unfiltered and True to Itself': How Content Creators Represent the Black Community in 'The Sims 4'
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| Title: | 'Unfiltered and True to Itself': How Content Creators Represent the Black Community in 'The Sims 4' |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | St. Fleur, Abdah, deWinter, Jennifer |
| Source: | American Journal of Play. Win-Spr 2021 13(2-3):297-319. |
| Availability: | The Strong. One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607. Tel: 585-263-2700; e-mail: info@thestrong.org; Web site: https://www.museumofplay.org/journalofplay/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 23 |
| Publication Date: | 2021 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Computer Games, African Americans, Diversity, Disproportionate Representation, Attitudes, Cultural Influences, Motivation, Programming |
| ISSN: | 1938-0399 |
| Abstract: | Using interview data from six Black content creators for "The Sims 4" (2014), the authors consider the politics of representation and self-expression in computer games. Black content, the authors find, consists not merely of depictions of skin tones, but also of the diverse global cultures of Black lived lives and Black experiences--including hair textures and styles, fashion, and objects and assets. These Black creators, the authors find, are filling the gap left by "The Sims 4"'s predominantly white designer group and engaging in playbour, or work that resembles play. The authors highlight Black players' motivations to create, diversity of Black identities, creative skill development, and creative identities. The authors call for the industry to include Black designers and creators from the beginning of the creative process and offer a gallery of Black content created by those they interviewed--a snapshot of the diversity of representation in "The Sims 4" community of modders (players who make changes--"modify"--the game). |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2022 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1333256 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Using interview data from six Black content creators for "The Sims 4" (2014), the authors consider the politics of representation and self-expression in computer games. Black content, the authors find, consists not merely of depictions of skin tones, but also of the diverse global cultures of Black lived lives and Black experiences--including hair textures and styles, fashion, and objects and assets. These Black creators, the authors find, are filling the gap left by "The Sims 4"'s predominantly white designer group and engaging in playbour, or work that resembles play. The authors highlight Black players' motivations to create, diversity of Black identities, creative skill development, and creative identities. The authors call for the industry to include Black designers and creators from the beginning of the creative process and offer a gallery of Black content created by those they interviewed--a snapshot of the diversity of representation in "The Sims 4" community of modders (players who make changes--"modify"--the game). |
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| ISSN: | 1938-0399 |
