Just Like Me Only Better
Avatars are everywhere. Online forums, video games, message boards, almost every single avenue of online interaction will allow you have to have a picture of yourself or an avatar. Take this blog for example. We were allowed to create a screen name and put a picture if we’d like. Those are all representations of ourselves in some sort. My sn: jossshhhuaa, is just a weird way to spell my name.
In the article, the spent a lot of time focusing on how different aspects of self are represented through avatars. More specifically how each different ethnicity perceived beauty and represented them online. As a Filipino, having light skin is a perception of beauty, especially to females. Many females that I see online will make their avatars light skinned characters.
However, one area where I like to make different characters is the Wii. I construct different people based on my imagination and what personalities they have. Typically, most of my Wii avatars fit many of the racial stereotypes, but you don’t have to judge me on that ;)
Anyways, I had fun reading the article. Hope you did as well.
Jossshhuaa
Hey Jossshhuaa!
ReplyDeleteI know little about the worlds that involve avatars as I don't frequent online forums, video games, message boards etc...I really feel I'm missing out though! :) I agree with you, we use many different platforms to represent ourselves like a screen name or profile picture. This translates to how we portray ourselves to one another “offline” clothes, hairstyles, tattoos or whatever…we are always "conveying" an image of ourselves to others.
As an African American woman and just part of the African community I know that there is internal racism in that the lighter one’s skin, the “better” one is perceived to be. Though this pertains to both men and women; nonetheless, more so for women as we are generally criticized more and it is more important for us to be viewed as beautiful based on our physical appearance.
I haven't had the opportunity to create many characters on Wii other than myself and for my parents. I don't know if what I chose would be considered feeding into any racial stereotypes, I will have to bear that in mind next time.
And don't worry you won't receive any judgment form me:)
Thanks for sharing.