cultural analysis

Cultural Analysis Sample Notes (created by students):

Videogame:

Bioshock: Infinite

Race: Racism is a significant plot piece, but they probably could have done better. Sort of similar to how we're taught about racism in primary school. "Racism is bad. Here's a HBO video with a white, Southern villain. Now don't worry about much else, of course we don't have race issues anymore! That ended in the sixties!" Of course, this all stems from some truth and some ignorant beliefs, and it's not bad, per se, but it doesn't paint a complete picture of the racial issues we have and continue to have in our society today. In the game, black people are shipped up to "Columbia," the main city, and used as workers. They're treated as slaves and are seen as second-rate to their wealthier, white counterparts. The game includes racially segregated washrooms, water fountains, and schools, with the parallels to our own obvious. We're told outright and meant to believe that Columbia is an openly racist, white-supremisist society. And we do. 

Class: This wasn't a prominent issue in the game. Or rather, it was, but it was skimmed over. As players, the subtle hints toward classism isn't really catching. We know that there are leaders and rich people, who are generally awful toward the lower class and especially those of color, but again, like race, this becomes a backdrop for the "real" story (white savior, anyone? *cough, Booker DeWitt/Comstock, cough*). Rich people are dicks. Poor people should work harder. They're probably black. End of story. 

Power: This was huge. The whole point of the game is to show how class and choices can change everything. Domino effect of sorts, but really about how a universe can be shaped by one key thing happening or not happening. Of course, what makes Bioshock: Infinite infinite is the fact that there are an infinite number of universes where different things happened in different orders and specific people were and weren't born and so on. In the two universes that as players we're submerged in, we're shown two (supposedly separate) characters. One, a man who was baptized and raised in a wealthy, religious household and becomes a snooty, evil man and ends up forming a Utopia in the sky and being an all-around asshole (sorry about that run-on). The other, a character who wasn't baptized, lived a general, working-class life, and sees black people as ehhh, equals. In other words, he isn't a racist, technically speaking, but he doesn't go out of his way to be anti-racist, either. This is a systemic issue in both the game and in real life. People may not be obvious racists, but because they just live in the world around them without trying to change a thing, they are. But that's not the point. He is regarded as lower than many because he is one of the few whites who doesn't really fit in with the others. In Columbia, they strive to keep their White-Americans on top, and our character is shunned from the get-go. 

Gender: Now, Bioshock: Infinite is a rarity. A gem, perhaps. It's one of the few games that isn't obviously sexist. And that's something we don't see very often (unless it's the main focus of the game); a sexism-free fantasy world! That's hardly ever the case. It looks as if the creators of the game intended for Columbia to be generally gender-egalitarian. Though the scene is supposedly 1912 America (although it's suppose to be what Americans idealize and not the States themselves), we are shown, and can fight/kill female cops and villains. Though we primarily fight men in the game, one of the main characters is a female of many talents, and there are numerous narratively-important female characters, so the game at least attempts to create a somewhat equality-driven society. I don't want to go to say that this is perfect in any way. Columbia is an blatantly obviously classist and racist society, and the only women that would truly thrive here must be white and/or wealthy. The game even goes on to show us that the only reason we can travel between universes and see into the future/past (a skill you can learn whilst playing) is because a female invented a device to do just that. Without her, we wouldn't have the city, the ability, or even the game. Columbia would be nonexistent. And this one of the main reasons the anti-sexism (?) is noticeable. Women inventors in 1912? As if. Not saying there weren't any, but their ideas would surely have been stolen. The achievements would have been hard-fought for and most rightly downplayed if the conditions were similar to our own in 1912. American history is full of outspoken and brave women like many of our main characters, but they did not have the social capital or power to successfully lead mass movements (one in particular does) like in the game. I could say more, but this enough to start. 

Religion: This is huge. It's actually a primary plot point, and in the end you realize even more of its significance. Early on in Bioshock: Infinite, the game forces players to accept the Christian religious sacrament of baptism. There was actually a bit of an uproar in some communities because of this, but that's not particularly relevant. Columbia is very heavily steeped in an exaggerated form of American mythos. Praise of our Founding Fathers and American exceptionalism is aggrandized into something that is more like idolization and wrapped up in a nice, big bow of religious fervor (another systemic-- though also exaggerated-- parallel, since our country, too, has been religiously influenced since its supposed inception). The people of Columbia don't worship Jesus, they worship "Father" Comstock (a character that's far too entwined to describe simply, but he is the main antagonist) and the Founding Fathers. However, their religious devotions, while not involving Jesus Christ or God him/herself have all the trappings of a particularly Southern American Christian tradition. Despite this, there are many references to the Bible in the game. Bioshock: Infinite seems to draw heavily from a specifically American Protestant tradition, but makes big moves to show that is isn't. If the game only showed the negative beliefs and horribly bigoted practices of Comstock and his followers, I may go as to say that the game was somewhat an attack on Christians. But the creators make themselves known and clear in the fact that it really not what it is meant to be seen as. We're shown (multiple times) a depiction of a "normal," positive Christian lifestyle. In flashback scenes we're told about baptism’s complete forgiveness and absolution of sins, and this is absolutely central to the game. We have many recurring messages about rebirth and many Christian hymns regarding the topic are played in the background, as well. The game eventually ends with the main character's redemption, and goes on to show a sort of middle ground (?) on the topic of religion. Since the two primary characters are two different extremes we're meant to believe whatever we want to believe. The game does not take a stand on Christianity or religion itself, but goes to show that extremists in either form are not preferred. Should we also be skeptical of forgiveness, especially if it is complete and unqualified? The game asks a lot of questions and only gives so many answers. But that's probably a good thing. 

TV Shows:

“Empire”

Season 1, Episode 5: Dangerous Bonds

 

Age:

· Everyone in this T.V. Show is eighteen and over.  

Race:

· Throughout this show there is mainly African American. They portray as talented artist (rappers/singer), producers, management, friends, families and employee.

· Caucasian is portrayed as lawyers, doctors, law enforcement.

·  Rhonda is also white, she is Andre wife. She is not well accepted within the family because of her race.   

·  Cab driver was Indian; this is a stereotype of typical race portrayed as a cab driver. He also made a remark stereotyping African American always misbehaving.  

Power:

· Lucious Lyon was a former drug dealer now is the CEO if Empire Entertainment. He has control and oversees who will be the next to take over the Empire.

· Cookie Lyon (Lucious Ex-wife) also mother of three sons was released from being in prison for seventeen years due to drug dealing. She plans on getting her share of Empire and black mailing Lucious for using the drug deal money that started the Empire Entertainment.

· FEDs (law enforcements) are forcing cookie into testify against a man who she see get shot in the past. The feds tricked her into doing so not knowing that it was an undercover officer that she witnessed getting shot.

· Andre, Jamal, and Hakeem Lyon (the three sons of Lucious & Cookie) are all in a battle to be the head chairman and run Empire. They do it all, lies, being deceitful, murder, secrets, sex, and more just to gain power.

Sexuality:

· Jamal (the second son) is portraying as a homosexual. This cause a great ordeal to his father. He’s father wants him to stop being “gay” or pretend that he is not a homosexual. His father states that being a homosexual is not well accepted in the music industry if he wants to succeed.

· Jamal is not a stereotypical homosexual, he is not girly or act “femmie”.

· Hakeem (the third son) girlfriend is bisexual. Tiana has a relationship with a girl. She feels it’s okay because Hakeem also has sexual relationship with another girl. Hakeem doesn’t feel the same way. Tiana relationship with another girl was shamed on but not Hakeem because he was a male. 

“Orange is the new Black”

Season 1

 Race- 

  -The races are separated

-White inmates stay with the white inmates

-African American inmates stay with the African American inmates

-Hispanic inmates stay with the Hispanic inmates

-Mix group, are the older inmates and Asian inmates, does not matter what race they are. 

 Ethnicity-

   -The show features the difference between the ethnicities and how they act in a prison   

     setting.

   -Scene in the beginning episode where there is a Hispanic inmate that does not 

     speak Spanish and she is made fun of by the other Hispanic inmates for not knowing

     how to speak the Spanish.

   -The Hispanic inmate is made fun of constantly throughout the season about learning 

     Spanish. 

  Class-

   -The different social classes are shown in the season. Main character Piper Chapman 

     is nicknamed “College” because she shows a broader knowledge of subjects.

     Which automatically she is assumed to be from a higher social class. 

   -The show chronicles the difference in social classes, it shows that the African     

    American social class grew up in a lower income or government housing projects.

   -Hispanic race is shown from a lower income class as well. 

 Power-

   -The White inmates have the power because they are in charge of the kitchen. 

   -The inmates are regarded as powerless by the guards/ correctional officers. Guards

    take advantage of the inmates because they have a position of power.

   -New character “V” (African American) comments on how the African American race

    used to be the ones that ran the prison. V also comments on how the times have 

    changed because of the new style of African American inmates that are in the prison

    system. 

 Gender-

   -Not a typical prison show because it is viewing prison from a female stand point. 

    Which has always been regarded as a taboo subject. 

   -Male prison guards take advantage of the female inmates because they have the

    power. 

   -Guards often comment on the difficulty of the inmates because they are female.

 Sexuality-

   -Main character Piper Chapman is a bisexual inmate. She was with a female when

    she had committed the crime to land her in prison. Now she is engaged to a male

    and she has to deal with being heterosexual in a prison full of women. 

   -Piper Chapman’s ex-girlfriend with when she committed her crimes is also in prison

    with her and she begins to fall in love with her again. 

   -Two inmates are in a sexual relationship with each other, one decides to end the 

    relationship because she is also engaged to a male on the outside and she does not

    want the feeling that she has been cheating. 

 Religion-

   -One inmate “Pennsatucky” is viewed as a religious extremist while in prison. She has

    issues with the lady in charge of the chapel.

   -There is also an inmate in prison that is a Nun. 

   -There is also an inmate that is “free spirit” who believes in meditation and yoga as a 

    way of religion. 

 Age-

   -Women of all different ages are in the show. 

 Region-

   -The show is placed at a Federal Prison in New York State. 

   -Many of the inmates are from the New York area.