Watercoolergames has tipped me off to an excellent paper by Vit Šisler which explores the representations of Arab and Muslim identities in games. The research, titled "Representation and Self-Representation: Arabs and Muslims in Digital Games," presents a historical analysis of the varying approaches to including characters with these identities in Western and Middle Eastern interactive entertainment.
The paper takes as its starting point Gonzalo Frasca's idea that
Unlike narrative, simulations are a kaleidoscopic form of representation that can provide us with multiple and alternative points of view. By accepting this paradigm, players can realize that there are many possible ways to deal with their personal and social reality. Hopefully, this might lead to the development of a tolerant attitude that accepts multiplicity as the rule and not the exception.
The author examines a wide range of titles, including The Magic of Scheherazade, Iznogoud, Prince of Persia, War in the Gulf, Full Spectrum Warrior, Command and Conquer, Special Force, Under Ash and Tahta al-Ramad.
He concludes,
Today we are in crucial need of critically understanding the symbolic and ideological dimensions of in-game representational politics.
Thought-provoking stuff.
