Video games are the largest entertainment industry in the world, and cater to an increasingly diverse audience of players. Despite improvements in gender, racial, and sexual identity representation in recent years, the industry is still predominantly oriented towards an imagined white, male, and heterosexual audience. Professional video gaming leagues in particular have been at the center of global controversies and debates over inclusivity and representation: from vitriolic responses to ESL Gaming’s first women-only tournament, to celebrations of playable BIPOC characters in Valorant and Overwatch, to outrage over the hypermasculine reimagining of League of Legend’s champion Taric for the Chinese version of the game.
This panel brings together e-sports experts, game designers, and video game scholars to discuss intersectional representation in e-sports. The panelists will approach the topic from a variety of disciplinary lenses and analytical angles, centering the discussion on e-sports players, fans, and the games themselves.
Panelists:
- Elaine Venter, Colorado Mesa University
- Ashlyn Sparrow, University of Chicago
- Patrick Jagoda, University of Chicago
Moderator: Cate Fugazzola, University of Chicago
The event takes place in Crear Library, Room 134, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Refreshments will be provided.
The panel is co-sponsored by Global Studies, the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, and the Media, Arts, Data, and Design center.