[Last modified: October, 9 2024 01:00 AM]
Research Topic
This study aims to explore Black Myth: Wukong from an anthropological perspective, focusing on how cultural representation within the game enhances player immersion and fosters cultural resonance. Adapted from the classical Chinese literary work Journey to the West, the game integrates a rich array of cultural elements not only through narrative but also in its visual design, music, religious symbols, and architecture. The research will adopt anthropological theories to investigate the cross-cultural transmission of these cultural representations, examining how the game serves as a platform for modern cultural expression and construction.
Research Questions
1. How are traditional Chinese cultural elements utilized in the game, and how accurately do they reflect Chinese culture?
2. How does the reinterpretation and innovation of Journey to the West in the game enhance players’ sense of cultural identity and emotional engagement?
3. How do players from different cultural backgrounds respond to the game’s depiction of Chinese cultural elements, and how do these responses affect their immersion and gameplay experience?
Research Methodology
1. Game Content Analysis
A detailed textual analysis of Black Myth: Wukong will be conducted, examining its visual design, environmental settings, character creation, and musical compositions. The study will focus on identifying and analyzing key cultural elements such as religious symbols and visual aesthetics.
2. Fieldwork Methods
Drawing from anthropological fieldwork traditions, the research will engage in participant observation to investigate the cultural experiences of Black Myth: Wukong players. By embedding the researcher within player communities, this method will observe player interactions, cultural discussions, and reactions to in-game cultural elements.
3. In-depth Interviews and Cultural Analysis
Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with players from diverse cultural backgrounds to understand how they interpret and experience the Chinese cultural elements in the game. The interviews will cover topics such as player responses to architectural styles, music, and religious symbols, and how they decode these elements within their own cultural frameworks
Potential Findings
1.The cultural representations in Black Myth: Wukong not only recreate traditional Chinese culture but also reconstruct cultural meanings within a virtual world. The symbolic portrayal of architecture, religious elements, and other cultural features will likely enhance player immersion, particularly for Chinese players who can identify with these cultural signifiers. Meanwhile, non-Chinese players may undergo a process of cultural empathy and adaptation, which could deepen their immersive experience as they engage with foreign cultural content.
2.As a virtual cultural space, Black Myth: Wukong illustrates how modern video games can serve as platforms for cultural exhibition. Players’ engagement and interaction with the game not only foster personal cultural experiences but also contribute to the reproduction and dissemination of cultural meanings through digital participation. This research may conclude that the cultural representations in games go beyond one-way cultural output; instead, they are recreated and transmitted through active player interaction and engagement. This positions games as important sites for cross-cultural exchange and interaction in an increasingly globalized digital landscape.