Natural Attraction: The Fascination With Eroticizing Localities

Have you ever played a game that allegedly depicts your culture or home, and thought to yourself, “wait, it’s nothing like that.” Well, you are not alone. In fact, it’s been happening for hundreds of years and is still very prevalent in video games. 

Think of characters like Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series or Lara Croft from Tomb Raider; protagonists who travel all over the world, meeting people from non-Western territories and use these moments as backdrops to their grand adventures. But was your life really like this? A bustling bazaar filled with danger or a lush paradise full of exotic vegetation? A slim chance, yes, but a much larger chance is no. 

What is Orientalism?

In its simplest form, Orientalism is the fantasy that Western hegemonic culture projects onto territories that are not their own. Edward Said coined the idea in 1978, but he used Western art and literature to expose the phenomenon. Today, it can still be seen in our media, particularly in the depiction of Asian and Middle Eastern territories. 

Today, video games still fall into the same pattern, portraying these locations as mystical, dangerous, or exotic lands. Not only does this reinforce the "otherness" of these cultures, but it fails to represent them authentically.

How Does It Affect Games?

The truth is, it’s unfortunately all too common to find Orientalism in the online gaming world. Titles like Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Call of Duty frequently depict Middle Eastern and Asian locales as war-torn, chaotic, and filled with villainous characters and corrupt societies. Because these negative traits take center stage, normality or any sense of community or stability are forgotten from these depictions. 

The worlds in these games often emphasize crumbling architecture, bustling street markets with aggressive merchants, and a pervasive sense of disorder, all seen through the lens of a Western protagonist. They are often used merely as exotic playgrounds for adventure, failing to represent the complexity and richness of their real-life counterparts. 

Another prime example in gaming is the Uncharted series, which often uses non-Western locations as beautiful but dangerous settings. The people in these regions are usually either obstacles or guides to the protagonist, rarely given any depth or agency. This not only misrepresents real cultures but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about these places being primitive or eternally in turmoil.

How Can We Combat and Fix This?

One of the most effective ways to combat Orientalism in gaming is through co-development and participatory design with marginalized groups. It may sound quite obvious, but still not applied often enough. Game studios need to involve developers, writers, and artists from the cultures they are depicting to ensure authenticity and nuance. Authentic representation means moving beyond just visual accuracy; it requires an understanding of cultural, historical, and societal contexts.

Another approach is to create more opportunities for developers from non-Western countries to tell their own stories. Indie games like Raji: An Ancient Epic and Never Alone showcase how games can present culturally rich narratives from the perspective of those who live them. Supporting these developers and ensuring they have access to resources and platforms is essential in shifting the industry towards a more inclusive and respectful form of storytelling. 

At WoU, we’ve learned from this indie game culture, and won’t change the narratives of those who’ve lived them. The World of Us is created to reflect the honest reality of the world around us, so that children can learn about, and play in, the cultures of many safely together.