Kim Kardashian - Game Flashcards
What is the context?
- Kim Kardashian is a member of the Kardashian family.
- She owns and operates a cosmetic line
- Freemium game
Overview
Goal:
To work your way up through Hollywood society to top the celebrity A-List. You can increase fame and reputation by hanging out with other celebrities, appearing at the right events, getting social media coverage and buying deluxe/luxury objects.
About:
The game is virtual but contains elements of celebrity life, including frequent appearances by Kim herself.
The game is free, although it encourages its users to buy (using real money) in-game currency for energy and access to certain accessories.
Signs and signifiers
The signs and signifiers are based on a shared understanding of what people consider celebrity life to be like.
The game takes players through specific locations that offer opportunities to become rich and famous.
The avatar’s measure (signifier) of success is the number of followers they have on social media.
Non-verbal codes
Lots of emphasis on these. Examples include makeup, clothing, hairstyles. In this game world, keeping up appearances is more important that anything else. It is easier for players to move up the ranks when they have more outfits, more homes and friends.
The game itself is visually engaging due to the use of pastel graphics. Character’s body structure can be customised to a certain extent, but all characters (race, ethnicity) are perceived as physically attractive.
Narrative
The narrative of this game is scripted and controlled; there is very little choice in terms of actions, other than selecting the perceived correct response in a conversation and the order in which tasks are completed. The game always leads to the character achieving their goal in the end.
All the characters that are encountered in the game are Hollywood celebrities who can help (or hinder) your process to the A-list.
Propp’s theory
Kim acts as the hero, helper, donor and dispatcher. At the start of the game, she is the one who sends the avatar on their journey to Hollywood fame. Throughout the journey, she provides support in terms of promotion of the avatar and by organising resources for the avatar.
The princess in this case would be the A-list celebrity status that is received at the end of the game.
The villain are all the characters who have a bad relationship with the avatar.
Representation (of Kim)
The game blurs the boundaries between the real Kim Kardashian and her fictional persona. In the game, she casts herself as the ultimate mistress of celebrity - her hard work and skills have brought her to where she is and now she is trying to help others get there too.
Players of this game are then brainwashed to believe that this is an accurate representation of her real life personality.
Stereotypes
Vast majority of the characters are slim, young, fit and conventionally attractive. The success of the avatar depends on how they dress and how positively their photoshoots or public appearances are received.
Celebrities are represented as selfish and materialistic (idea that status is pinnacle of achievement). The status is achieved by beating others and going shopping. The avatar’s original job in the clothing store is not seen as a career, but instead a way to survive until the true, meaningful career of a celebrity is achieved.
Historical, social and cultural contexts
The game epitomises society’s interest in fame and celebrity. This game, and Lara Croft invite comparisons in terms of their cultural influences on gender identity and power. All three are represented using cultural signifiers of female sexuality. Each woman also has obvious power in some form.
