Works Cited
Monday, March 30, 2015
Autoethnography Podcast - Gamer Stereotypes
Why are video games fun? (2011, August 8). Retrieved March 1, 2015,
from http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-08-why-are-video-games-fun
Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. (2014). The Benefits of Playing
Video Games. American Psychologist, 69(1), 66-78. Retrieved March
1, 2015, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-a0034857.pdf
Strategy-Based Video Games, Like Starcraft, Improve Brain's 'Cognitive
Flexibility' (2013, August 24). Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/24/video-games-brain-starcraft-cognitive-flexibility_n_3790610.html
Loria, D. (2014, September 20). 15 Ways Video Games Make You Smarter
And Healthier. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-health-benefits-2014-9#
Boot, W., Kramer, A., Simons, D., Fabiani, M., & Gratton, G.
(2008). The effects of video game playing on attention, memory, and executive
control. Acta Psychologica, 129(3), 387–398-387–398. Retrieved
March 1, 2015, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691808001200
The New Programmer Generation: An Autoethnographic Podcast
Cheryan, S., B. J. Drury, and M. Vichayapai. "Enduring Influence of Stereotypical Computer Science Role Models on Women's Academic Aspirations." Psychology of Women Quarterly: 72-79. Print.
"Computer Science Job Market Outlook." Department of Systems and Computer Science. Howard University. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.scs.howard.edu/jobs>.
Frink, Brenda. "Researcher Reveals How "Computer Geeks" Replaced "Computer Girls"" The Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Stanford University, 1 June 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.<http://gender.stanford.edu/news/2011/researcher-reveals-how-“computer-geeks”-replaced-“computergirls”>.
Marsch, Laura. "What some fastest growing jobs pay" CNN. Cable News Network, 26 Jan. 2006. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/Careers/01/26/cb.top.jobs.pay/index.html>.
Wilcox, Abby. "Do SF Programmers Have A Life Outside The Cubicle?" The Bold Italic. 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/2923-do-sf-programmers-have-a-life-outside-the-cubicle>.
The New Age of Gaming
Washington, Kate (2013) "The Gamer Subculture in Lacy, WA," Anthós: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 7.
DOI: 10.15760/anthos.2013.67
Available at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/anthos/vol5/iss1/7
"Cultural Sociology vs Videogames: Are We Gamer-Geeks a (Middle-Class) Subculture?" The Geek Anthropologist. 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://thegeekanthropologist.com/2014/10/24/cultural-sociology-vs-videogames-are-we-gamer-geeks-a-middle-class-subculture/>.
Robertson, Adi. "Trolls Drive Anita Sarkeesian out of Her House to Prove Misogyny Doesn't Exist." The Verge. 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/27/6075179/anita-sarkeesian-says-she-was-driven-out-of-house-by-threats>.
Dewey, Caitlin. "The Only Guide to Gamergate You Will Ever Need to Read." The Washington Post 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/10/14/the-only-guide-to-gamergate-you-will-ever-need-to-read/>
"The Gender Inequality in Core Gaming Is Worse than You think." VentureBeat. 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015. <http://venturebeat.com/2013/09/19/gender-inequality/>.
DOI: 10.15760/anthos.2013.67
Available at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/anthos/vol5/iss1/7
"Cultural Sociology vs Videogames: Are We Gamer-Geeks a (Middle-Class) Subculture?" The Geek Anthropologist. 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://thegeekanthropologist.com/2014/10/24/cultural-sociology-vs-videogames-are-we-gamer-geeks-a-middle-class-subculture/>.
Robertson, Adi. "Trolls Drive Anita Sarkeesian out of Her House to Prove Misogyny Doesn't Exist." The Verge. 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/27/6075179/anita-sarkeesian-says-she-was-driven-out-of-house-by-threats>.
Dewey, Caitlin. "The Only Guide to Gamergate You Will Ever Need to Read." The Washington Post 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2015. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/10/14/the-only-guide-to-gamergate-you-will-ever-need-to-read/>
"The Gender Inequality in Core Gaming Is Worse than You think." VentureBeat. 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015. <http://venturebeat.com/2013/09/19/gender-inequality/>.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Interview Excerpt - The Antisocial Programmer
The following is a small excerpt of an interview in which Cameron and I discuss some of the stereotypes surrounding programmers. This is just a sneak preview of the what I will be discussing in my upcoming ethnography, “The Antisocial Programmer”. Here, Cameron and I discuss how programmers socialize and communicate with one another. The bolded text is spoken by Cameron, and the remainder are my responses.
“So, writing computer programs is sort of like talking to a computer?”
“Right”
“So, how well do you believe computer programmers communicate with other people?”
“Well, I know the stereotype, and I’m sad to say that I think a lot of the time it is true. People think programmers are very introverted.They think they are not good at public speaking and that they may be able to write programmers but if you ask them to explain it they are going to stumble and fumble, and it is going to be terrible. The sad thing is that from my programming classes is that a lot of kids are like that.”
“I think that is why here at NC State in your engineering classes they emphasize working in groups, communication skills, and public speaking. These things are something a lot of people have to do in the work place. I think when most of your work is done via isolated communication with a computer, by yourself, typing loads of code it is easy for programmers to lose some of their communication skills. These skills just seem less important.”
“What do you think about computer programmers social skills? What groups do they like to socialize with and be around?”
“The odd thing about computer programmers is that a lot of the time they don’t even want to socialize with each other. At least, that is a stereotype people have. I know certain cliques and groups of programmers that have formed in classes.”
“I just think programmers are naturally more inclined to be small friend group type of people, as opposed to extremely social party goers. I can say for certain that I am this way. I would rather have four close friends than go to a part and know everyone. I think that is just a little overwhelming and odd.”
Interview Excerpt- The Potential downfall of Gaming
In preparation of my upcoming podcast regarding Gamer subculture and how I associate myself within it, Ryan interviewed me and we had some good discussion about how stereotypical gamers are viewed by society. We talked about how society judges and draws stereotypes to the whole gamer category. I suggested that the underlying characteristic of competitiveness could be the fuel that feeds a gamer in his quest to defeat others. I know that I am incredibly competitive and for that reason I enjoyed testing my skills against others whether it be on the battlefields of Call of Duty or under the Friday night lights of the high school I attended. This competitive aspect of my personality has led me to search for methods of testing my worth against others, in which I have found athletics and gaming.
"They are sort of put off by it. People who are not gamers and do not understand gamers kind of look down on the subculture as the gamers are inferior to them because the gamers enjoy this thing that is not really real. But, the truth is not all gamers are stereotypical gamers and they enjoy a lot more things than just gaming and gaming is simply a manifestation of their competitiveness, and things like that."
"So do you find that your competitiveness brings you into other subcultures too?"
"Absolutely. I've always played sports. I think my main thing is competitiveness, like everything branches off of that. I played baseball and football my entire life, up until recently, coming to college I had to stop, and that is part of the reason why gaming has come by into my life to fill the void left by sports."
"Right. So gaming is more of an avenue to get towards a deeper cause."
"Yeah, I need to beat people."
"Do you think that is common in the subculture?"
"Absolutely, people who play video games love the competitive aspect of it. In the end they just want to be better than someone else."
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Interview Excerpt - Being a Member of the Gaming Community
The
following is an excerpt from an interview performed by Ashton Larkin and Brodie Ford
on me, Charlie Luo. I am currently a freshman at NC State University,
and I identify myself as a member of the gaming community. I enjoy
gaming as a pastime, and I like the challenge of finding the best
approach to a game. The following discussions are about my views on
being a member of this group.
"Umm, I feel like right now it’s mainly video games, because I do know people that play board games and card games a lot, and they’re not really accepted as much as video game fans, but this might change."
"Yeah basically, all of those"
"Yeah, hmm I guess it really depends on the person and preference, I know some people who would never play games on the computer at all. I’d really prefer online gaming because it really gives you a better, I guess, interaction with other players, and there’s a very nice variety. I want to say that online gaming is the best, but it really just comes down to preference."
"I’ve actually never been able to get into shooters, I can’t really see the appeal to them but I do know lots of people like them. I’m more into games like World of Warcraft or things like turn-based strategy games.”
"Yeah, playing games, it’s a fun pastime but it also keeps your mind active, like, strategy games – you’re constantly thinking about what you’re doing. It’s not really about what you’re getting back, it’s mainly about how you’re spending your time and doing stuff you like doing, but if we’re really talking about investments and stuff, then you get some pretty valuable stuff back, mainly just keeping your mind active but also thinking analytically, umm, maximizing efficiency, and just figuring out stuff like ‘why something is’; things that let you ‘play the game’ to always beat it."
“Do you think that the term “gamer” pretty much applies to video games,
or are there other things that it can apply to?”
"Umm, I feel like right now it’s mainly video games, because I do know people that play board games and card games a lot, and they’re not really accepted as much as video game fans, but this might change."
“So umm, sorry to interrupt you, but by video games, do you mean kinda
like online, or like PS3, PS4?”
"Yeah basically, all of those"
“Do you have a preference on what type of gaming you prefer, or do you
think that there is some type that is better than the others? I guess what I’m
trying to say is that overall, from the people I’ve experienced with it kinda
seems like when they say video games they just mean xbox, or playstation, but
when I actually talk to people who really play games or are into it and not
just, don’t do it for casually, it sounds like computer gaming is the best type
of gaming. What are your thoughts on it?”
"Yeah, hmm I guess it really depends on the person and preference, I know some people who would never play games on the computer at all. I’d really prefer online gaming because it really gives you a better, I guess, interaction with other players, and there’s a very nice variety. I want to say that online gaming is the best, but it really just comes down to preference."
“Do you like, more of like, the ‘shooting’, like umm, Modern Warfre or
Halo, or is it more like, World of Warcraft?”
"I’ve actually never been able to get into shooters, I can’t really see the appeal to them but I do know lots of people like them. I’m more into games like World of Warcraft or things like turn-based strategy games.”
“Do you think that the time commitment is worth like, what you get back
playing games?”
"Yeah, playing games, it’s a fun pastime but it also keeps your mind active, like, strategy games – you’re constantly thinking about what you’re doing. It’s not really about what you’re getting back, it’s mainly about how you’re spending your time and doing stuff you like doing, but if we’re really talking about investments and stuff, then you get some pretty valuable stuff back, mainly just keeping your mind active but also thinking analytically, umm, maximizing efficiency, and just figuring out stuff like ‘why something is’; things that let you ‘play the game’ to always beat it."
Interview Excerpt - Living with a Spanish Background
The following excerpt is from an interview performed by Brodie Ford and Charlie L. on me (Ashton Larkin). I am a current freshman at NC State University, and I come from a Spanish background. My mother lived in Granada, Spain for about 20 years (she was born there) before moving to the United States and marrying my father, who is an American. The following questions talk about how I feel to have this background, and also the experiences I have had because of it.
“What do you like the most about having a Spanish background?”
“Probably the food I eat at my house. My mom always cooks some really good food. We eat a lot of pork, fish, and tortilla (which is kind of like Spanish pizza; it’s made out of potatoes and eggs) … so that’s pretty good. I also like the later schedule because I myself am not very hungry in the morning, so I just eat later. That is just something I have grown accustomed to … so for me, eating early is kind of weird for me although that is something common here in America.”
“Have you experienced any advantages or disadvantages by coming from a Spanish background?”
“I have definitely experienced more advantages than disadvantages. When it comes to things like applying for jobs, I always can put down that I am bilingual. For school applications, I can put down that I belong to the Hispanic race, which gives me a minority advantage. Overall, I would say that the fact that I have that Spanish background along with being confident or comfortable in the American economy and society in which I live in right now is an advantage just because I am able to succeed here in the United States, but I can also hold my own whenever I do visit Spain. I was actually able to do that this past semester; I didn’t even go to school but I lived there for two months on my own.”
“Did you take the semester off in order to do that?”
“Yes, I lived on the island of Palma which is near Barcelona. I definitely picked up on a lot of stuff over there. “
“So when you visit family in Spain, does anybody over there give you a hard time for living in the United States for so long?”
“Not really. I haven’t seen my mom’s side of the family in a long time. But I remember going back over there to see my mom’s mom when we were younger … it wasn’t really much different for her to see us. She kind of just treated us like we always lived there. She would always invite us into the house, and we would stay there with her. She would cook food for us and we would always watch the news in Spanish, go to the parks and stuff like that … when you are a younger kid in Spain, It is kind of typical to have the female parent to be a house cleaning lady if the family doesn’t have a lot of money. So that is what my grandma did (my mom’s mom in this case). Whenever we went to see her, she would be out all day cleaning houses. The kids would always spend the day at the park, so my brother and I always went over there to play soccer. You would see the same kids at the park all the time, so that was a really easy way to make friends over there.”
“What do you like the most about having a Spanish background?”
“Probably the food I eat at my house. My mom always cooks some really good food. We eat a lot of pork, fish, and tortilla (which is kind of like Spanish pizza; it’s made out of potatoes and eggs) … so that’s pretty good. I also like the later schedule because I myself am not very hungry in the morning, so I just eat later. That is just something I have grown accustomed to … so for me, eating early is kind of weird for me although that is something common here in America.”
“Have you experienced any advantages or disadvantages by coming from a Spanish background?”
“I have definitely experienced more advantages than disadvantages. When it comes to things like applying for jobs, I always can put down that I am bilingual. For school applications, I can put down that I belong to the Hispanic race, which gives me a minority advantage. Overall, I would say that the fact that I have that Spanish background along with being confident or comfortable in the American economy and society in which I live in right now is an advantage just because I am able to succeed here in the United States, but I can also hold my own whenever I do visit Spain. I was actually able to do that this past semester; I didn’t even go to school but I lived there for two months on my own.”
“Did you take the semester off in order to do that?”
“Yes, I lived on the island of Palma which is near Barcelona. I definitely picked up on a lot of stuff over there. “
“So when you visit family in Spain, does anybody over there give you a hard time for living in the United States for so long?”
“Not really. I haven’t seen my mom’s side of the family in a long time. But I remember going back over there to see my mom’s mom when we were younger … it wasn’t really much different for her to see us. She kind of just treated us like we always lived there. She would always invite us into the house, and we would stay there with her. She would cook food for us and we would always watch the news in Spanish, go to the parks and stuff like that … when you are a younger kid in Spain, It is kind of typical to have the female parent to be a house cleaning lady if the family doesn’t have a lot of money. So that is what my grandma did (my mom’s mom in this case). Whenever we went to see her, she would be out all day cleaning houses. The kids would always spend the day at the park, so my brother and I always went over there to play soccer. You would see the same kids at the park all the time, so that was a really easy way to make friends over there.”
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