A critical discourse analysis of violence in the Mass Effect universe

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dc.contributor.advisorEyre, Linda
dc.contributor.advisorRose, Ellen
dc.contributor.authorFrias, Michael
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-01T16:39:03Z
dc.date.available2023-03-01T16:39:03Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.date.updated2016-11-16T00:00:00Z
dc.description.abstractThis thesis offers a critical discourse analysis of violence in the video game Mass Effect. After the Sandy Hook School shooting in December, 2012, Mass Effect was believed to motivate the shooter. Following this accusation, conversations arose defending and blaming the video game for the shooting. Rather than taking a side, I use Fairclough’s textually-oriented critical discourse analysis to explore the constructions of physical and discursive violence, especially discourses of gender, sexuality and race, in Mass Effect. Physical violence is the more overt presentation, making it easy to link the game to the shooting; discursive violence, however, is less obvious. I also explore how players engage with, and potentially resist, physical and discursive violence through online conversations and opportunities to change the game. Finally, I offer implications for video game developers, parents, teachers, players, and the public.
dc.description.copyrightNot available for use outside of the University of New Brunswick
dc.description.noteElectronic Only. (UNB thesis number) Thesis 9472. (OCoLC) 962762214.
dc.description.noteM.Ed., University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Education, 2014.
dc.formattext/xml
dc.format.extentix, 157 pages
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.identifier.oclc(OCoLC) 962762214
dc.identifier.otherThesis 9472
dc.identifier.urihttps://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/14270
dc.language.isoen_CA
dc.publisherUniversity of New Brunswick
dc.rightshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.subject.disciplineEducation
dc.subject.lcshVideo games--Psychological aspects.
dc.subject.lcshViolence in video games.
dc.subject.lcshVideo gamers--Psychology.
dc.subject.lcshYouth and violence.
dc.subject.lcshCritical discourse analysis.
dc.titleA critical discourse analysis of violence in the Mass Effect universe
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEducation
thesis.degree.fullnameMaster of Education
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of New Brunswick
thesis.degree.levelmasters
thesis.degree.nameM.Ed.

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