Videogames e o gênero feminino: a construção da identidade de Lara Croft na saga Tomb Raider

Abstract

Women have been portrayed in multiple ways across the digital narratives that chronicle their journeys. Today, female presence in video games has gained visibility and sparked discussions about the representation and construction of female identities. With the growing popularity of digital technologies and virtual games, video games have become a relevant space for critically analyzing the identity construction of female characters. In this context, multimodal language — the convergence of different modes of meaning-making—has become a defining feature of contemporary digital environments. Thus, this thesis aims to analyze the construction of Lara Croft’s female gender identity in the Tomb Raider saga. To do so, I examine the character’s creation, development, and the relationships she establishes through her formative experiences, which are shaped by multimodal language and the places she inhabits and interacts with. The interest in this topic stems from Lara Croft’s significant impact on both female players and the gaming industry. This is due to her role as a protagonist possessing skills traditionally associated with male characters, as well as the vast array of franchise-derived products. Through this analysis, I aim to: expand the concepts of computer and video games (Gee, 2003; Giddings & Kennedy, 2006; Zimmerman & Chaplin, 2013); examine the history of female representation in games (Araújo, 2018; Amorim, Leão & Gallo, 2016; Santos & Soares, 2021); explore Lara Croft’s identity through the spaces and places she occupies (Tuan, 1977; Chojnacki, 2014; Gnat, 2021; Cruz & Pimenta, 2015); and investigate the female gender identities constructed through multimodal language in the Tomb Raider saga and how these contribute to the formation and representation of such identities throughout the games (Butler, 2018; Souza, 2019; Bauman, 2005; Hall, 2022; Gee, 2003; Bateman, 2014; Zacchi, 2016; Kress, 2009; Gontijo Silva, 2021; Mizan, 2013). This qualitative (Moita Lopes, 1994), bibliographic (Paiva, 2019), interpretivist (Chizzotti, 1991), and multimodal (O’Halloran et al., 2012) research is situated within the field of Applied Linguistics. The main findings indicate that the representation of Lara Croft in digital games evolves in response to social changes. Initially characterized by traits of strength and emotional detachment, the character has grown increasingly complex, combining strength with vulnerability. Furthermore, the places Lara visits reflect her evolving journey toward identity and autonomy. However, despite the progress made, there remains significant scope for achieving true diversity in the representation of women in digital games. Through this research, I aim to contribute to ongoing discussions on female protagonism in digital games by examining the identity construction of female characters.