Who Gets to Be in The Guild?

While media studies have frequently assessed the importance of representation, research in this area has often been siloed by institutional and methodological norms that define academics as “gender”, “race”, or “class” scholars, rather than inclusive scholars all these more. This paper thus responds to recent calls for more intersectional work simultaneously addressing overlapping representations race, gender, gamer identity, their relation Lorde’s concept mythical norm, popular webseries, The Guild (YouTube, 2007-2013). Via a detailed, inductive thematic analysis show’s two characters color, Zaboo Tinkerballa, we find doubly problematic intersection between standard “gamer identity” tropes gendered Asian/American stereotypes. show forecloses on its potential be truly diverse reinforces oppressive, marginalizing practices it tries mock, suggesting gaming culture will not change until address intersecting axes power exclusion. also demonstrates how constructed identity audiences-- case, stereotypical “gamer” identity-- can exacerbate reaffirm existing disparities representation. We suggest remain attentive articulations consumer individual identities considering representation influence systems inclusion exclusion, well viewers’ lived outcomes.