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Calypso Riddim: Cultural Representation and Preservation Through Video Games
This thesis addresses the impact of globalization on culture which has led to a decrease in engagement with local cultures. A popular medium of globalized culture is video games, there has been an increase in widespread access to these games with approximately 3.2 billion gamers globally in 2023 (Dimitrievski, 2024).
Adopting a user-centered design approach, the project focuses on the historical reflection of culturally significant events in an underrepresented community, specifically targeting the historic and often underrepresented traditions of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. Through the medium of a video game, the objective is to preserve and enrich awareness and enhance the representation of these cultural practices.
The importance of cultural preservation and representation in a digital realm highlights the active representation and preservation of culture that contributes to increased cultural diversity, understanding, and empowerment in identity, fostering creative expression and innovation.
The implications of this research extend to the development of strategies for future research and the creation of culturally enriching video games. By leveraging digital platforms, this project aims to counteract the homogenizing effects of globalization, offering a promising avenue for the continued preservation and celebration of diverse cultural traditions in the digital age.
The importance of cultural preservation and representation in a digital realm highlights the active representation and preservation of culture that contributes to increased cultural diversity, understanding, and empowerment in identity, fostering creative expression and innovation.
The implications of this research extend to the development of strategies for future research and the creation of culturally enriching video games. By leveraging digital platforms, this project aims to counteract the homogenizing effects of globalization, offering a promising avenue for the continued preservation and celebration of diverse cultural traditions in the digital age.
