Geek Cuisine

Extending the Narrative of a Junk Food Gamer

Bibliographic Data

ID18978296
AuthorsTapani N Joelsson (0000-0003-1281-3204, University of Turku, corresponding author), Henna Syrjälä (0000-0002-1076-1108, University of Vaasa), Harri Luomala (0000-0002-9708-994X, University of Vaasa), Tuomas Mäkilä (0000-0002-8799-185X, University of Turku)
Year2023
Volume18
Issue8
Pages1071-1094
Publication date2023-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGames and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-4120 • E-ISSN: 1555-4139
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/15554120221150348
OpenAlexW4319862281
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited40

In this article, we argue that the pervading hegemonic narrative on gamers’ eating culture emphasizing hedonistic and fast foods is a one-sided storyline that highlights a potentially harmful gamer stereotype. To that end, we reveal the variety of gamers’ food consumption and broaden the narrative depicting the relationship between gamers and eating. Our literature review shows the dominance of the Junk Food Gamer narrative in extant research. However, by using a social constructionist narrative approach to analyze ethnographic observations and interviews, we show the emergence of an alternative, yet interrelated narrative: the Home Food Gamer. In addition, we utilize the idea of the Rubik's Cube to illustrate the actualization of multifaceted and contextually-bound gamer narratives that enable expanding the prevailing understanding of geek cuisine by shedding light on the variety of gamers’ food consumption. In this way, we participate in the ongoing discussion to unravel stereotypical assumptions about gamer culture

Aesthetics · Art · Epistemology · Ethnography · Geek · Media studies · Narrative · Social science · Sociology · Strict constructionism · Computer Science · Digital Games and Media · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access