Through an analysis of Chinese gaming giant Tencent, this study reveals how these companies embed Chinese cultural elements and narratives within their games, effectively turning them into vehicles for cultural exchange and soft power projection. #Sinology www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... - ThreadSky

cfmeyskens.bsky.social • 87 days ago

Through an analysis of Chinese gaming giant Tencent, this study reveals how these companies embed Chinese cultural elements and narratives within their games, effectively turning them into vehicles for cultural exchange and soft power projection. #Sinology https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09512748.2024.2433748

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tjmzj.bsky.social•87 days ago

Unable to read it so I can only go from the abstract. Aren’t MiHoYo’s games also an example of soft power or do they get locked out of this analysis for not being Chinese enough? They’re way, way more popular than any of Tencent’s games and often run afoul of censors.

cfmeyskens.bsky.social•87 days ago

Google search the title and you'll find a free-to-download PDF at Research Gate.

kaiserkuo.bsky.social•87 days ago

Would really appreciate it if you could send me a copy of this paper! Thanks.

carwynmorris.bsky.social•87 days ago

I don't buy the argument in the paper, linking this to DSR; a bit too state centric and flattens cultural artefacts. That said, it's probably a useful argument to have been made. I thought a wider understanding of soft power might be used as well as a more comprehensive analysis of the games.

leshij.bsky.social•87 days ago

"At the end of this section, it is important to note that this paper treats Tencent as an extension of China, intermingling the two entities, because the relationship between private enterprises and the state in China is distinct from that in other countries, particularly Western nations."

ermmmmm

carwynmorris.bsky.social•87 days ago

🤷🏻 but at least there is a space for a more nuanced reading of this. I know my colleague Florian Schneider is writing more and more about Chinese gaming, but he may be reluctant to go full IR. He's just finished playing the Wukong game. Here is his chapter on 中国式家长 https://uw.manifoldapp.org/read/14a9a5fa-5f9a-4479-9497-f46051bc4da9/section/d319e499-11a4-49dc-8c29-b8573b82f83d

leshij.bsky.social•87 days ago

Ah this looks fascinating, thanks!

chenchenzh.bsky.social•87 days ago

my unpopular opinion is "soft power" is one of the most boring and least useful concepts IR has made and unfortunately one of the most popular as well.

carwynmorris.bsky.social•87 days ago

😂 the more i run into it during teaching (international studies) the more i agree. But i do enjoy @mariarepnikova.bsky.social engagement with the concept in Chinese soft power.

mariarepnikova.bsky.social•86 days ago

Ha, I hear you. I have plenty of frustrations with that scholarship myself. In my latest book project, I actually stay away from "soft power" and analyze what I describe as different mechanisms of "image-making," including ideational power, censorship and tangible enticement.

chenchenzh.bsky.social•86 days ago

that's a great approach! much more useful when defined precisely. problem is nowadays the term is inflated so much that it's often lost analytical values. (which is why your work is all the more important!)

chenchenzh.bsky.social•87 days ago

definitely! can do wonders within capable hands. I was more thinking about the "lazy" research proposals that "throw soft power and stir" lol

carwynmorris.bsky.social•87 days ago

💁🏻 "Is this a soft power?" 🦋

profkevingray.bsky.social•87 days ago

Strong agree!

taracchage.bsky.social•87 days ago

Google search the title and you'll find a free-to-download PDF at Research Gate.

cfmeyskens.bsky.social•87 days ago

Thanks

ajaanmark.bsky.social•86 days ago

The thing with this is that, of course, American cultural values are embedded in American narratives, Australian cultural values are embedded in Australian narratives, Thai cultural values etc. So, not having read it yet, I'm always a bit of a sceptic about this sort of analysis.

mattatddnet.bsky.social•86 days ago

Classic Soviet Era joke still used today:

A Russian is on an airliner flying to the US. An American next to him asks “What brings you to the US?” The Russian replies “I’m studying the American approach to propaganda.” The American asks “What propaganda?” The Russian says, “That’s what I mean.”

ajaanmark.bsky.social•86 days ago

😅

dom-ma.bsky.social•87 days ago

I've seen this in action through one game in particular: Wuthering Waves. Unplayable. The main story felt like it was written primarily to demonstrate the game developer's adherence to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.

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