https://doi.org/10.21697/kmt.2025.65.08
The aim of this article is to analyze representations of the Maldives in video games from a cultural studies and postcolonial perspective. The study treats the archipelago as a unique cultural phenomenon whose depiction in digital narratives is shaped by global discourses of tourism, media, and climate. The research methodology is based on a qualitative content analysis of selected games, considering both visual and narrative dimensions, and drawing on theories of orientalism, the tourist gaze, and the representation of “empty” spaces. The findings indicate that the Maldives are most frequently portrayed as a tourist paradise, but also as an exotic and dangerous adventure backdrop, a “playground” for the player, or a space threatened by climate disaster. Such representations reinforce stereotypes and contribute to the erasure of Maldivian culture, history, and everyday life. A few exceptions – mostly observed in indie games – demonstrate the potential to challenge dominant narratives. The article concludes that video games both reproduce and reinforce global imaginaries of small island states, while simultaneously offering the possibility for more diverse and equitable representations, including ethnic, landscape, and historical aspects. Directions for further comparative research, as well as implications for game developers and digital culture studies, are also outlined.
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Język Polski
English