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Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram
Thesis (PhD (Digital Culture and Media))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613606131007488 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Du Preez, Amanda |
| author_browse | Du Preez, Amanda |
| author_facet | Du Preez, Amanda |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Digital Culture and Media))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/103319 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:49.043Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/103319 Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram Du Preez, Amanda karlvheerden@gmail.com Van Heerden, Carel Jacobus UCTD Avatar studies Final Fantasy XIV online Gaymers Instagram Queer game studies Queer identity construction Virtual ethnography Virtual photography Virtual worlds Thesis (PhD (Digital Culture and Media))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Gaymers are a group of players characterised by an adoption of a queer sensibility in their gaming habits. This study aims to understand the complex dynamics of online identity formation by examining how gaymers use virtual images of their avatars on social media platforms to construct identities collaboratively. The analysis focuses on the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game Final Fantasy XIV Online and the social media platform Instagram as the site of research. This study employs a three-part research methodology. First, a comprehensive multidisciplinary literature review draws from gender studies, new media studies, visual culture, and virtual ethnography to establish a theoretical framework for analysing identified case studies taken from Instagram. Second, I compare interviews with gaymers and avatar portraits posted on Instagram to explore the themes identified in the literature review. Finally, a visual virtual ethnographic approach is adopted to conduct field research within the game world. The findings of this study validate the hypothesis that identity negotiation is an emergent process resulting from a combination of real-time social interaction within a role-play environment, asynchronous exploration of identity through textual and visual content generation on Instagram, and utilisation of in-game avatar design features for constructing and visually exploring identities through avatar customisation. Visual Arts PhD (Digital Culture and Media) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities None 2025-07-11T10:59:05Z 2025-07-11T10:59:05Z 2025-09 2024-11 Thesis * S2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29467547.v1 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29467547 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Avatar studies Final Fantasy XIV online Gaymers Queer game studies Queer identity construction Virtual ethnography Virtual photography Virtual worlds Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title | Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title_full | Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title_fullStr | Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title_full_unstemmed | Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title_short | Queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on Instagram |
| title_sort | queering final fantasy xiv online avatars on instagram |
| topic | UCTD Avatar studies Final Fantasy XIV online Gaymers Queer game studies Queer identity construction Virtual ethnography Virtual photography Virtual worlds |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/103319 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.29467547 |