The Tenets of Knighthood: The Framing of Gender and the Civic Imagination in Online Fan-Discourse Surrounding Gotham Knights

Abstract

Batman has been a cultural figure for the better part of the last century and undergone much change in that time and become a transmedial figure. This thesis discusses and explores the ways in which fans of the Batman game title Gotham Knights frame and discuss the topic of gender within the title, as well as how these fans may engage with the civic imagination to explore alternative game experiences and narratives. Using a framing analysis to examine online posts shared to Reddit and Steam forums, this thesis explores how gamic discourse is used to frame female villains, construct masculinity through nostalgia and the gaming industry, and explore the ways in which co-creative though and the civic imagination offer suggestions for further growth in diversity and acceptance.