Esport drifts
theoretical turmoil, epistemic privilege, and perspectives from the South
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30962/ecomps.3010Keywords:
Game studies, Esports, Digital culture, Gamer culture, Global SouthAbstract
This article discusses issues related to the concept and histories of esports, specifically how sports activities in video games are approached. From three general perspectives, it examines the theoretical turmoil and epistemic privilege that underpins the most common characterization of esports used by the academic community. It argues that epistemic models originating from the Global North, based on local stories of professional movements and the evolution of a small group in hegemonic spaces, are insufficient to make sense of the diversity of practices and gaming situations in esports. Ultimately, it proposes a definition that is epistemically fairer to the South.
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