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The Development of Social Solidarity in Azeroth By The WoW Factor: The Development of Social Solidarity in Azeroth by Sonja Christina Sapach Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Social and Political Thought) Acadia University Fall Graduation 2013 © by Sonja Christina Sapach, 2013 This thesis by Sonja Christina Sapach was defended successfully in an oral examination on July 19th 2013. The examining committee for the thesis was: ________________________ Prof. Robert Seale, Chair ________________________ Dr. Anabel Quan-Haase, External Reader ________________________ Dr. Jon Saklofske, Internal Reader (Second Reader) ________________________ Dr. Mervyn Horgan, Supervisor _________________________ Dr. Andrew Biro, Head/Director (or delegate) This thesis is accepted in its present form by the Division of Research and Graduate Studies as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree Master of Arts (Social and Political Thought) ………………………………………… ii I, Sonja Christina Sapach, grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to reproduce, loan or distribute copies of my thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats on a non-profit basis. I, however, retain the copyright in my thesis. ______________________________ Sonja Sapach, Author ______________________________ Dr. Mervyn Horgan, Supervisor ______________________________ Date iii Table of Contents Approval of Thesis ............................................................................................................. ii Permission to the Head Librarian ...................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................ vii Abstract ............................................................................................................................ viii Glossary ............................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... xiii Chapter One: Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Why Video Games .................................................................................................. 1 Outline and Perspective .......................................................................................... 3 Chapter Two: A Brief Introduction to WoW ........................................................................ 7 Welcome to Azeroth ................................................................................................ 7 Chat System ............................................................................................................ 9 Guilds .................................................................................................................... 11 Instances: Dungeons and Raids ............................................................................. 12 Chapter Three: Methodology .............................................................................................14 Objectives ...............................................................................................................14 The Study .............................................................................................................. 15 The Field Site ........................................................................................................ 16 Data Gathering Techniques ................................................................................... 17 iv The Participants ..................................................................................................... 19 Participant Observation – Being an Insider and an Outsider ................................ 20 Doing a Virtual Ethnography ................................................................................ 24 Research Assistants – About my avatars ............................................................... 33 The Data – How it Looked and How it Was Analyzed ......................................... 34 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 38 Chapter Four: Theory ....................................................................................................... 40 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 40 Defining Social Solidarity ..................................................................................... 42 Defining the Sacred and Profane .......................................................................... 48 Rituals and Liminality – The Transition to the Sacred ......................................... 51 Sacred Spaces ........................................................................................................ 53 Play as an 'Ideal Social Form' ............................................................................... 56 The Creation of Social Solidarity in WoW? ......................................................... 61 Chapter Five: Objects, Language, and Rituals ................................................................. 64 Shared Experiences ............................................................................................... 64 Sacred Things in Azeroth ...................................................................................... 66 Faction Symbols ........................................................................................ 66 Titles, Tabards, Pets, and Mounts .............................................................. 72 Gear ........................................................................................................... 76 Language ............................................................................................................... 85 The Need to "Grats" .............................................................................................. 87 Rituals ................................................................................................................... 90 v Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 94 Chapter Six: Five Types of Interaction ............................................................................. 96 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 96 Exchange and Conflict .......................................................................................... 98 Breaching .............................................................................................................. 99 1 – Upping ........................................................................................................... 103 Supportive Interactions ....................................................................................... 106 Sociability Seeking ............................................................................................. 107 Silent Performance .............................................................................................. 110 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 111 Chapter Seven: Conclusion ............................................................................................. 113 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 113 Sacred Indications of Solidarity in Azeroth ........................................................ 114 Social Interactions and Shared Beliefs ................................................................ 118 Future Research ................................................................................................... 121 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 124 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 126 Works Cited ........................................................................................................ 126 Works Consulted ................................................................................................. 128 vi List of Tables Table 1. Division of Captured Screenshots ....................................................................... 35 List of Figures Figure 1. WoW Map ........................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2. Chat Box Example ............................................................................................. 10 Figure 3. Research Assistant Avatars................................................................................. 33 Figure 4. Alliance Crest ...................................................................................................
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