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 .