Description |
Folklore is traditional, informal, unofficial culture. And right now, on the internet, it's changing everything you know about entertainment. In this thesis, I look at the gaming tradition, past and present, and at the major game developer Nintendo. I present Nintendo's fascinating history, and an argument for the breakout success of Donkey Kong, and subsequent success of its iconic, main character, Mario. I discuss YouTube's history as well, and delve into the participatory culture model that has made it the singular video platform of today. I explain how YouTube's business model allows it to house folklore-based entertainment. The thesis is fully realized in a discussion of two internet communities, married in one YouTube channel. DashieGames is the convergence of the YouTube gaming community and the Super Mario Maker player/developer community. Each is characterized in extensive detail. I go through a typical Super Mario Maker DashieGames video and demonstrate its folkloric richness. I explore genre, myth, and society with Joseph Campbell. Finally, I argue that because folklore originates in people rather than institutions, "big media", and government, it provides an enduring ethos that can bridge inter-cultural distances. Folklore communities that bring together disparate discourses promote unity, and that's important. Because right now, that's what American rhetoric needs. |