Interpreting Mario Karts

Scholar Stuart Hall developed the decoding and encoding model of communication in 1973. In his essay entitled Encoding and Decoding in the Television Discourse, Hall offers three theoretical approaches to how media messages are produced, disseminated and interpreted. Audiences were presented with messages that are then decoded or interpreted in different ways depending on ones cultural background, economic standing or personal experiences (Hall, 1973:58).

There are three different positions a consumer can adopt firstly hegemonic/preferred position, this is where the consumer takes the actual meaning intended. Secondly negotiated position, which is a mixture of accepting and rejecting the message received and the dominant message is not completely accepted. Lastly the oppositional position, where the consumer understands the meaning, however by social situation or personal experience is directly in opposition to the dominant message (Hall, 1973:59).

One of my favourite games is Mario Karts 64 and using Halls model I wanted to examine the representation of gender, race and class that is used in the game. What is the representation of the game in the preferred position? I understand the concept of the game it is a go- cart style racing game, where the player has the choice to choose between various characters like a stereotypical Italian plumber Mario or his brother Luigi or you can play as a oversized and somewhat angry go gorilla called Donkey Kong.

Do I have a negotiated position in regards to his game? Yes, out of the eight characters only one is female Princess Peach, I accept that at this stage there were not many female characters introduced into the franchise so the dominant players were male. Do I have an oppositional position, oh yes. Going back to my problem with only have one female character to choose from, not only did we have one, just like Mario and his brother are stereotyped as Italian she is also stereotyped or pigeon holed being a princess. Due to the fact she was smaller she got bashed around more and even though her cart had good acceleration the others always seemed to catch up and over take.

I never thought I would get this passionate about Mario Karts or even how unbalanced it is because to be honest with you it might make me feel slightly annoyed when I analyse it but really when I’m playing it I don’t care I just have fun.

•  Hall, S. 1973, Encoding and Decoding in the Television Discourse. Birmingham [England: Centre for Cultural Studies, University of Birmingham, 1973. 507-17 (available: http://visualstudies.buffalo.edu/coursenotes/art250/250A/_assets/_readings/encoding_decoding_hall.pdf )

• http://www.chronicleworld.org/archive/issue_08/images/8_stuart.jpg (Stuart Hall image)

• http://thepigskindoctors.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/December09/Mario-Kart-64-3.jpg (Mario Kart characters image)

• https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkImdRQOev9yG10siz385FG1AnMdhMi_YumYDTG2CUGSzVAWM2v3RAbaaeb_JBPGIejUr0BqxJGgJwi0iNrblSGroaFgghTaj6RWBWn_9NYxcgWfHx55fHjkF0PGcu7wzIYm6aU3pqqeWk/s400/logo+mariokart64.gif (Mario Kart logo)