The term "woke" is commonly used to criticize anything in media, such as movies or books, that seemingly embraces a politically liberal or progressive philosophy.
It is often, but not exclusively, associated with what some perceive as an "excess of representation in media." It also refers to any social values that don't align with conservative views (according to U.S. standards) on issues like race or the portrayal of women.
For example:
- **Unattractive women?** Probably "woke," because women are expected to be physically attractive.
- **Women behaving or talking in a more masculine way?** Probably "woke," because women should be portrayed as approachable, well-meaning, and cute.
- **Racial minority characters in positions of power?** Probably "woke," because main characters are expected to have light skin.
- **A positive attitude towards LGBT+ people?** Probably "woke," because LGBT+ people are often considered "sinful" by some, and they shouldn't be represented positively.
- **Same-gender relationships?** Probably "woke," because only heterosexual relationships should be depicted, as LGBTQ+ individuals are often seen as sinful.
Some people are even shocked to see games labeled as "woke" for portraying things like:
- Interracial relationships
- Mentions of global warming
- Emphasis on historical female leaders
- Gender-neutral body types in character creators
- Criticism of American consumerism
An infamous list of so-called "woke" games exists as a guide for conservative people to avoid supporting games they perceive as promoting "wokeness."
[Here is the list](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1AVTZPJij5PQmlWAkYdDahBrxDiwqWMGsWEcEnpdKTa4/htmlview?pli=1)
However, the term is losing its specific meaning and is increasingly being used to target almost anything, even games that clearly appeal to traditional "dude/bro" audiences, like Warhammer.
This shift is fueled by influencers, who know there's a sizable group of people particularly right-wing individuals and incels who are frustrated with modern media because it no longer caters exclusively to their preferences. These influencers exploit this frustration to drive discourse, ultimately seeking to control the narrative. For them, it's an easy way to generate views and monetize their content.
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