IN THE FOLDS OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH
POLITICS OF ALLIANCE AND SOLIDARITY IN THE ESPORTS LANDSCAPE OF THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53450/2179-1465.RG.2023v14i2p68-100Keywords:
Game studies, Esports, CompetitionAbstract
This article discusses the phenomenon of social dynamics and progression in competitive practice in the particular context of the esports scene in the Brazilian Amazon, with an emphasis on the city of Belém, Pará. Based on a longitudinal ethnography with a semi-professional team, the work problematizes the extent to which two elements of the contemporary gaming experience are connected: how aspects of a social nature affect aspects of a technical nature. The results indicate that the social fabric of the esports community in Belém is shaped, maintained, and developed more around sporting camaraderie between teams and players than around an ethos of professionalism. On the other hand, the social dynamics surrounding community camaraderie are pulsating examples of alliance and solidarity policies in the face of the precariousness, vulnerabilities, and asymmetries that afflict players seeking professionalization on the esports periphery. They therefore reveal indices of informal organizations of mutual support.
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