Écriture Féminine in Digital Games: Feminine Writing and Female Voice in Gris

Abstract

This study explores the application of écriture féminine within the realm of digital gaming, focusing specifically on the digital game Gris. Rather than viewing feminine writing as a rigid methodological framework, this research conceptualises it as a creative approach characterised by fluidity and adaptability, capable of traversing various media forms. By examining Gris, a platform-adventure game created by Spanish developer Nomada Studio and published by Devolver Digital, the study identifies core elements of feminine writing present within the narrative, such as fluidity, challenging identity, cyclicity of motifs and the subversion of traditional narrative structures, and illustrates how these elements are manifested within the game. The analysis reveals that the creative processes inherent in feminine writing challenge the masculine coding that is often prevalent in digital games. Through a detailed examination of Gris, this study demonstrates how digital games can serve as a medium for feminine writing, offering new perspectives on identity, narrative, and representation that transcend conventional gender norms and encourage a more nuanced engagement with the concept of femininity in digital spaces. The present analysis thus recognises feminine writing in digital games as a fluid, creative process through which any single work of art can capture only a fraction of its potential meaning and true significance.

 

Key words 

Creative Process. Digital Game. Écriture Feminine. Female Body. Feminine Writing. Game Mechanics. Gris.