A Comparative Study on the Shaping of Female Subjectivity in Chinese and Japanese Female-Oriented Games: From the Perspective of Foucault's Theory of Discursive Power

Abstract

This study employs Foucault's theory of discursive power to compare the shaping of female subjectivity in Chinese and Japanese female-oriented games, using Lovebrush Chronicles (China) and Uta no Prince-sama (Japan) as case studies. The analysis focuses on two dimensions: game text and user experience. Regarding game text analysis, distinct approaches emerge: Chinese games tend to emphasize female agency and self-actualization, often manifested through dynamic power relations and development narratives centered on social missions or personal transcendence. Japanese games place greater focus on women's roles in emotional bonds and supportive positioning, with their capability development and growth paths closely tied to shaping the male characters, forming specific interaction patterns. This divergence reflects underlying socio- cultural differences. In terms of user experience, player perceptions distinctly align with these textual characteristics: Chinese players report significantly stronger experiences of female characters' autonomous decision-making and resistance consciousness, while Japanese players more readily perceive supportive attributes and emotional resonance in the female roles, with relatively limited experience of their independent subjectivity.