Red Dead Representation : A narrative and multimodal critical discourse analysis of Native American representation in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2

This study examines the representation of Native Americans in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) and evaluates it through the lens of representation theory and the theory of othering. The research is designed as a qualitative case study focusing on selected story scenes from RDR2, specifically key moments involving the Wapiti tribe and the characters Rains Fall and Eagle Flies, in order to examine how Native American representation is constructed, using multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) in combination with narrative analysis. The analysis encompasses the game’s dialogue, story, visual imagery, and audio design to identify what discourses and stereotypes are present and whether the game reinforces or challenges colonial tropes. The results indicate an ambivalent portrayal. On one hand, the game makers have made efforts to portray native American characters with respect and to envoke empathy – for example by condemning racism and providing the indigenous characters with dignity in the narrative. On the other hand, RDR2 does not entirely escape conventional storytelling patterns: the Native American characters remain supporting figures in a story centered on a white protagonist, and subtler forms of stereotyping (such as the “noble savage” trope and a white savior narrative structure) emerge. The study contributes a deeper understanding of how a popular video game balances progressive intentions with traditional genre tropes in its representation of a marginalized group, highlighting the complexities and challenges of diversity in interactive media.