The Vistani problem. Representation of the Romani culture in D&D games. Stereotypes and change

The representation of the Romani culture in Western popular culture has long been based on stereotypes and prejudices of those who are not part of it. These stereotypes have shaped the common perception of the Romani. Cultural studies are focused on literature relevant in the postcolonial and critical discourse analysis. In the works created for the D&D games set in the fictional world of Ravenloft, one can find the Vistani, an ethnic group inspired by the Romani. What is shown here is how the portrayal of the Vistani coincides with the stereotypes pointed out by researchers in popular depictions of the Romani culture and how the viewers receive such characterizations nowadays. This exploratory study points out how the stereotypes and culture coding work in speculative fiction (namely fantasy genre) and how the portrayal of fictional culture could have real-world implications.

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