Joke told by female Blood Elves in World of Warcraft

This article explores issues of racial essentialism and ethnicity in the massively multi-player online role-playing gameWorld ofWarcraft (WoW). The fantasyworld of Azeroth mirrors elements of real-world race-based societies where culture is thought to be immutably linked to race. The notion of biological essentialism is reinforced throughout the gamescape. Race plays a primary role in the social and political organization of Azeroth. Among other things, race determines alliances, language, intellect, tempera-ment, occupation, strength, and technological aptitude. The cultural representatio