Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Noelle Adams
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Noelle Adams |
| Interviewer: | Kelly M |
| Interviewee: | Noelle Adams |
| Date(s): | March 21, 2014 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Tomb Raider |
| External Links: | In the Spotlight: Noelle Adams – The Archaeology of Tomb Raider, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Noelle Adams was conducted in 2014.
Some Excerpts
How has Tomb Raider changed your life?
Well, it’s been a very long time since I was last really sucked into a fandom to the point that I sit and think about it at random times of the day, and feel inspired to create things (stories, artwork) to express – and share – my feelings of appreciation and adoration. Tomb Raider 2013 changed that.
Because of Tomb Raider, I started writing fan fiction. I’m currently in the process of writing my second Tomb Raider story, which is likely to be novel-length by the time it’s complete.
I undertook my first proper cosplay project, complete with on-location photo shoot and travelling to rAge, South Africa’s biggest gaming convention, where my Reboot Lara was very well received.
The biggest – and possibly weirdest – way that Tomb Raider has changed my life though is that, indirectly, it got me to examine my sexuality. The “Lara-Sam-Are-They-Aren’t-They ” debate saw me read a ton of surprisingly sweet, credible fan fiction that really opened my mind to the alternative; what a relationship with another woman could be like. I’m grateful for that. I feel more comfortable and happier in my skin now.
Do you run a Tomb Raider fansite or blog? If so, what would you say was your biggest achievement to date?
Not a dedicated one, but more and more Tomb Raider content has been slipping onto my pop culture blog. Out of interest the most read post in my blog’s 10 year history was a piece I wrote last year examining the “Is Lara Croft gay” debate. Evidently it’s a hot topic.
What are your thoughts on Lara’s image? Is she simply the product of a sexist gaming industry or can she be seen as a positive role model?
I think Lara’s image is a complicated one. Ultimately I’d say she’s a bit of both. The way she was marketed in the past – all boobs and come-hither poses – certainly reflects a sexist industry. Looking at the character herself though – her independent, unapologetic spirit and everything she’s accomplished on her own terms – she’s definitely a positive role model. Of course it’s very hard to separate the two, but either way, as far as female video game characters go, I think she is the definitive First Lady of Gaming. And I think her evolution as a character reflects attitudes and changes within the industry as a whole.