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Generally depicted as a red-haired, freckled female gamer wearing jeans and a striped sweater, Vivian at first glance seems like an unlikely figure to attract so much attention ([[Flame War|for good or ill]]). Still, she's seen as many things. Most notably, a symbol of [[Gamergate]]. But she's also an embodiment of both [[4chan]] and [[8chan]]'s /v/ boards. A representative of modern gamers - and gaming at large - as they are, rather than what certain elements wish them to be. A legitimate gamer girl who's not afraid to be who she is or fight for what she believes in, be it ethics in games journalism or video games in general.
In addition to Vivian's originally intended game, she has appeared in various image albums, fan/webcomics<ref>Most notably, ''[http://kukuruyo.com/comic/gamergate-life-1/ Gamergate Life]'' by Spanish artist Kukuruyo.</ref> and even cosplay. [https://www.reddit.com/r/KotakuInAction/comments/4c1num/misc_an_introduction_to_vivian_james_her_family/ Over time], she's also been accompanied by [[Loads and Loads of Characters|a growing, colorful cast of characters]]. And is slated to be a major character in an upcoming{{when}} game called ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20160402035603/http://anomalousgames.tumblr.com/ Project SOCJUS]'' and a playable character in a [[Game Mod]]-in-progress for ''[[X-COM (Video Game)|XCOM 2]]''.<ref>Dragonpunk, the mod in question, [http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2016/02/xcom-2-dragonpunk-mod-teases-vivian-james-theme-song/ is still slated for a 2018 release].{{Verify|reason=2018 was last decade.}}</ref>
{{creatortropes}}
* [[A Boy and His X|A Girl and Her Sea Lion]]: How her and Ethics are oft portrayed.▼
* [[Anthropomorphic Personification]]: After a fashion. Aside from being associated with the /v/ boards in both [[4chan]] and [[8chan]], she's sometimes affectionately used to symbolize modern gaming. And sometimes used as a [[Straw Character]] by anti-GG, [[Wimpification|corrupting]] her established [[The Stoic|carefree personality]].
** The original personification of /v/ is usually shown as Vivian's father as well.
** Some particularly "safe space"-y cons even banned '[https://web.archive.org/web/20160310094607/http://dashcon--2015.tumblr.com/post/120153572051/rules-and-regulations-how-to-have-a-safe all “vivian James” cosplay, no matter how subtle]'. How one can reliably tell "subtle" Vivian James cosplay from [[Ben 10|Gwendolyn Tennyson]] cosplay or a natural redhead in a sweater remains a mystery.
* [[Art Shift]]: The art styles used for her and others varies considerably, ranging from Macha-inspired portraits to photorealistic to [[Animesque]].
* [[Ascended Meme]]:
** Vivian's outfit [http://imgur.com/yfmADmy was given a nod] in the anime ''Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry'' in 2015.
** In addition to having taken a life of her own, Vivian even has [http://thefineyoungcapitalists.tumblr.com/post/149345947545/happy-birthday-vivian-james a film award] named in her honor by The Fine Young Capitalists in 2016, to coincide with her "birthday" and indirectly with Gamergate's second year anniversary.
** She's grown popular enough to have [https://twitter.com/kosan_takeuchi/status/789110884501041152?lang=en attracted] [https://twitter.com/kosan_takeuchi/status/842990130981871617?lang=en fanart] from Japanese artist and game designer Ko Takeuchi.
* [[Badass]]: Sometimes portrayed as one, often of the [[Action Girl]] variety.
* [[The Bechdel Test]]: Not only do Vivian and pals mock the test, but they even pass it.
* [[Berserk Button]]: For Vivian, it's anything that slanders gamers, detrimental to gaming and otherwise patronizing to women like her. [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|Also]], [[Scrub|scrubs]] and "filthy [[Casual Video Game|casuals]]."
** She's also this in real life to certain (primarily anti-GG) individuals and groups, who view her as offensive, misogynistic and reactionary.
* [[Best Her to Bed Her]]: Vivian is sometimes portrayed as this even in NSFW works, stemming from her rather competitive nature and hardcore gamer streak.
* [[Big Name Fan]]:
* [[Boobs of Steel]]: Both DeepFreeze sisters are usually shown as very well-endowed.▼
** While not exactly "big," [[KiteTales]] is slated to voice Vivian in ''Project SOCJUS''.
* [[Breakout Character]]: Originally intended for the indie game ''Afterlife Empire'', Vivian has since taken on a life of her own, along a number of other personified characters. To the point that [http://imgur.com/a/GRknl cosplay exists] based on her.▼
** Ko Takeuchi of [[Nintendo]] fame has also made fanart of her.
* [[Boobs of Steel]]:
** While not to the same degree as the DeepFreeze siblings, Vivian is sometimes depicted as being somewhat large-chested as well, [[Depending on the Writer]].
▲* [[Breakout Character]]: Originally intended for the indie game ''Afterlife Empire'', Vivian has since taken on a life of her own, along a number of other personified characters. To the point that [http://imgur.com/a/GRknl cosplay exists] based on her.
* [[The Cameo]]: [[Hulk Hogan]] has gotten a few cameos in Vivian comics as his [[Real Life]] legal battle with Gawker intersected with [[Gamergate]]'s contempt of Gawker and its videogaming vertical Kotaku.
** Other /pol/-aligned [[Anthropomorphic Personifications]] such as [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/christ-chan Christ-chan]<ref>A personification of Christianity and evangelicalism, not too unlike the medieval Ecclesia.</ref> and [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ebola-chan Ebola-chan]<ref>[[Exactly What it Says on the Tin]].</ref> are known to show up, usually whenever /pol/ himself or Erika Polina is in the picture.
** Vivian herself has popped up in [https://twitter.com/FLEETCOMM/media promotional art] for the indie game ''FLEETCOMM'', donning [[Bling of War]].
** Not Vivian per se, but her outfit does pop up [http://imgur.com/yfmADmy in an episode] of the anime ''Radukai Kishi no Cavalry.''
* [[Character Derailment]]: Anti-GG portrayals of Vivian have a tendency to do this in various ways, be it reducing her into a [[Straw Character]] or making her a megaphone to mock those supporting GG.
* [[Character Filibuster]]: Vivian in Kukuruyo's comics [http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1089110-vivian-james does this occasionally]. Though this more or less fits in with her character, not to mention [[Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped]].
* [[Color Motif]]: Her striped sweater/sweatshirt is green and purple, a partial nod to an old [[4chan]] meme involving ''[[Dragonball Z]]''.
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* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Vivian's usual manner of speaking tends to be this.
* [[The Ditz]]: Gilda Mars is usually shown as this, being almost perpetually happy and absent-minded. Sometimes overlaps with [[The Pollyanna]].
* [[Enemy Mine]]:
*
** While Lillian and Vivian don't get along most of the time, they both put aside their differences over the topic of watching [http://kukuruyo.com/comic/gamergate-life-52/ Gawker getting its comeuppance].
* [[Everyone Has Standards]]: Not even Lillian can stand Gawker.
* [[Fan Nickname]]:
** The [[8chan]] version of /v/ tends to be called "Punished /v/" or "/v/enom Snake" as a nod to ''[[Metal Gear Solid
** Erika Polina originally was just called Polina before she got her actual name, in reference to /pol/.
* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Vivian's personality has strong shades of this.
* [[From Nobody to Nightmare]]: It's in the realm of possibility that few in that [[4chan]] thread in 2014 really expected her to take off the way she has.
* [[Gamer Chick]]:
*
** Lillian meanwhile tends to play closer to the "conventional" stereotypes associated with the trope, although she does show a few similarities with Vivian.
* [[Generation Xerox]]: Sort of. Vivian takes quite a bit after her father, /v/, though she isn't quite as cynical or bitter as him. While Erika Polina is basically a female version of her dad, /pol/.
* [[Generic Cuteness]]: As Vivian's meant to look like an ordinary gamer girl, she's not "attractive" in the cliched sense but has a charm of her own. This is further lampshaded in the ironically titled [http://kevinbolk.deviantart.com/art/Everybody-Is-Beautiful-549995858 Everybody Is Beautiful] by Kevin Bolk, which also points out the hypocrisy of those preaching about "diversity."
▲* [[A Boy and His X|A Girl and Her Sea Lion]]: How her and Ethics are oft portrayed.
* [[Godwin's Law]]: "Uncle" /pol/ and his daughter, Erika Polina, who both look like Nazis in all but name
* [[Hair Decorations]]: A rather unusual example. Vivian's headband is actually there to identify either her origins on [[4chan]] or her transplanting to [[8chan]], depending on whether the hair dec in question depicts a 4 leaf clover or an infinity symbol respectively.
* [[Hidden Depths]]:
** Vivian's usually shown to be rather knowledgeable, despite seemingly disinterested at times on anything not related to playing video games.
** Gilda Mars, despite her ditziness and [[The Pollyanna|Pollyanna tendencies]], isn't afraid to speak her mind or use her upvote/downvote judgements when push comes to shove.<ref>In reference to Reddit's upvote/downvoting system.</ref>
** Lillian shows occasional signs of self-awareness regarding her hypocrisy and views, in addition to how even she has standards, especially with regard to the likes of Gawker.
* [[Hilarious in Hindsight]]: Some like to point out in jest how [http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1088856-vivian-james not even] ''[[The Wizard]]'' was spared from Vivian's influence. Though this also partially serves as a [[Take That]] to attempts by some to blame certain historical events on [[Gamergate]].
* [[Hot Librarian]]: Danielle Frost gives this impression, given her much more modest outfit and intellectual mindset compared to her sister Freya.
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** The ''XCOM 2'' mod Dragonpunk suggests that a somewhat older Vivian James eventually became one herself.
* [[Hypocrite]]: Lillian is usually shown to be this. Given her tendency to flaunt her supposed moral superiority and sanctimony against Vivian, while proving herself to have much lower standards.
* [[Insult Backfire]]:
*
** Ethics, the Sea Lion is a direct result of this as well, being a [[Take That]] to accusations of "sealioning."
** Attempts by various individuals, including publications like ''Vice'' to frame her as [https://archive.today/20150824001144/http://www.vice.com/read/meet-the-female-gamer-mascot-created-by-anti-feminists-828 an anti-feminist, reactionary symbol] have done little more than serve as unintentional promotion for her.
* [[Image Boards]]: Aside from Vivian originating from them (more specifically, she's associated with both [[4chan]] and [[8chan]]), the personifications of /v/ and /pol/ are known to pop up.
* [[Ironic Echo]]: Among the logos displayed on the pro-GG KotakuInAction subreddit is Vivian done in the style of Kotaku's original logo and mascot, highlighting just how hypocritical that particular site is.
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: How she's commonly shown to be, given how friendly and tolerant she can be once people get to know her. Cross her or push her [[Berserk Button]]s however, and she becomes ''merciless.''
* [[Jumped At the Call]]: Sort of. As much as she would very much rather "play vidya," she doesn't hesitate to call out nonsense or defend herself.
* [[Limited Wardrobe]]: Downplayed, but her usual outfit generally consists of jeans and a striped sweater/sweatshirt. Though her color scheme is rather consistent regardless of what she has on.
* [[Loads and Loads of Characters]]: Over time, other personifications have emerged, including:
** Gilda Mars, meant to embody [[Reddit]].
** Freya and Danielle Frost, the DeepFreeze siblings<ref>In reference to [http://www.deepfreeze.it/ DeepFreeze], a journalistic ethics site based in Italy that was established in light of [[Gamergate]].</ref>
** Lillian Woods, originally a knock-off of Vivian James meant to mock GG has since come to be associated with the anti-GG Gamerghazi subreddit and anti-GG in general
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* [[Memetic Mutation]]: One of the reasons why she really took off.
* [[Moral Guardians]]: Lillian acts like a self appointed version. Both "Uncle /pol/" and Polina assume this role in their own interpretation of this, often to Vivian's apathetic indifference.
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: Subverted. Her conception deliberately thwarted expectations of what people thought 4chan's /v/ board would do, though that hasn't stopped fanservice if not [[Rule 34]] of her either way.
* [[One of the Boys]]: How Vivian tends to be depicted, though she doesn't really care either way about how boyish or feminine she is.
* [[Perpetual Frowner]]: Her default appearance has her frowning, either out of apathy, intense concentration, or annoyance.
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** Gilda Mars' personality and obliviousness is itself a reference to the tenuous and tense state of [[Reddit]].
** The sockpuppet Vivian mockingly wears at times is a reference to anti-GG's [[Unfortunate Implications|dismissive if not censorous]] tendency to [[Category Traitor|treat women and minorities who disagree with the narrative]] as being fake or nonexistent.
** "Punished /v/'s" appearance is not only a direct reference to ''[[Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain]]'' but also a nod to 8chan's /v/ board being founded by anons from 4chan's equivalent.
* [[Resigned to the Call]]: Played with. Vivian would rather play video games than confront corrupt journos or a culture war, but nonetheless won't back down from defending her passion and fellow gamers.
* [[The Rival]]: Lillian Woods, reflecting the animosity between pro-GG and anti-GG.
* [[Rule 34]]: She and others aren't exempt from this either.
* [[Rule 63]]: Vivian has one in the form of [http://kukuruyo.com/comic/gamergate-triggerhappy-james-vivian-arrives/ James Vivian], who resembles a reclusive [[Bishonen]].
* [[Shoddy Knockoff Product]]: How Lillian Woods was originally conceived by anti-GG, being a ripoff of Vivian.▼
* [[Shoddy Knockoff Product]]:
▲*
** Some of the satire and mocking portrayals of Vivian herself by anti-GG tend to result in this.
* [[Shout-Out]]:
** The peculiar diamond the DeepFreeze siblings have is a reference to DeepFreeze's actual logo, itself a nod to Ramiel from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]].''
** [http://vinnythecake.deviantart.com/art/Time-For-Ethics-532290245?ga_submit_new=10%253A1431297176 This image of Vivian] in particular is a direct homage to Kotaku's original mascot, and a sly [[Take That]] to Kotaku's (and Gawker's) hypocrisy.<ref>Another version of that picture appears rather prominently on the KotakuInAction subreddit.</ref>
** In some pictures, Vivian is shown riding a motorcycle not too dissimilar from the one Takeda uses in ''[[Akira]].''
** The premise and atmosphere of ''Project SOCJUS'' are a nod to ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'', with a dash of ''[[Shimoneta]]'' and ''[[Demolition Man]].''
* [[Significant Green-Eyed Redhead]]: Vivian, with [[Fanon|some speculating]] that she might even be of Irish descent.
* [[Straw Character]]: How some anti-GG critics and certain others view Vivian, though such opinions tend to be more projection and hypocrisy than anything else. Some anti-GG portrayals of Vivian also tend to reduce her personality and characteristics to that of a killjoy, stereotypical [[Gamer Girl]] or more in line to their own ideological preferences.
* [[Straw Feminist]]: Lillian Woods, whose views tend to be based on social justice warriors and radical feminists. Though it's somewhat subverted, given how even she starts realising how she might not be as superior or enlightened as she likes to believe.
* [[Streisand Effect]]: Another reason why Vivian really took off
* [[Stripperiffic]]:
** Defied in Vivian's case, as her general appearance was partially [[Trolling Creator|4chan's /v/ trolling everyone]] and partly intended to highlight how she's really made in the image of actual gamers.
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