Stardew Valley is a charming farming simulation game that offers players a peaceful escape from busy city life into the world of community and agriculture in idyllic Pelican Town. However, as a reminder of the life the player is escaping from, Joja Mart stands as a stark reminder of corporate greed and the harmful effects it brings to local communities. Joja Mart reminds players of capitalism’s negative impact on local economy, community relationships, and the environment.
First, Joja Mart intrudes on the local economy of Pelican Town. A large, multi-national corporation undermines the livelihoods of local, community member run stores. Joja Mart offers prices that are meant to entrap people with the membership, foisting a sense of need to make membership “worth it” by going to Joja Mart to buy sub-par produce as per the Jodi and Pam conversations. Working with local store owners also unlocks further seeds and amenities for the town unlike the static, non-rotating subpar produce that Joja Mart offers. Joja Mart also traps employees such as Sam and Shane, who, when free from Joja Mart, find much more fulfilling jobs in the Museum or at a local farm, doing research.
In addition to the economic impact on the town, Joja Mart actively undermines and harms the sense of community that brings the citizens of Pelican Town together. The charming people of Pelican Town grow with the fixing of the Community Center, something that would be demolished for another corporate entity with Joja Mart’s plans. The Community Center that Joja Mart wishes to destroy is a place for the people of Pelican Town to be together, grow, and study as in the case of Shane with the boiler. Additionally, the player has escaped the city because of the oppressive working conditions and commodification of people that Joja Mart forced on them as an employee.
Lastly, Joja Mart is shown to be problematic for the environment, actively posing a threat to the nature spirits of the game, polluting the air and the water with their production. Joja Mart is shown to create smog filled, polluted cities, Joja Cola appearing as trash on beaches and rivers throughout the game. Going the Joja Mart route additionally locks off the Community Center bundles, through which nature spirits, juminos, restore functionality to the town in exchange for exploring and nurturing the natural world. Joja Mart stands to exploit the environment for profit rather than working harmoniously with your surroundings.
In conclusion, Joja Mart in Stardew Valley is an invasive entity on the picturesque, idyllic Pelican Town and its charming citizens; Joja Mart, and players who choose that route, actively pushes economic instability, erodes places for the community to gather, and harms the environment. Players who chose to support the locals and the town are rewarded by having a more fulfilling gameplay experience and not becoming a cog in the machine of the mega-coporation they rejected at the onset of the game.
@Bamford13 @bernardhibou
First, Joja Mart intrudes on the local economy of Pelican Town. A large, multi-national corporation undermines the livelihoods of local, community member run stores. Joja Mart offers prices that are meant to entrap people with the membership, foisting a sense of need to make membership “worth it” by going to Joja Mart to buy sub-par produce as per the Jodi and Pam conversations. Working with local store owners also unlocks further seeds and amenities for the town unlike the static, non-rotating subpar produce that Joja Mart offers. Joja Mart also traps employees such as Sam and Shane, who, when free from Joja Mart, find much more fulfilling jobs in the Museum or at a local farm, doing research.
In addition to the economic impact on the town, Joja Mart actively undermines and harms the sense of community that brings the citizens of Pelican Town together. The charming people of Pelican Town grow with the fixing of the Community Center, something that would be demolished for another corporate entity with Joja Mart’s plans. The Community Center that Joja Mart wishes to destroy is a place for the people of Pelican Town to be together, grow, and study as in the case of Shane with the boiler. Additionally, the player has escaped the city because of the oppressive working conditions and commodification of people that Joja Mart forced on them as an employee.
Lastly, Joja Mart is shown to be problematic for the environment, actively posing a threat to the nature spirits of the game, polluting the air and the water with their production. Joja Mart is shown to create smog filled, polluted cities, Joja Cola appearing as trash on beaches and rivers throughout the game. Going the Joja Mart route additionally locks off the Community Center bundles, through which nature spirits, juminos, restore functionality to the town in exchange for exploring and nurturing the natural world. Joja Mart stands to exploit the environment for profit rather than working harmoniously with your surroundings.
In conclusion, Joja Mart in Stardew Valley is an invasive entity on the picturesque, idyllic Pelican Town and its charming citizens; Joja Mart, and players who choose that route, actively pushes economic instability, erodes places for the community to gather, and harms the environment. Players who chose to support the locals and the town are rewarded by having a more fulfilling gameplay experience and not becoming a cog in the machine of the mega-coporation they rejected at the onset of the game.
@Bamford13 @bernardhibou
Ultimus: S46, S47
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Gemini Awards: S42 Best Article (Series), S44 Best Article (Limited), S46 Best Author, S47 Best Author
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Getting Defensive Podcast - S42 New Player Silver Medalist
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DSFL Offensive Player of the Year: S43
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DSFL Pro Bowl: S42, S43, S44
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