Men are not historically oppressed as men, while women are historically oppressed because they are women. There is a major difference between when men are portrayed in a sexual manner than when women are.
There is a difference in actual women asserting their sexuality, and game developers using sexuality as a marketing ploy. Acting as if this game is somehow feminist, or a positive portrayal of women, would be ridiculous. Even if the game has a deep story line, the problems remain. However, this doesn't mean the game is misogynist. Though maybe it is, i don't know.
While I think some of the arguments the writer makes are off and wrong in the context of the game, it is flat out wrong to say this is a piece arguing for political correctness.
Critiquing power is not what political correctness is attempting to do. It is more to control the language we use, rather than actually critiquing power mechanisms and structures.
Seems odd to criticize Zelda when there are games out there which are so much worse with these problems. At the same time we shouldn't ignore problems like these, though I do agree the writer blows them out of proportion in regards to zelda.
I don't think there is a problem with violence per se, just like there is not a problem with sex per se. GTA V, if what some reviewers are claiming is true, is being critical of what it portrays, so it could be actually saying something about american culture. Yet problems are still present. I would assume that the biggest demographic for this game is young men, 10-23 or so (that's a guess), where, probably not incidentally, misogyny, racism, violent behavior, etc are extremely problematic. (Anyone familiar with high school, and even college, men would know that these problems are definitely prevalent). This game, while maybe being critical of materialism, also relies on materialism for it to be successful. Presumably the people buying the game do not buy it for the criticism (of themselves), but rather to have fun playing as if they are criminals, misogynist, etc. The game perpetuates what it is supposedly being critical of, which is certainly a problem for a lot of pop culture products.
Another question is about the benefits/appeal of realistic graphics. I do not see the appeal of them. Since graphics is a large part of the medium, shouldn't the graphics be used as part of the critique? Making games realistic as possible means, possibly, we lose some of the critical aspects of the game. In other words, if graphics are such a large pat of games, one of the prime ways of displaying what the game makers are trying to say about the world (if they are trying to say something about the world), they should be used in creative ways, not just in an attempt to replicate reality. Art never wanted to replicate reality.
Comments 63
Re: Miyamoto States That Nintendo Is Sticking With "Revolutionary" Hardware For The Foreseeable Future
humans are weak. we cannot live up to the greatness of the gamepad.
Re: Dolphin Up is Joining the Sea of Wii U eShop Games Soon
@smikey
no problem.. it was just a friendly correction.
Re: Dolphin Up is Joining the Sea of Wii U eShop Games Soon
@smikey
a killer whale is a type of dolphin actually...
Re: Guide: Sharing The Love With The Tomodachi Life Welcome Version
@Lobster
Thanks! I used the first code.
Re: Soapbox: Ignoring The Objectification Of Women In Games Won't Make the Problem Go Away
Men are not historically oppressed as men, while women are historically oppressed because they are women. There is a major difference between when men are portrayed in a sexual manner than when women are.
Re: Soapbox: Ignoring The Objectification Of Women In Games Won't Make the Problem Go Away
There is a difference in actual women asserting their sexuality, and game developers using sexuality as a marketing ploy. Acting as if this game is somehow feminist, or a positive portrayal of women, would be ridiculous. Even if the game has a deep story line, the problems remain. However, this doesn't mean the game is misogynist. Though maybe it is, i don't know.
Re: Nintendo's Miiverse Social Network Finally Makes Its Way To The 3DS
Jett rockett 2 is on US eshop now
Re: System Update Will Allow You To Share eShop Balances Across Wii U And 3DS
They probably cannot get rid of friend codes on the 3DS because so many games already use it
Re: System Update Will Allow You To Share eShop Balances Across Wii U And 3DS
This seems like a unified account to me... you can have the same account on wii u and 3ds. It just seems like games are tied to the consoles still.
Re: Here Are More Gorgeous Super Mario 3D World Screens to Enjoy
There is water on the camera in the first image.
Re: News Site Claims That Zelda "Takes A Dim View Of Workers, People Of Colour And Women"
While I think some of the arguments the writer makes are off and wrong in the context of the game, it is flat out wrong to say this is a piece arguing for political correctness.
Critiquing power is not what political correctness is attempting to do. It is more to control the language we use, rather than actually critiquing power mechanisms and structures.
Re: News Site Claims That Zelda "Takes A Dim View Of Workers, People Of Colour And Women"
Seems odd to criticize Zelda when there are games out there which are so much worse with these problems. At the same time we shouldn't ignore problems like these, though I do agree the writer blows them out of proportion in regards to zelda.
Re: Soapbox: Why Grand Theft Auto V Isn't For Me
I don't think there is a problem with violence per se, just like there is not a problem with sex per se. GTA V, if what some reviewers are claiming is true, is being critical of what it portrays, so it could be actually saying something about american culture.
Yet problems are still present. I would assume that the biggest demographic for this game is young men, 10-23 or so (that's a guess), where, probably not incidentally, misogyny, racism, violent behavior, etc are extremely problematic. (Anyone familiar with high school, and even college, men would know that these problems are definitely prevalent). This game, while maybe being critical of materialism, also relies on materialism for it to be successful. Presumably the people buying the game do not buy it for the criticism (of themselves), but rather to have fun playing as if they are criminals, misogynist, etc.
The game perpetuates what it is supposedly being critical of, which is certainly a problem for a lot of pop culture products.
Another question is about the benefits/appeal of realistic graphics. I do not see the appeal of them. Since graphics is a large part of the medium, shouldn't the graphics be used as part of the critique? Making games realistic as possible means, possibly, we lose some of the critical aspects of the game. In other words, if graphics are such a large pat of games, one of the prime ways of displaying what the game makers are trying to say about the world (if they are trying to say something about the world), they should be used in creative ways, not just in an attempt to replicate reality. Art never wanted to replicate reality.