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MICAIAH FERENCZI

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On Stephen Crane's Sexism in portrayals of video-game characters

"In regards to females in Video Games, I find that their depictions are largely based on what 'Demographic' the game is marketed towards. For instance, most Japanese RPGs are marketed towards both genders, particularly those who are interested in Manga and Anime, and thus tend to feature more 'types'. For example, Final Fantasy women can run the gambit. Characters such as Terra Branford and Lightning from VI and XIII respectively aren't particularly sexist in their portrayals, whereas some like Lulu and, arguably, Tifa Lockhart from X and VII can be seen as more sexualized, although Tifa's was downplayed in Future installments of FFVII, such as Advent Children.

As for some others, they aren't particularly sexist in how they're actually portrayed, but rather by the role they serve. For instance, Princess Zelda, since Ocarina of Time, has been more fleshed out and less 'damsel in distress. In Ocarina of Time, she evaded Ganondorf for years as Sheik and actually aided Link more often then not, only becoming a damsel in distess when Ganondorf discovered her and placed her in an inexcapable crystal, only to assist in his defeat later. Then in Wind Waker, Zelda was truly Tetra, a pirate boss with definite attitude, and actually ended up helping you fight Ganondorf during the final confrontation, which is a role she continued in Twilight Princess. Before the fight in Twilight Princess, she only surrendered her Kingdom to keep the enemy from killing any more innocents and actually, seemingly, gave her life to save Midna."

Saturday, February 04, 2012

On Stephen Crane's Sexism in portrayals of video-game characters

"I kinda agree with both your points, actually. I do find Cammy's choice of attire to be ridiculus (I wish SFIV/SSFIV would've had a costume for her that didn't emphasize her ass), but I also have to say this, not every female character in Street Fighter is all that sexualized in thier outfits. Characters like Chun-Li, Sakura, Karin, Ibuki, and Makoto aren't that sexual in attire (although some of Chun-Li's and Sakura's attack poses can be), their dressed fairly tame, particularly Ibuki and Makoto's outfits. Chun-Li's makes sense, since its based on a Qipao and had to be altered as such to make her attacks work (a normal Qipao wouldn't have worked well and a Chinese dress would've been more revealing). Sakura & Karin's are just typical School Uniforms, Ibuki's is actually one of the few times a kunoichi has been depicted fairly authentically, and Makoto's in a gi. Rose kinda fits as her clothing isn't too sexual, but is impractical for a fight.

Also, Urien and Gill from Street Fighter III both fight in what essentially amount to thongs!"

Saturday, February 04, 2012