History of Feminism
Related: About this forumNo, Analyzing The Gender Politics Of ‘Grand Theft Auto V’–Or Anything Else–Isn’t ‘Unprofessional’
"It’s always fascinating to me when consumers react to criticism as if its sole purpose is to provide some sort of affirmation that a work is good in exactly the way a given consumer believes it to be, and not to spark any further discussion. Suggesting that a piece of work isn’t worthy of further discussion has always seemed to me to be a way of saying that it’s not actually very rich or very interesting. And insisting that a creator’s work can’t possibly be improved on in any way often seems like a way of saying you don’t expect much from a creator you claim to respect–there are obvious pinnacles in artists’ careers, but not everything you like has to be an unparalleled work of genius in order for you to like it. I understand not wanting to face up to your complicated feelings about difficult art–you’re talking to a woman who spent a bunch of time in the fetal position after last week’s Breaking Bad before peeling herself upright to go write about it. But complaining that other people are unprofessional for making you feel uncomfortable is the exact opposite of the moral sophistication that you’re supposed to demonstrate by occupying an anti-hero’s head for an hour or two..."
http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2013/09/18/2641521/grand-theft-auto/
My own gaming preferences have strayed from the console and computer model back to the tabletop in the past five years or so, so my knowledge of the trendy and pop games isn't what it should be (you could tell me the latest iterations is IX or X and I'd be none the wiser), but it is nonetheless, quite revealing to me the amount of push-back she received for her review.
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DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Grand Theft Auto may be a well made game, but it's themes are crap, they do not even tease at having something to say, unlike a Tarantino flick. GTA Vice City had a lot of satire, yes, but that was then.
On the other hand, I do not agree with the knee jerk "any game that has guns or shows women in any light other than" is good either. For example, Bioshock Infinite has women as heroines and Villains, and makes one of them the ultimate moral compass of the game. I hear people say 'where are the strong women" and I said "are you kidding?"
ismnotwasm
(41,999 posts)I agree, not superficial characters to demean and degrade or "save"
And women can be both strong and weak, good and bad.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)and the game I mentioned does a good job of that, wil women being heroines and villains at various points in the game. I do agree about the whole "art being separate from politics" is BS. To quote Diego Rivera "all art is propaganda."
ismnotwasm
(41,999 posts)
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)When I asked Mr. Houser if he had thought about the portrayal of women in Rockstar’s games, he said, “Seemingly not as much as I should have.” He added: “These three guys fit with the story we wanted to tell. It would be hard to take one of them and replace him — I mean, I suppose we could have done it, early enough on — with a female character.”
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)how the male entertainment has gotta have prostitutes and strippers to entertainment the men and boys. they know that will be a no
i am lucky. neither of my boys are much in the shootin' up games and have never been fans of gta. hubby played the first and wasnt impressed. not in our house.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)Morons.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)speech. but, that free speech only goes one way.
only if cheering porn can one speak, otherwise the person has someone stopped free speech to opposing porn
redqueen
(115,103 posts)Capitalism must be scrutinized and questioned and even decried as cruel and inherently unfair - UNLESS what's being sold is women's bodies, physical or objectified in media - then it's hot and sexxxy and so"sex positive" and "third wave" (or seventh lol)
Corporate tyrants are horrible greedy parasites - UNLESS it's misogynist pimps like Hefner, Guccione, or Flynt - then they're heroes and awesome dudes!
Racism is unquestionably evil (well, at least the most obvious kinds) - UNLESS you're talking about fetishizing women of color's bodies as othered, exotified sex objects - then it's fine so shut up!
Poverty is a scourge of mankind that we should all strive to end and attack as a force which drives the desperate to participate in harmful social ills - UNLESS it's the poverty which drives women who have only their bodies to sell - then it's her choice and we should never question it or examine it cause that's infantilizing her and denying her agency!
Violence by the powerful against the powerless is indefensible, full stop! UNLESS it is fetishized and called sex - then it's kinky and sexxxy and so not up for critical analysis despite its existing in a culture which romanticizes power imbalances, rape, and sexual violence.
Slavery and torture are horrible travesties and should be abolished! UNLESS its sexual slavery and recreational torture. Those things are just exaggerated and overhyped and really aren't worth bothering our beautiful minds with - and CERTAINLY not worth hurting the fee fees of any delicate, easily offended kinksters. (To the super easily offended: "kinksters" is NOT a derogatory term. Just in case anyone's looking for an excuse.)
