Feminism vs. Video Games. How Everyone is a Loser

UUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH...

Before I begin I should preface this with something. I have done very little research into this particular subject, but there is very little to be done. Yes, Every side has their own opinion, and That is exactly what I have seen. As to actual irrefutable fact? I'm not sure there is any. It's all how one person sees it as one thing, and others see it as another thing.

I really hate these kinds of posts, mostly because it forces me to take a stance on something I don't really want to. Considering this is also a Semi-Personal blog, and part time soap box, I suppose it is a stupid thing to complain about, but considering I was kinda stuck using this topic for a Paper, I thought I would get this down before I started anything. Now, Whatever you personally think is Fine, but This is just my opinion.

Ok, So something that comes up in media from time to time is how women are portrayed in video games. This can be started by anything from Mai Shiranui being bent over in that just so perfect way to show off her unrealistically proportioned body, to how Princess Peach has yet to go up against Bowser herself and kick his ass in the same way that Mario would. The fact that there are these constants in video games is a bad thing...

BUT IT IS NOT AS BAD AS MANY THINK!

Here's how I see it. Yes there are the princesses constantly being saved, Yes there are mostly male characters, and most female characters are pretty much male characters with a chromosome switched Ala Commander Shepard style, and Yes, whatever strong female characters there are in video games are usually seen with less then a yard of clothing on her, but this is by no means a new thing. Going back all the way to ancient Greece, great works of art consisted of usually naked females being rescued by some man, then going off to be his wife or something. This is a common plot device in many a story, from Bram Stroker's Dracula, to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, to the movie "Your Highness". (Seriously, what was the point of Zooey Deschanel other then a breasted plot device?) Damsel in Distress, not a bad thing. I've seen many a movie with them, and I don't feel like there has to be some guy to save me because I'm female and that's expected, and I don't beleive I am the only girl who thinks this. 

What absolutely boils my blood about this kind of issue, is that there is absolute idiots on both sides, and they are putting the spotlight on each other. There is a game called "Remember Me" on the market, who's protagonist is a woman named Nilin. There was a huge problem finding a company who would publish and release this game though, because of that fact, along with the fact that she was in a Heterosexual relationship with one of the male characters. One company (I won't Say who because that would be bad) actually commented on that second bit, saying that "No fag would want to see that". Now, I am a female, and a gamer, and One of my favorite games to date is "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood". At the beginning of this game, the main character, Ezio, has sex with a woman. I. DIDN'T. CARE. Not that the character was a female, or that my character was male, or about anything. I just saw it and went "Ok, Sex. He's an Italian guy who has a history of this, so OK." I wasn't offended by it or anything, and it really pisses me off when people (Again, Won't say, since I don't want to be sued for anything) go off and say how I feel. No, Say how YOU feel, but if you don't mind, I would like to go back to playing whatever game I would like. 

Now that I have said that side, Time to go to the other. Video games are not innocent of this kind of idiocy either. Two simple words will completely explain it. Soul Calibur. This game is absolutely rediculous in regards to how little clothing is on these ladies. I mean, I understand that you are trying to boost sales with this crap, but COME ON! This is not the worst offence though. Dead or Alive? I am pretty sure more money went into the jiggle physics of this game then the actual content. I have no problem with women having a sexual stance though. I have a problem with them being sexualized, then having nothing to back it up. Lara Croft, A very lovely lady, and if she was made to wear a bikini for some unknown reason, I wouldn't care, because she is an actual character. If you looked at Mai Shiranui, then tried to guess her personality, you would have to look it up. As for the "Ms. Man" trope? Again, I don't care, but if you are going to have a female equivalent to a male character, then have some male love interests. It's only fair at that point.

One last thing I have an issue with? There really isn't any one kind of feminism. There are some who protest that woman should be able to walk around topless. They have no issue with the female form or sexuality. However, there are some who do have an issue with it, and call it objectivism. Now, if I had to pick a side, I would pick the former, but it doesn't mean I want to walk around in public with no shirt. I just like going about my day with what I like, and not being told it is bad or non-progressive or lad-di-da-di-da. Point is, No matter what anyone does, there is going to be some issue with someone. Video games suck for treating women like objects to a degree. Feminist suck for not seeing that degree, and pushing it way farther then it actually is, and for not coming together as one group and making their mind up as to what it is exactly that they want.

Now, I encourage you to write comments, though please do not make mean ones. Just give me your opinion nicely, because I am interested to know what others think.

Thanks.

`Nightingamer

Why I think there hasn't been a Really good Superman...

OK, before I start, I should probably mention this. Though it has peaked my interest as of late, and it is something I really want to get into, I am not extremely well informed when it comes to comic books. Yeah, they are a great medium of entertainment, hence why they have lasted so long, but I have yet to read any due to the fact that there are a lot of continuity issues, and I would likely not get a lot of the things they are mentioning...Got that? Good!

I love Batman.

I mean, if there is something that wants to get a lot of views, and can only include one thing, and that one thing was batman? I would probably go see it, and I know I am not the only one. I was first introduced to it, as many people my age were, through the fairly recent Christopher Nolan movies, and Loved them so much, I had to see every Batman movie that has been made, and I did...And they were Awesome. Of course, The earlier ones were not as good as the more recent ones, but with advances in technology since the First Batman movie which was released in 1989, experience, and learning from the overwhelmingly terribly received Batman and Robin movie? They certainly got better...With the exception of the Joker by Heath Ledger, but that is a story for another time.

But The name of this post isn't "Listen to me get up on a Soapbox and tell you why I love batman". It's Called "Why I think there hasn't been a really good Superman". So, Superman first appeared in 1938 in Action Comics #1, being the child of a planet called Krypton and sent off the world just as the planet faced the end of their world. He was later found by a couple of farmers in a town called Smallville and given the name "Clark Kent". After displaying Super human abilities, he decided that he would...Put on some blue and red tights and save the world time and time again.

OK, Since this was the late 30's, a lot of things were going on then. Just to name a few, Hitler was coming into power, and Disney had released It's first animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The actual events that transpired were that a couple of guys, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster went to a magazine, looking to put Superman, then a bald madman with a tendency for evil, and time and time again, got shot down. One day, Siegel asked "What if Superman used his powers for good instead of evil", and thus, the Superman we all know and love was born. The two worked on the project until they talked to National Allied Publication, and were asked to put in a feature. They put in their now good Superman for this new comic Analogy, called Action Comics, and when sales went through the roof, they soon found out it was because of Superman.

Now, These humble upbringings for a character who would soon become one of the most known and beloved icons ever were just as humble as the characters background, but again, Not me giving a history lesson, me telling you about a really good Superman and the lack of one.

Simply put, I do not think there can be one.

Before you go and get your pitch forks, here me out. I am not saying that there hasn't been a OK Superman. Plenty of people I know watched Smallville and Loved it, but here is the problem. Superman is an idealized being, a god among men, a role model for everything people want to be, down to the super powers. Now, If I were to make a Superman movie, how would I go about it? If I followed everything that the comics did, then it would be a Cliche fan film. If I went with dark and edgy, then it would likely lose what made Superman...Well, Superman, and make him more like Batman. If I went with the whole losing humanity bit like at the end of the "Man of Steel" movie, then It would also be a colossal waste. Superman is a paradigm of what others wish to be down to the dna. Strong, Fit, well known all over the world, and more then anything Special. Superman is to idealized to have a perfect recreation, and the moment someone proves me wrong, I will gladly admit it, after spending 10 bucks to see the movie. However, Until then, I fully encourage people to go after that Pinnacle of perfection that is Superman, and no matter what, in this age where summer blockbusters included Monsters fighting Giant Robots, and Superheros fighting Aliens, They are going to make back their money and then some. But what I fear is that no one is going to reach the Ideal that is Superman.

And before I go, I thought I would mention one last thing that struck me, and probably large amounts of other people as odd. This loved and well known being, the one that is probably one of the oldest most popular characters in fiction to date...Is an alien. Not only is he an alien, he is an alien whom constantly saved humans lives. So, other then the fact that it is a convenient plot device...why are people so hard on aliens in films and TV shows....

Well, that's my time for the day.

`Nightingamer

Lotto Blues

Another Day, Another Dollar

And I still haven't won the Lottery.

Winning the Lottery is a big big BIG deal, and while I am happy for the people who did win, I do not envy them...OK, maybe I do a little, but that's because 400 million dollars is A LOT of money! But its for the same reason i don't really envy them. OK, So say that you DID win the Lotto, and ended up with that much money, you wouldn't actually GET it. No, The government takes a little over a third of it, and will only give there about of half of it to you if you take a cash payout. If you're like me, and decided against the payout, and would go for 30 years of small payments, that would still get you about 8 million a year after taxes, which a large sum of money undoubtedly. 

But then there is the all troublesome question...What to DO with that money.

I'm not a saint, And I will not say I would give a lot of it to charity, not because I would be lying, but because if i do win, you'll have expectations...>.>

No, if I won the lottery, and it was that much, and I took the annuity, I would save a good portion of it. You see, If and when I become a world famous writer, or win the Lotto, There is a goal that i have. I want to live at Disney World. Seriously, there is an actual housing lot where you can buy a house and live at Disney World! Don't get your hopes up though, since houses there start at 1.8 million. My first year would be the most difficult, due to me wanting to get particular items, but then afterwards it would be a breeze. I would get the house, a car, probably every Classic Disney movie, then a few assorted items. At the end, and i did sit down with a calculator and figured this out, It would come out to leave me with about 3 million for the year. Which is still really good! I mean, my family grew up with about 120,000 a year and there were 5 of us. Just me, with 3 million dollars and living at Disney World? I would pretty much be an over sized 10 year old.

However, despite my dreams, I'm still responsible. I would have to pay for utilities, taxes, and whatever I needed, Which would still leave me with plenty, but then a year would pass by, and i would be given 8 million dollars more. Assuming it all came out to 2 million at the end of the first year, that now would leave me with 10 million dollars and 365 days to figure out what to do with it before it became 18. That would likely be when I would start giving to charity, just to get rid of Excess cash.

Don't Misunderstand, I'm not saying life would be tough, or hard, or at all difficult if I won that kind of money. I'm saying that, For me, It would be to Easy. Sure, lounging by a pool, or watching movies all day, or walking around Disney World sounds like a dream vacation, but what would you think if you did that every day of the year? As cool as it would be, it would also likely drive me insane, but at least I wouldn't have to pay a mortgage.

Plus, being able to work to maintain a certain lifestyle is more fulfilling then just having it. It would give me something to do every day, and without motivation, what good is life?

Anyway, See ya next time~

`Nightingamer

The Beginning...

SO!

Once Upon A Time...There was a child. This child had the world at her fingertips, but was caught in an unusual age to say the least. To young to buy in to the 90's as much as others before her had, but born to early to really understand the 2000's as younger children did. There was no real place that this child belonged in, and it didn't help when she went to school. 

This child didn't fit in socially either. She was by no means similar to the cheerleader types that stalked the halls, faces caked in way more makeup than necessary, nor any of the sporty types whom clung close together respectfully in a team, as was there nature, nor the really mean people, who got their laughs from going out, drinking, smoking pot (It was still illegal then), and tormenting others because...Well because they were simply jerks. Though she got along with some people, she still felt no particular place that she belonged.

Though, where she actually was complicated matters as well. Somewhere between the city and the ocean, this girl had little to do, and few places to go that didn't clean out her wallet in little more then 30 minutes. There were events, from time to time, where she felt a shred of possibility that maybe, JUST maybe, there was a place in the world that she could possibly be accepted. But, said events were few and far between, and as few people understood this child, she had to find solace in something, so she did...In books. 

The Written word was a safe haven for the child. A place where anything could, and sometimes did, happen. A place where a little girl could find herself at a Tea party with a insane maker of Hats, a Dormouse, and a hare that had more then his share of madness, Where a couple of teenagers, though having the odds stacked against them, could find love, and even happiness, And yes, EVEN WHERE VAMPIRES CAN, AND DID, SPARKLE.

This child was amazed, and even inspired what came from all around the world in the bindings of a couple of hundred pages. Entire worlds came alive, and thrived, and as the years went by, as they tend to do when some aren't paying attention, It came to the child's, now a young adult, attention that something needed to be done about the future. She could not stay the young girl, crawling through the pages of books, forever. She had to make a decision as to what she was going to do...

...and her choice was to write a blog about whatever she wanted. 

Ok, Ok, In retrospect you probably saw that twist coming a mile away. I mean geez, You want to know how many times it has been used? In short, A LOT! But it was fun to do some writing. Anyway, I should tell you stuffs that that over dramatized little story didn't.

I'M THE NIGHTINGAMER!

Real Name, To Be Disclosed. I will see about doing that later on, if and when this thing becomes bigger. Call me Anne for now (So many great writers have been named Anne)

Age, College age.

Likes, Stories. Oh my goodness a good story is amazing. The like of stories translates to many different mediums though, Including, but not limited to, Movies, Books, Comics, Anime (Yes, I like Anime), And Video games (Hence the name, Catchy huh?). Food is also on my list, but who doesn't like a good meal?

Dislikes, Well....This is the tricky part. I Don't like mean people. That is my number one thing. People, Be Excellent to Each Other. (Yes I quoted Bill and Ted.) I don't like it when people are whipped into a frenzy over nothing, or Religion, or Politics...Priorities people.

Some of my favorite things? (Raindrops on roses....) In all seriousness, I suppose I should narrow it down to a few things...Disney, for certain, but primarily their movies. Dan Brown's books, Hmm...I really liked Repo! The Genetic Opera. And I think I will leave it at that.

Religious/Political Views? Come closer...*Hides the Frying pan*

No, Not getting into that stuff here. This is for personal catharsis, and maybe some entertainment value. 

Personal Plans for the future? Win the Lottery.

Realistic Personal Plans for the future? It is a personal goal to become a writer. The issue with that is I don't know what to write, So I thought I would start somewhere. (Keep these transcripts, Maybe they will be worth something in a few years.) Other then that, Find that one place, That Oz, That Wonderland, That Haven, where Others like me will thrive. Where I won't feel so alone, walking by myself down a street, Where I wont be the only one who sees thing in a light that everything is still magical. Where I wont be the only person who eats the green and yellow skittles together!

Anything else? Well, I'm here to have fun. I hope you are as well. I will try my best at keeping these things current, and with a little bit of luck, this will be the start of a wonderful and crazy ride.