Yakoob on 3/8/2013 at 18:14
Didn't want to resurrect the old old thread, but apparently two new episodes of Anita's Damsel in Distress are out:
Part 1: (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6p5AZp7r_Q)
Part 2: (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toa_vH6xGqs&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61)
Part 3: (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjImnqH_KwM&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61)
Overall, better than the first. The second part does a much more thorough job of categorizing the different "types" of the damsel in distress tropes, as well as providing a ton examples spanning numerous genres, platforms, and periods. Part three tackles the counter-examples (i.e. man-in-distress) and how even those succumb to negative female stereotypes. She goes on to say how all those are bad and reinforce stereotypes/violence against women, but does a poor job of actually proving that is the case (no studies to back it up); feels rather anecdotal. Her final "example of a game that deconstructs the stereotype" is cute, but pretty simplistic, if not obvious.
Again, this is definite improvement - she's done her research and neatly categorized it for us taking in consideration part 1s feedback (lack of varied examples), but I still leave feeling that all I've learned is "damsel in distress exists, here's some examples. also, it's bad, because violence". Though, to be frank, I honestly don't see much else she could have done with the topic she chose.
catbarf on 3/8/2013 at 19:55
Apparently a lot of the footage she's been using of the games is taken from Let's Plays on the Internet. Arguably that could just mean she plays the games and uses the Let's Plays as notes, but when it would be easier to just record it herself than to go find a relevant video, not to mention she's made some pretty basic mistakes about the games, it does seem to indicate that she hasn't been playing them herself. Which begs the question as to where the money went.
Yakoob on 3/8/2013 at 20:36
Oh? What mistakes? I didn't play probably more than half of what she mentions but didn't notice any errors. Not claiming you're wrong, just genuinely curious.
catbarf on 3/8/2013 at 22:18
I noticed specifically that she mislabeled Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004) as Metal Gear Solid (1998). You'd think she'd notice that the footage she was showing wasn't of the game she'd played. There are also a number of factual errors here and there, things that someone who played through a game should know, but that's a little less glaring.
Dresden on 4/8/2013 at 01:25
But you can't donate money to that page and feel like a social hero.
TTK12G3 on 4/8/2013 at 01:30
What is she about exactly? Pointing out weak female figures in video games? Also, why is she using others' footage? I thought I saw a picture of her a year ago with a huge stack of games.
Fafhrd on 4/8/2013 at 03:52
I take issue with her inclusion of 'The Void' in the second episode montage of modern uses of the trope. Damsel iconography is used for the women, but they are not in any way Damsels in Distress.
Muzman on 4/8/2013 at 03:54
Like in the old climate change denier days, it's gone from forehead slapping despair to perverse delight the way the nitpicking and arm-folded righteous indignation begins at everyone of these videos. It's ok, your precious games won't have to go and cry from the nasty woman.
It seems to be dying down a bit at least. (and yes, it would be better to be above reproach in the facts department).
Getting video out of a console isn't necessarily a straightforward exercise though. If you wanted a specific moment something someone's already recorded that you can scan through is a very handy thing to use.
Quote:
I take issue with her inclusion of 'The Void' in the second episode montage of modern uses of the trope. Damsel iconography is used for the women, but they are not in any way Damsels in Distress.
Yeah. I'd be interested to see a longer take on it. I suspect she wouldn't like it as she comes from that branch of feminism it seems, but it's a hard game to call. The sisters are nude and frequently manipulative, yes. But there's probably no game with so many distinct personalities of female characters in existence.
Volitions Advocate on 4/8/2013 at 05:47
It bothers me a bit that she's touting the idea that men and women ARE perfectly equal, and I disagree. Not in the sense that one is better than another, but man != woman. There are very big differences that dictate behavior and observation. The fact is that the majority of women are not as physically strong as men, or as big, and it is not in the slightest wrong to assume that a man could overpower a women and render her helpless, and that the opposite might not be true as many times in as many cases. Also that a womans reaction to a kidnapped man could be quite different than a mans reaction to a kidnapped woman. It might be cliche for a man to seek revenge rather than find a less violent way of doing it, but take into account knee jerk reactions. If one of my kids were kidnapped and a ransom was asked, the first thing my wife would do was try to find the money and end it for my kid. I'd probably not think quite so clearly and want to turn the guys face into my new pair of winter mittens. Admittedly I would calm down but still, men and women think differently. They react differently, and that might be influenced a BIT by society and media or whatever else you'd want to cite, but in the end our nature is completely different. And that isn't something you can fight with an argument. It's just the truth. I can never be a mother to my children the way my wife can, even if you managed to take biology completely out of the question.
