So we got to watch (most of ) Spike Lee's "Bamboozled" in class today. I've got to admit, for never having been a huge fan of Spike Lee's work, what I watched was pretty good. And eye-opening, too. I mean, sure he went way over the top with the racial stereotypes, but it was interesting to see things like the Vaudeville show in action -- something I'd only read about previously.
Variety shows were America's premiere form of entertainment way back when, so it's only fitting that the show was about one. The actors that were supposed to be "silly" or "dumb" almost always wore black face. I remember watching a documentary over Sophie Tucker once. She was a large, Russian-Jewish immigrant with a huge voice. She was good at entertaining people, but since she was so large, they made her into a black face wearing act so she could make people laugh at the same time.
Oh yeah and she couldn't transition into movies because of her large stature -- how's that for petty and chauvinistic?
So after all is said and done, I don't know what to think of the movie. I know it wasn't American History X in terms of craziness, but it was close. It also left me wondering if (god forbid) a television show like that was cast -- how would it fare? Would we take it too seriously? Would it be racist? (yes)
I'm not sure anyone in power is THAT culturally insensitive anymore, are they?
Monday, April 18, 2011
Video Games and Sports
Alright, now this was my kind of discussion. Behind eating, these are my favorite things in the world.
I get it, women are (typically) portrayed in video games as vixens. Objects of the male characters attention only long enough to save them because they're not capable of it themselves. I'm not sure why it's that way -- but it's always been that way!
My favorite video game of all time is one that was actually in the article we read. The Legend of Zelda (I have a tattoo on my arm from this game) is your everyday "go save the princess by defeating the bad guy" type of game. It wasn't the first, but I'd venture a guess and say it was one of the first universally represented games of its kind, maybe behind the original Donkey Kong.
However, I also play other games where women are shown in different ways. Albeit still dressed scantily, the female characters in Everquest can be controlled by the players. Each person has their own avatar which they run around and fight baddies with. If you wish to be female, you can be female! And your level of prowess in the game is completely up to you. Male characters don't have strength increases over females and they aren't harder to kill or angrier in battle. They're all equal.
So why I do think the video game industry is a little over the top in its portrayal of women, I'd like to point out that there is still hope!
I get it, women are (typically) portrayed in video games as vixens. Objects of the male characters attention only long enough to save them because they're not capable of it themselves. I'm not sure why it's that way -- but it's always been that way!
My favorite video game of all time is one that was actually in the article we read. The Legend of Zelda (I have a tattoo on my arm from this game) is your everyday "go save the princess by defeating the bad guy" type of game. It wasn't the first, but I'd venture a guess and say it was one of the first universally represented games of its kind, maybe behind the original Donkey Kong.
However, I also play other games where women are shown in different ways. Albeit still dressed scantily, the female characters in Everquest can be controlled by the players. Each person has their own avatar which they run around and fight baddies with. If you wish to be female, you can be female! And your level of prowess in the game is completely up to you. Male characters don't have strength increases over females and they aren't harder to kill or angrier in battle. They're all equal.
So why I do think the video game industry is a little over the top in its portrayal of women, I'd like to point out that there is still hope!
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