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Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LO
Posted By: reprobateDate: 1/11/07 3:13 a.m.

In Response To: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LONG (Cody Miller)


: I just found DanteThePoet's critique of gender usage in Halo 2 , and thought
: that is was actually a pretty fascinating topic. I was suprised that the
: thread wasn't longer. Seeing as how he wanted feedback, I thought I'd
: chime in with my own thoughts. Dante seemed to give the game a glowing
: review when it came to gender equality and stereotypes. I'm going to throw
: out my thoughts about the three females he analyzes (Cortana, Miranda, and
: the female marines.)

: At first it would seem that women are given equal status in the Halo
: universe. With Halo 2 in particular, we fight along side female marines,
: and no particular fuss is made. These marines are not sexualized; in fact
: they closely resemble their male counterparts. However, it is quite ironic
: that in order to gain equality, women must take on traditionally masculine
: roles. The female marines do not seem to have much femininity left, as
: many such feminine traits are obscured by their costumes, and military
: behavior. The very idea of a soldier and a fighter is traditionally
: masculine, and so while these women gain equality, they do it at the
: expense of their feminine identity. The marines still equate femininity
: with weakness ("Did you forget your purse?" and other remarks),
: reenforcing the notion that femininity is undesirable.

: Bungie does do something very smart with the female marines when the player
: (through the male gaze) looks at them for long periods of time. They give
: the player comments, such as "The last guy that looked at me like
: that? I kicked him right in the nuts" and "Eyes downrange, not
: down shirt". With these comments, the male gaze becomes apparent and
: attention is drawn to it. While the game is still designed around the male
: gaze, at least attention is called to it, similar in its satire to a
: bikini clad woman explaining that her sexuality is being exploited. In
: this situation however, the player himself is being indicted, which is why
: it is effective.

: Cortana's change in image is quite simply to make her more attractive. While
: the female marines lose their femininity, Cortana become more feminine,
: purely for the purpose of being more attractive visually. It is very
: difficult to design games (or any other visual art for that matter) in
: which a feminine figure is not subjected to the male gaze, due to the
: male's propensity to fetishize the female form. In this sense, it's tough
: to create a character whose femininity is not exploited for male visual
: pleasure. This is why when trying to avoid this, most female characters
: are either very masculine, or mostly de-sexualized. This is something
: inherent in all visual media, and is no way solely limited to Halo 2.

: Miranda Keyes is somewhere in between the female marines and Cortana. She
: retains a feminine image physically, with her long hair and visible
: breasts, but it is not flaunted for our pleasure in quite the same way as
: Cortana. Her uniform is gender neutral, according to The Art of Halo. She
: carries respect, is resourceful, decisive, intelligent, and embodies
: femininity, but does not use it to titillate.

: Unfortunately, Miranda Keyes becomes the typical damsel in distress by Halo
: 2's end, being captured and dominated by Tartarus. The index is decidedly
: phallic, and her refusal to put it into the slot on the control panel
: despite being forced to do so by Tartarus can be seen as a rape motif. It
: very well could have been her that escapes and drives the scarab, but
: instead it is Johnson (whose name is slang for penis, again implying male
: superiority). She ends up in a situation that is similar to a woman in a
: patriarchal society: helpless and under the control of men.

: This is not to say that Halo 2 completely misogynistic; in fact a lot about
: Miranda Keyes implies quite the opposite. I think Bungie should be mostly
: commended for their treatment of women in a hyper-masculine shooter. I
: just have one question: why'd you have to sex up Cortana?

TITILATE VISIBLE BREASTS!!!!!!!


Message Index




Replies:

Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LONGCody Miller 1/10/07 9:32 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJman 1/10/07 10:12 p.m.
           sOT: quote formattingLouis Wu 1/11/07 5:40 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJillybean 1/11/07 7:10 a.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOLouis Wu 1/11/07 8:03 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOLittlebigman 1/10/07 10:50 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOQsExile 1/10/07 10:55 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOscarab 1/11/07 12:08 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOQsExile 1/11/07 12:26 a.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOscarab 1/11/07 7:11 a.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOhnc 1/11/07 4:00 p.m.
           OMG!MffnMn 1/11/07 7:15 p.m.
                 Re: OMG!QsExile 1/11/07 10:59 p.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSlimby 1/12/07 5:49 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOcypher 1/11/07 1:15 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJillybean 1/11/07 2:54 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOMrAlexZander 1/11/07 3:07 a.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSniping Ajax 1/11/07 2:12 p.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOLouis Wu 1/11/07 5:59 a.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJillybean 1/11/07 7:07 a.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 8:31 a.m.
                             Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJillybean 1/11/07 10:19 a.m.
                             Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSniping Ajax 1/11/07 2:04 p.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LODanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:11 p.m.
                             Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOWraith7n 1/11/07 12:17 p.m.
                                   Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 12:20 p.m.
                                         Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LODangerousHippo 1/11/07 4:01 p.m.
                             Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 12:18 p.m.
                                   Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LODanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:38 p.m.
                                         Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 12:50 p.m.
                                               Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LODanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:52 p.m.
                                   Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOtarehart 1/11/07 3:55 p.m.
                             Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOCody Miller 1/11/07 12:21 p.m.
                                   Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOMullet Man 1/13/07 8:42 p.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOQuantum 1/11/07 6:32 p.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOMullet Man 1/13/07 8:33 p.m.
                             But how decreased?DanteThePoet 1/14/07 12:16 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOBrian Graham 1/11/07 2:57 p.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LODanteThePoet 1/14/07 6:16 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOreprobate 1/11/07 3:13 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LORVideo 1/11/07 6:18 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOWraith7n 1/11/07 8:43 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOSep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 7:02 a.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOscarab 1/11/07 7:29 a.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOJillybean 1/11/07 10:23 a.m.
                       Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOCody Miller 1/11/07 12:28 p.m.
     Femininity eh??N1NJ4 1/11/07 10:23 a.m.
           Re: Femininity eh??Jillybean 1/11/07 10:42 a.m.
                 Re: Femininity eh??Ross Mills [subnova] 1/11/07 11:19 a.m.
                 Re: Femininity eh??The More Deluded 1/11/07 12:09 p.m.
                 Re: Femininity eh??N1NJ4 1/11/07 12:32 p.m.
                       Re: Femininity eh??Jillybean 1/11/07 12:47 p.m.
                             Re: Femininity eh??Wraith7n 1/11/07 12:52 p.m.
                                   Re: Femininity eh??Jillybean 1/11/07 12:54 p.m.
                                         Re: Femininity eh??Wraith7n 1/11/07 12:57 p.m.
                                               Re: Femininity eh??Jillybean 1/11/07 12:59 p.m.
                                                     Re: Femininity eh??The More Deluded 1/11/07 1:07 p.m.
                                                           Re: Femininity eh??Wraith7n 1/11/07 1:12 p.m.
                                                                 Re: Femininity eh??raptor117 1/11/07 1:20 p.m.
                                                                       DAMN! a minute too late :) *NM*The More Deluded 1/11/07 1:22 p.m.
                                                                 Re: Femininity eh??The More Deluded 1/11/07 1:21 p.m.
                                                                       Re: Femininity eh??QsExile 1/12/07 12:48 a.m.
                 She Speaks No Lie...Mintz 1/11/07 5:10 p.m.
           Re: Femininity eh??hnc 1/11/07 4:40 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LO*THASF* A.K.A. The Halo And Sonic Fan 1/11/07 10:30 a.m.
     Why?Pinkuh 1/11/07 11:11 a.m.
           Re: Why?Sep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 11:59 a.m.
           Re: Why?Omak2007 1/11/07 11:59 a.m.
           Re: Why?mercury 1/11/07 12:03 p.m.
                 Re: Why?Pinkuh 1/11/07 12:11 p.m.
                       Re: Why?Wraith7n 1/11/07 12:19 p.m.
                             LOL *NM*huskerblackshrt 1/11/07 8:21 p.m.
           Re: Why?yakaman 1/11/07 12:30 p.m.
                 Re: Why?raptor117 1/11/07 1:18 p.m.
                       Re: Why?hnc 1/11/07 4:25 p.m.
                             Re: Why?raptor117 1/11/07 6:36 p.m.
                                   Re: Why?hnc 1/12/07 10:44 a.m.
                                         Re: Why?raptor117 1/12/07 11:22 a.m.
           I personally had a conversation with Statan.DanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:48 p.m.
                 Re: I personally had a conversation with Statan.Melkor 1/11/07 4:56 p.m.
                       Re: I personally had a conversation with Statan.The More Deluded 1/11/07 5:57 p.m.
                             Re: I personally had a conversation with Statan.Wraith7n 1/11/07 7:20 p.m.
                                   Same person. *NM*DanteThePoet 1/12/07 1:44 a.m.
           Re: Why?Jillybean 1/11/07 12:50 p.m.
                 Re: Why?reprobate 1/11/07 4:46 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOWraith7n 1/11/07 12:06 p.m.
           Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOThe More Deluded 1/11/07 1:59 p.m.
                 Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOWraith7n 1/11/07 2:05 p.m.
     I don't really have any more to say except...DanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:16 p.m.
           Re: I don't really have any more to say except...Sep7imus [subnova] 1/11/07 12:29 p.m.
                 Re: I don't really have any more to say except...Schedonnardus 1/11/07 12:39 p.m.
                 Re: I don't really have any more to say except...DanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:45 p.m.
                       Re: I don't really have any more to say except...hnc 1/11/07 4:32 p.m.
           And further...DanteThePoet 1/11/07 12:35 p.m.
                 Re: And further...Endbringer 1/11/07 1:23 p.m.
           Re: I don't really have any more to say except...hnc 1/11/07 3:54 p.m.
           Re: I don't really have any more to say except...houseoftang 1/11/07 7:22 p.m.
           Re: I don't really have any more to say except...Cody Miller 1/12/07 1:38 p.m.
                 Re: I don't really have any more to say except...Brian Graham 1/12/07 3:12 p.m.
                 Re: I don't really have any more to say except...houseoftang 1/12/07 5:51 p.m.
                 Re: I don't really have any more to say except...Black Guard 1/13/07 5:32 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOCANTANATRIX 1/11/07 12:21 p.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOHellhawk 1/11/07 4:09 p.m.
     We may have overlooked one little plot issueRVideo 1/11/07 4:50 p.m.
           Re: We may have overlooked one little plot issueUrsusArctos 1/12/07 9:48 p.m.
     Gender in Halo Fan Fictionhouseoftang 1/11/07 6:37 p.m.
     Cortana: a Defence (R.E Gender)CANTANATRIX 1/11/07 8:09 p.m.
           Re: Cortana: a Defence (R.E Gender)Oo Sol oO 1/12/07 11:00 a.m.
     Re: Gender in Halo 2 (response to DanteThePoet) LOHipboyScott 1/12/07 4:00 p.m.



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