GO MAKE ME A SANDWICH: SEXUALITY IN BAYONETTA (AND OTHER GAMES)

author=Max McGee

I can tell the difference between the average joe and a zit faced fat ugly dude, but I honest to Christ cannot understand what makes Brad Pitt so attractive to women. Perhaps I have just blocked it out, but in any case I don't care to think about it because it's a non-issue for me. As for the wanting to show love for other males though... the books are just plain wrong. I've never been compelled to hold a buddy's hand, and it's hard for me to believe other men would either.

Brad Pitt is not attractive to all women by any means. There is a LOT more variety and nuance in the field of what women find attractive--all women are different--than in what men want from the opposite sex. It's much easier to make a generalized consensus about what men consider attractive; this is almost impossible to do with women's tastes.

I want to agree with this, although my buddies and I completely disagree with what a good looking woman looks like. I'm a fairly skinny guy, therefore, I like skinny girls. However, my friends who are more average in size love bigger women (in some cases twice the size they are). Given that, I really do think guys are just as subjective in their sexual tastes as women are, it's just that the media tends to push a certain type upon us that is taken as a general consensus.

Thanks Prexus, for putting GORDON FREEMAN and sexuality in the same part of my brain.

Some studies I think is bullshit, some studies make some sense. This is one of those 'studies' I agree with and I've definitely observed in my real life.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

author=Cray
Your example is definitely more attractive than Kratos. But it's much more subtle than most female characters.

Are you shitting me, Al Cid is practically an 80s romance novel cover. I mean did you miss the part where he is charming and has a gun, all James Bondishly, with a Spanish accent thrown on top for extra extra classic romanticizing/sexualizing. rly. Pretty sure he kisses Ashe's hand and everything too. He embodies one of the major stereotypes of what is depicted as attractive to women: suave dark mysterious foreign men with romantic accents and chivalrous etiquette.

Someone else noted that a man does not need to have his dong swangin' around to be just as overtly sexual as big boobs. But his pants look pretty tight around the dong area to me

edit: my god he even has chest hair


edit edit: take everything I said an apply it to Balthier, except replace "dark foreigner" with "smartass/bad boy" and you have another character who is classically appealing

author=prexus
she agrees fully in that "The women who are distressed about the sexual portrayal of women in video-games are likely insecure in their own appearance.
...
Except the females in Dragon Age. Why do 50-60 year old women look identical to mid-20s women except for a wrinkle or two, and sometimes grey hair?"

this is hilarious.

author=prexus
I brought up the points in this thread to my wife, and much to my expectation, she agrees fully in that "The women who are distressed about the sexual portrayal of women in video-games are likely insecure in their own appearance. Both men and women are most often portrayed in ideal situations, with all the appropriate assets and details emphasized. This is part of being in a fantasy world, and something that women and men alike should come to expect.

Lock thread before someone ruins this perfect piece of logic!

author=prexus
I brought up the points in this thread to my wife, and much to my expectation, she agrees fully in that "The women who are distressed about the sexual portrayal of women in video-games are likely insecure in their own appearance. Both men and women are most often portrayed in ideal situations, with all the appropriate assets and details emphasized. This is part of being in a fantasy world, and something that women and men alike should come to expect.

I really dislike it when people use the "oh you don't like it you must be jelly/insecure" argument. It's fine to not agree that it's a problem, but writing off the entire subject with an ad hominem is ignorant and close-minded. Speaking personally, it's not like I have a problem with looking at attractive women. I mean, I enjoy porn. But there's a time and a place, you know? When you put unnecessary sex appeal in everything, it becomes about the sex appeal instead of more interesting or important issues. I'm not saying female characters should never be attractive or even deliberately designed to be sexy, but when it's the only thing they ever are in games, then it's a problem. In a serious work, no character should be a sex object first and whatever else second, and females consistently get the short end of the stick.

Also, agreed about Dragon Age.

author=Perihelion
When you put unnecessary sex appeal in everything, it becomes about the sex appeal instead of more interesting or important issues. I'm not saying female characters should never be attractive or even deliberately designed to be sexy, but when it's the only thing they ever are in games, then it's a problem. In a serious work, no character should be a sex object first and whatever else second, and females consistently get the short end of the stick.

THIS THIS a million times THIS.

author=Perihelion
Ireally dislike it when people use the "oh you don't like it you must be jelly/insecure" argument.

The bolded word "I" means that it's a personal problem. Personal problems have personal solutions. In other words, if it bother you, avoid it. Problem solved.

It's fine to not agree that it's a problem, but writing off the entire subject with an ad hominem is ignorant and close-minded.

You don't seem to grasp the fact that you are also being ignorant and close-minded by telling people how they should view something and feel just like you do. We don't. Period. Accept it. You can't control our thoughts any more than we can control yours. The only thing we can do is avoid what we do not like...but I guess that's complicated, huh.

Speaking personally, it's not like I have a problem with looking at attractive women. I mean, I enjoy porn. But there's a time and a place, you know?

Who determines what that time and place is...you? Big government? Or are grownups allowed to make that decision themselves. By telling other people what time and place they can or should enjoy something, what does that say about you?

When you put unnecessary sex appeal in everything, it becomes about the sex appeal instead of more interesting or important issues.

Personal opinion. You learned about those in the second grade so we won't retread on that basic.

I'm not saying female characters should never be attractive or even deliberately designed to be sexy, but when it's the only thing they ever are in games, then it's a problem.

Who makes that determination? Again, personal opinions being regarded as rules of god is silly and DOES speak to deep insecurities, whether one admits them or not. People who lack control of their own life always try to exert control over other's thoughts and actions. What? That's an opinion? You're right. So ignore it and don't let it bother you. See? Was that so hard?

In a serious work, no character should be a sex object first and whatever else second, and females consistently get the short end of the stick.

Opinion.

In a serious work, no character should be a sex object first and whatever else second, and females consistently get the short end of the stick.

Soul Calibur and Metroid are very serious games.