Latoya Peterson’s “Girl Gamers” series at Fusion has tackled a lot of tricky topics, such as the nebulous idea of “gamer” identity (in Episode 1), and the various challenges faced by women game creators (in Episode 2). This third entry in the five-part series discusses fictional female characters in games — from how they’re presented to how they’re perceived.
This episode, like the others, has to cover a lot of ground in its short length, but it still manages to slip in a few nuanced and important arguments. I loved thatĀ Final Fantasy X-2 got a mention, for example —Ā I think it’sĀ a game that gets undeservedly sidelined for beingĀ about feminine trappings in generalĀ (e.g. its threeĀ heroines’ fighting styles are represented by theirĀ sartorial choices).Ā Bayonetta, and the complicated and sometimes contradictory feelings that many women players have about her, also gets an important spotlight in this video.
It’s hard as heckĀ to find ways to reclaim feminine signifiers while alsoĀ existing and creating art within a system that demonizes all things feminine. In some ways, Bayonetta and Yuna are good examples of that reclamation and subversion — but their styleĀ might not work for everybody. Women aren’t a monolith, after all, and that’s why it’s so valuable to have more characters, so as to display the breadth of our experiences.
What do you all think about the latest episode?
(via Fusion)
āPlease make note of The Mary Sue’s general comment policy.ā
Do you follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?
