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[ xper's blog ]

Dickish post about RE5 and racism - I'm smarter than you-edition
xper \| 11:51 AM on 04.17.2008	36 comments

[Due to popular demand, this post has now been proofread and corrected. Enjoy the revised version, as it was intended to be read.]

As a backlash to the backlash that was/is the Resident Evil 5 debacle a couple of days ago with N'Gai Croal leading the way, I reacted to what a lot of people were seeing/reading in his comments made about the trailer.

Time and time again, people were coming with comments like "well in RE4 you shoot Spaniards, and that's OK?" This is not the point, and Croal, among others tried to emphasize that over and over again, and still get the same fucking response!

I had some issues with Croal's statement early on, because his thoughts didn't correspond at all to my thoughts about the trailer. Then I started looking, and noticed what he meant. It was just that, to me this wasn't what the trailer showed. I saw a depraved village in Africa/Haiti where the people where impoverished and trying to cope with reality. And thats not happy-go-fun-time. For anyone.

I've talked to South Africans myself who come from parts that are plagued by alcoholism, pedophilia and extreme poverty. A few years back, I saw a South African play about these issues with my class, and had a discussion about it with the actors afterward. We each had to do research and write a paper about a specific part we found interesting. So I've studied this, read about it and written about it before. Not trying to sound like an ass, but I'm an educated consumer when it comes to this matter.

What Croal was suggesting is that the imagery holds a history, a weight that just simply can't be lifted, and therefor you have to be careful when you're dealing with these issues. I don't agree, but I understand what he's saying. The problem is, dick-warning, not all people are educated consumers like myself in this matter.

A lot of people didn't understand. Jim didn't. Even though his arguments were well informed and intellectual, he seemed to have missed the entire point. Like so many others.

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36 comments | showing # 1 to 36

BlackSheep says:
(# 0) on 04/17/2008 12:23

but in RE4 you KILL spaniards.

BlindsideDork says:
(# 1) on 04/17/2008 12:24

If you keep talking about it, it stays around?

king3vbo says:
(# 2) on 04/17/2008 12:26

People are stupid. End of story.

liquidninja says:
(# 3) on 04/17/2008 12:26

Does anyone besides me think Capcom might be using culture shock to make the game scary? I thought this back in RE4 and it seems this might be the same deal.

blehman says:
(# 4) on 04/17/2008 12:29

Wow. That was a great read. I think I'm starting to get the picture of why this is so "controversial", but as a gamer who's perspective is Aim and Pew, I still don't care.

I know, that's very oblivious of me to say, but dammit, Aim and Pew the zombies sounds alot more fun than the social implications of using the background of a third world country where one race is killing another. You know?

Also, no ent in correspond. And no me in some.

Tragic Hero says:
(# 5) on 04/17/2008 12:30

I see your point but I just don't think it matters. It is a video game and even within it they are not showing the villagers in a negative way but in a realistic one.

Sure it has a history to it but I bet N'Gai wouldn't care about the game if it was set in a dilapidated, war torn area of Eastern Europe or impovished areas of China.

The Incredible Edible Egg says:
(# 6) on 04/17/2008 12:36

Lets relocate the game to the mideast and give the main character a flamethrower. Wrap him up in an american flag suit to top it off. That should avoid any controversy, right?

xper says:
(# 7) on 04/17/2008 12:45

fuck... the same comments emerge yet again. "lets relocate the game", "what if the game was set in eastern europe". still not the point, and i don't understand what is so hard to grasp about this issue.

again, i don't think this should be regulated or censured, because you should be able to do anything and everything when it comes to art. but you have handle some things with care and understand what kind of message you're sending out.

Tragic Hero says:
(# 8) on 04/17/2008 13:25

My point with the relocation comment was that N'Gai is just playing the race card on this one because hes black. I would bet my "stuff" that he wouldn't care about RE5 if it was another race involved.

And what message do you think Capcom is sending out by making RE5? That they don't care about African villages because they get "virused"?

GuitarAtomik says:
(# 9) on 04/17/2008 13:32

@Tragic Hero

Again. Your statements are proving that you've completely missed the point. I'm not going to try to explain it either since Xper's blog already does and it's still gone straight over your head.

liquidninja says:
(# 10) on 04/17/2008 13:32

@Tragic Hero
How is he playing the race card? I need a full quote; not taken out of context.

blehman says:
(# 11) on 04/17/2008 13:34

Yeah, GA is right. Read the blog, plus the blog linked, to understand better. Also, xper, that little type in my first comment is for you, as is this.

You may be smarter, but I grammar better, even if I do verb words occasionally. ;P

Tubatic says:
(# 12) on 04/17/2008 13:35

WHAT IS THIS RACE CARD!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!!!!!?!?!!!!I DON'T HAVE ONE HOW DO I REGISTER?

He noticed it, I believe, in part because he is black. And, he was *asked about it* because of a discussion about black people in games. I don't think he'd make a comment about the game being based on another setting, or another race, because either the weighted imagery is not there, or he wouldn't necessarily see it. Which I think is fine. But I'd understand if someone else, of that race/culture/nationality would.

By saying "playing the race card", I feel like you're immediately shutting down to any discussion of race, perception, culture, or anything.

xper says:
(# 13) on 04/17/2008 13:35

Tragic Hero, go read GuitarAtomics blog post about this, and then we'll talk.

xper says:
(# 14) on 04/17/2008 13:39

and yes, blehman, you may "grammar better". but since english isn't my first language, cut me some slack will ya

GuitarAtomik says:
(# 15) on 04/17/2008 13:41

HOW DO I REEEACH THESE KEEEEDZ!!

xper says:
(# 16) on 04/17/2008 13:48

hahahahahaha!!!

TheDespised says:
(# 17) on 04/17/2008 13:56

Backlash---One word. Correspond---Not correspondent. Emphasize---Not empathize. There are MANY more. Learn how to spell. You act like you're all that and you come across as a know-it-all. What a dumbass!!!

xper says:
(# 18) on 04/17/2008 14:01

yeah that was bad language, agreed. didn't proof read that one.

but we don't take kindly to trolls around here. i've seen you before, i know what you're about.

Tubatic says:
(# 19) on 04/17/2008 14:02

TheDespised cast GRAMMAR ATTACK.
It hits you for 9000hp
TheDespised has slain xper's Grammar Ability.
zper's Argument takes no damage.

MrJunko says:
(# 20) on 04/17/2008 14:03

Alright. I get it. Its a sensitive issue. Just like it would be a sensitive fucking issue if I played Call of Duty in front of a WWII veteran, yes we should be careful with what we implement into games. But if were going to be sensitive about everything that has happened in our past, then were bound to repeat it no?

Isnt that how the old saying goes?

"Neglect or regret the past, and your bound to repeat it?"

I know Im butchering the quote, but you get the idea.

Tubatic says:
(# 21) on 04/17/2008 14:11

kind of a tangent thought off of yours Junko.

Shakespeare used to have two iterations of his plays, the dummy play for the peasants, and then the regular play for the educated. And, within that "educated" play, there were different levels, meanings and allusions from the face value of the story.

I think RE5 could pull off something special by at once being a kick as game (which I don't think many could doubt) AND a game that makes a statement or at the very least plays with/into the idea of discussing racial/cultural perceptions. Its kind of what I personally hope happens with the game.

But its also completely possible that the discreet end product they're putting out can look like something they totally didn't intend, just for a non-malicious lack of cultural awareness.

MISTA SPARKAAAAA!!!

GuitarAtomik says:
(# 22) on 04/17/2008 14:17

Tubatic has won my genius award of the day for the Grammar Attack thing.

MrJunko says:
(# 23) on 04/17/2008 14:18

@ Tubatic

For the most part I believe Shakespeare didnt hide his true intentions with his play, there was social commentary for those who chose to delve deeper into what he wrote. But just like any book or movie that you want to dissect and analyze, Im sure you can pull comparisons to just about everything, from social status, phiolosphy, etc.

It would be awesome if they managed to make a crazy awesome story that really delves deep into racism and its impact on society. But this is fucking Resident evil.

Fucking "JILL SANDIWCH" resident evil. I highly doubt theyll put too much thought into the dialogue, let ALONE the story.

xper says:
(# 24) on 04/17/2008 14:18

if we're gonna go by that quote, then we are not neglecting the past, but rather acknowledging it. right?

so, if we weren't acknowledging it, we would be bound to repeat the past. and so, isn't this a more appropriate quote:

"Those who fail to understand past mistakes, are bound to repeat them."

MrJunko says:
(# 25) on 04/17/2008 14:20

@ xper

Yeah I know my quote was wrong, I think I said that like twice in ym post..heh, thats the right one. Same gist man. dont split hairs.

xper says:
(# 26) on 04/17/2008 14:26

my grammar may be fucked up, but my head ain't!

and it's not the same gist man, even if you got it wrong, you said something completely different. and if you meant the quote that i wrote, then your whole argument falls to the ground.

"if we're going to be sensitive about things in the past, then we're bound to repeat it". that's not what the quote i wrote says at all. it's the opposite, in fact.

so if we fail to understand past mistakes, which we will if we stop acknowledging history and be "sensitive" about it, then we're bound to repeat it.

i like splitting hairs.

MrJunko says:
(# 27) on 04/17/2008 14:36

Its not about failing to understand, if we are sensitive towards an issue, chances are you wont talk about it. Youll put it aside, and you wont come to terms with it. And since you WONT talk about it, or go to the extent of acknowledging it, then years from now your bound to repeat it.

power-glove says:
(# 28) on 04/17/2008 14:36

It's very nice to see people getting the point. The funny thing about this incident is that someone who wrote for the Village Voice had the very reaction that N'Gai was referring to.

xper says:
(# 29) on 04/17/2008 14:49

@MrJunko

hm i think we mean the same thing here... i thought your comments about being sensitive involved croal's reaction, and his acknowledgment of an issue. i thought that "being sensitive" involved acknowledging and getting upset, and should be avoided.

we are clearly on the same page if you mean this: acknowledge an issue, and history won't repeat itself.

are we on the same page?

MrJunko says:
(# 30) on 04/17/2008 15:14

@ xper

-thumbs up- glad we came to an agreement :)

blehman says:
(# 31) on 04/17/2008 15:14

heheehheeheh...it's like watching me and xper's first conversation all over again. Misunderstanding that y'all agree with each other ftw.

MrJunko says:
(# 32) on 04/17/2008 15:52

blehman

Meeeeemorieees. hahaha :D

Usedtabe says:
(# 33) on 04/17/2008 15:56

@Tubatic: I hope to God they don't put anything close to "race discussion, race message, race etc." In my Resident Evil. I understand what N'Gai meant, but I also hope Capcom shrugs it off and gives a huge middle finger to anyone who would try to turn this game into an issue on race. BEcause it's not an issue on race.

Tubatic says:
(# 34) on 04/18/2008 12:06

Fair enough. Issue of culture :)

I dunno, just seems like a waste of a great opportunity to add some weight to the medium

But yeah. This is "JILL SANDWICH" Resident Evil we're talking about here. I'm not holding my breath.

kezins says:
(# 35) on 04/25/2008 04:56

I'm glad people are bringing up the topic of race in games. I think it's something that has been heavily avoided by the press for a long time. It was a big issue in the late 90s and seems to have died down. I think there still are issues....

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