Ever since Resident Evil 5 released its first full trailer and caused controversy amongst the stupid people of the world, I have defended it from accusations of racial prejudice. However, looking at Sheva's "sexy" unlockable costume, I have to admit that it does look a little bit racist.
As you can see from the provided pictures, this new costume comes complete with tooth necklace, neck bangles and tribal tattoos. All she's missing is a bone through her nose and a boiling pot with a freshly captured white man in it. Soup's on, and it tastes of racism!
While I maintain that the game isn't racist, not least because Japanese people simply don't seem aware of themselves when they stereotype other races (naivety is not the same as racism), I don't think I'll try and defend this one. I'll just keep my inappropriate laughter to myself, and hope the "that's racist zomg" crowd don't get their hands on it.
At least N'Gai isn't writing about games anymore. He'd have had a field day with this one.
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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:00 AM on 03.12.2009
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I scored an early copy, and I swear, every almost every cinema scene starts with a shot of Sheva's ass. I would post examples, but it might spoil the game for some people.
Bravo Capcom; you've even worked an ass shot in a cinema scene in a moving vehicle. Bravo!
Can't wait for tonigh! Because I'm gonna be playing iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Fapidy-faaaaaP!
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here's real link:
HERE
RE is Sexist.
RE is HAWT!
Also, Jim you're going to have a field day with blogs about
the ending & storyline & cutscenes. The internet will blatantly be ablaze.
You say that like it's a bad thing.
Besides, if you've seen anything from National Geographic, you'll know that tribal people in Africa don't go around wearing bikinis.
This is just a dumb way for Capcom to whore out the main female character.
Does the bone necklace give you super voodoo powers like Ashley's Suit of Armor in RE4? I hope so!
we're not racist! we're just ignorant!
Any MENTION or aknowledgement of race is now considered RACIST - this is totally wrong.
Racist should mean to think less of a different race, to discriminate or to treat them differently. NOT JUST AKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE A DIFFERENT RACE. Even using a specific term for a race is simply aknowledging that they are of a certain origin, it's when it is used in a derogatory fashion that it becomes Racist.
I fucking hate this overly politically correct world we live in.
The world has gone to shit.
I am now.
Wait till you play the game...
******SPOIERS BELOW THIS POINT*******
Jill wears racist clothes in one cutscene m,K?K?K?...
Also Japanese are exempt from being racist. There's some comedy video where a whole family just says "niggahhh" for like 5 minutes.
Sexy stereotypical sexism is questionable, but still hot.
Also Chris (of the header pic), I don't know what you're looking for but keep searching. It must be there somewhere.
Insensitive to African cultures: probably. I'll bet no single African culture has this, in total, as any reasonable tribal garb. I could see someone being a little peeved about that aspect.
Undermining of Sheva as the "one black friend" to allay racism claims: for sure. At once she's been sexualized and made bufoonish as a partner.
Any different from other wacky alt costumes: not really.
If only because nobody really talks about and has a fluent working perception of African cultures in general, this isn't surprising. Unfortunate on an empathic level, but not surprising.
Also Japanese are exempt from being racist. There's some comedy video where a whole family just says "niggahhh" for like 5 minutes."
Actually I'm pretty sure that video was Korean.
Of course being a video game the female equivalent of those would be thongs. Nothing says my life is in mortal danger then having some broad's ass hanging out.
Would you find a Sheva space suit more credible in an African setting? No, didn't think so.
Go Capcom, got my RE5 copy and loving the game.
Here we go again...
Jim is the ultimate fire starter: and I love it.
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I'm pretty sure the Asian "nigah" skit was Japanese (It aired on Japan One television, and it's called Tokyo breakfast). I could be wrong though, and it just says that to throw you off.
thats frakkin hawt
Also, Chris's Safari outfit is totally racist. White hair ffs!
Also, racism can absolutely exist due to naivety. Racism is based on ignorance, not hate. Hate certainly comes from that, but it all stems back to ignorance, or in this case, naivety. People who compliment minorities for be so well-spoken and a credit to their race are racist. Sure, it's not the worst kind of racism, but it is underlying mentalities like that that sometimes do the worst damage.