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Anything that black people can call racist that makes sense TO THEM (usually not to anyone else), they absolutely WILL cal racist.
Why?
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST RACIST PEOPLE ON EARTH.
Period.
Why?
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST RACIST PEOPLE ON EARTH.
Period.
i guess i am just racist as shit! i loved killing the spanish in re4 and re5 is oh so fun as well. i even loved killing Caucasian zombies. maybe i should join the klan?
@D-Toid at-Large
I'm sorry for this.
@Schmoozle
Go Fuck Yourself with your ignorant blanket statement bullshit, sir.
I'm sorry for this.
@Schmoozle
Go Fuck Yourself with your ignorant blanket statement bullshit, sir.
"Actually they didn't "regress" into "mimicking" their ancestors. That was, apparently, an actual tribal community who came into contact with the new Type 3 Plagas."
There is a point in the game where one of the files says that the villagers have started "acting like our ancestors" and talks of them donning warpaint and stuff. I actually think you're right about the first encounter, but I think it's implied that some of the other villagers have started acting that way too.
There is a point in the game where one of the files says that the villagers have started "acting like our ancestors" and talks of them donning warpaint and stuff. I actually think you're right about the first encounter, but I think it's implied that some of the other villagers have started acting that way too.
@SansJason
I lived in Afria for a few years and you know what? There are people there wearing grass skirts and tiki masks and carrying spears. That's called Realism. Its the same as L4D having zombies wearing hoodies or jeans, those are things that people in the US wear. Sure, if you look hard enough you can see Racism in RE5, but you have to really try; the problem is that people are so bogged down by ancestral guilt about slavery (and obviously slavery was a terrible crime, I'm not trying to deny that) that they become massively oversensitive to these issues and see Racism where it doesn't exist.
You say that we should stop accusing the media of bias in this post-Jack Thompson age, but that Huffington Post article is written by someone who hasn't played the game, got a lot of the essential facts wrong, and clearly doesn't know an RPG from his own arse. While his claims might not be as hysterical as JT's he's singing from the same hymnsheet of unfounded, incorrect allegations and thus the same principle applies.
I've only spoken to two actual Africans about the game, but both of them have told me that they don't see it as racist and that in fact its nice to have a game set on their continent for a change. Obviously opinions are subjective but considering its a game about Africa I'd take a Kenyan's opinion over a that of a black American any day.
I lived in Afria for a few years and you know what? There are people there wearing grass skirts and tiki masks and carrying spears. That's called Realism. Its the same as L4D having zombies wearing hoodies or jeans, those are things that people in the US wear. Sure, if you look hard enough you can see Racism in RE5, but you have to really try; the problem is that people are so bogged down by ancestral guilt about slavery (and obviously slavery was a terrible crime, I'm not trying to deny that) that they become massively oversensitive to these issues and see Racism where it doesn't exist.
You say that we should stop accusing the media of bias in this post-Jack Thompson age, but that Huffington Post article is written by someone who hasn't played the game, got a lot of the essential facts wrong, and clearly doesn't know an RPG from his own arse. While his claims might not be as hysterical as JT's he's singing from the same hymnsheet of unfounded, incorrect allegations and thus the same principle applies.
I've only spoken to two actual Africans about the game, but both of them have told me that they don't see it as racist and that in fact its nice to have a game set on their continent for a change. Obviously opinions are subjective but considering its a game about Africa I'd take a Kenyan's opinion over a that of a black American any day.
"SansJason wins. I hate how gamers feel the need to blindly defend anything simply because it has to do with gaming. With the type of history America has, is it that fucking absurd to think the imagery presented in RE5 could be viewed as "racist"? The ignorance in this thread is fucking shameful."
I don't see it as a "blind" defense. We hear the other side of the argument constantly, and I don't think providing a counterpoint is wrong. Even if it's not going to change the way people think, it's irritating to see something you love misrepresented and lied about, so it's good to vent. Obviously if you don't like that content, you can ignore it. I personally love the subject.
Second, no it's not surprising that people would find racism in RE5, but that's exactly the point. In a perfect world, it SHOULD be surprising that people would find racism in this. That's surely the kind of society we want, where racism is so far from our minds that we CAN have a game with a predominately black enemy and not look for racist undertones.
To be honest, accusing me of being ignorant of racism is probably the highest compliment that could be paid. I'd envy ANYONE who is able to be free of the concept of racism.
I don't see it as a "blind" defense. We hear the other side of the argument constantly, and I don't think providing a counterpoint is wrong. Even if it's not going to change the way people think, it's irritating to see something you love misrepresented and lied about, so it's good to vent. Obviously if you don't like that content, you can ignore it. I personally love the subject.
Second, no it's not surprising that people would find racism in RE5, but that's exactly the point. In a perfect world, it SHOULD be surprising that people would find racism in this. That's surely the kind of society we want, where racism is so far from our minds that we CAN have a game with a predominately black enemy and not look for racist undertones.
To be honest, accusing me of being ignorant of racism is probably the highest compliment that could be paid. I'd envy ANYONE who is able to be free of the concept of racism.
Truly amazing: The American media suddenly begins to care about Africa. NOT because of the Rwandan genocide, NOT because of the war in Darfur... Because of a *video game*.
Congratulations, America. You done good.
Congratulations, America. You done good.
Normally your THE PRESS HATES VIDEOGAMES hysteria really annoys me Jim, but that was a eloquent well argued article. A++++ would read again.
Jim, you're right.
Some people seem to long for Racism to comment on.
Resident Evil 5 is set in Africa, the majority of people that live in Africa are Black, therefore Resident Evil 5 will consist of mainly Black people.
If there were no Black people in the game and it was still set in Africa, that would be very odd, and possibly racist for not showing reality.
There for these Racial commentators would not like attention drawn to Black people, which is extremely racist.
2 ideas arise.
These commentators themselves are actually passively Racist.
or
In mentioning race one is weaving a tangled web, of problems and paradox's.
So dont mention racism and we'll all be fine.
P.S.
Where does he live if Infected Black people are stereotypical?
Some people seem to long for Racism to comment on.
Resident Evil 5 is set in Africa, the majority of people that live in Africa are Black, therefore Resident Evil 5 will consist of mainly Black people.
If there were no Black people in the game and it was still set in Africa, that would be very odd, and possibly racist for not showing reality.
There for these Racial commentators would not like attention drawn to Black people, which is extremely racist.
2 ideas arise.
These commentators themselves are actually passively Racist.
or
In mentioning race one is weaving a tangled web, of problems and paradox's.
So dont mention racism and we'll all be fine.
P.S.
Where does he live if Infected Black people are stereotypical?
It just goes to show how fucking stupid and pig-headed the media at large is. They'd much rather go after a god damn video game that depicts black 'people' (like Jim stated, they've really more or less lost their humanity because of the virus that was engineered by white people) then actually tell people about the real crises that are going on in Africa as we speak.
@Sans Jason
@The Reborn
@anybody who feels there is a level of loaded imagery in this game
If you are in a region largely populated by a particular ethnic group, it only stand to reason that you will encounter primarily individuals of that ethnicity. If RE6 takes place in Japan, I fully expect to be mowing down primarily Japanese people, because THAT'S WHAT IS REAL.
And what's more; it is widely known that there are still tribes in Africa who don't embrace or utilize modern technology. There are still nomadic bands of Native Africans that survive using the hunter/gatherer technique utilized by most every culture at some point in their history.
To assume that this game is cashing in on imagery intended to provoke controversy is a stretch, especially if you get off of your soap box long enough to open up a history book, or even attempt to gain the most rudimentary knowledge of anthropology.
This is not a defense of the game due to it being a game, this is a defense of reason that statements like yours seem aimed to disperse. Views like yours are what keep this world from moving forward and leaving behind whatever sordid pasts various cultures have endured across the world.
Knowledge is power, kids. And unless people take the time of day to learn not only the past, but about the present, this same pointless argument will continue to occur endlessly. Ignorance is no excuse for anybody with internet access.
@The Reborn
@anybody who feels there is a level of loaded imagery in this game
If you are in a region largely populated by a particular ethnic group, it only stand to reason that you will encounter primarily individuals of that ethnicity. If RE6 takes place in Japan, I fully expect to be mowing down primarily Japanese people, because THAT'S WHAT IS REAL.
And what's more; it is widely known that there are still tribes in Africa who don't embrace or utilize modern technology. There are still nomadic bands of Native Africans that survive using the hunter/gatherer technique utilized by most every culture at some point in their history.
To assume that this game is cashing in on imagery intended to provoke controversy is a stretch, especially if you get off of your soap box long enough to open up a history book, or even attempt to gain the most rudimentary knowledge of anthropology.
This is not a defense of the game due to it being a game, this is a defense of reason that statements like yours seem aimed to disperse. Views like yours are what keep this world from moving forward and leaving behind whatever sordid pasts various cultures have endured across the world.
Knowledge is power, kids. And unless people take the time of day to learn not only the past, but about the present, this same pointless argument will continue to occur endlessly. Ignorance is no excuse for anybody with internet access.
Should we have a parade to fight for the rights of Black People(...in videogames) because Black People(...in videogames) are (...videogame) people too! In fact they are MORE so when they are flailing machetes and guns and sticks and knives and hatchets and squirrels...crap you name it!... When a Black People(...in videogames) zombie comes up to you, you must congratulate it for being so strong in the struggle of gaining equality with other racial zombies...
...Because brains are pink/off-white no matter what the person's zom-nicity is!
I'm actually kinda impressed that a lot of stories have been placed in Africa lately and am glad to see it being used as an environment in video games. Why ignore it? It has elephants and lions and shit! Fuck the 'natives', safaris are more interesting!
...Because brains are pink/off-white no matter what the person's zom-nicity is!
I'm actually kinda impressed that a lot of stories have been placed in Africa lately and am glad to see it being used as an environment in video games. Why ignore it? It has elephants and lions and shit! Fuck the 'natives', safaris are more interesting!
If you want a really racist game play Afro Samurai: A black samurai killing a lot of Asian dudes. And we all know, how much black people hate Asians...
SansJason: "that's because racism is a largely foreign concept in Japan. There has been no slavery there, no civil rights movement; which is why they approach the subject with a childlike naïvete, why there are blackface characters in anime still today which would never ever go unnoticed in American culture."
You're sort of making generalities here. Your assumption is that since Capcom is a Japanese company, they, like ALL Japanese people, must be prone to inadvertent racism. I'm willing to bet that a company as big and talented as Capcom did their homework on their setting and was generally fair in its treatment of the subject. In fact, for a series dealing largely with the evils perpetuated by white men in suits and ties, Africa seems like an extremely logical place to set a sequel. I'm sorry, but with the exception of that one costume of Shiva's, I'm not sure I see anything in the way of inaccurate stereotyping here.
You're sort of making generalities here. Your assumption is that since Capcom is a Japanese company, they, like ALL Japanese people, must be prone to inadvertent racism. I'm willing to bet that a company as big and talented as Capcom did their homework on their setting and was generally fair in its treatment of the subject. In fact, for a series dealing largely with the evils perpetuated by white men in suits and ties, Africa seems like an extremely logical place to set a sequel. I'm sorry, but with the exception of that one costume of Shiva's, I'm not sure I see anything in the way of inaccurate stereotyping here.
@SansJim
If you're looking into the plot line of a piece of video entertainment, based on a past history of content that is not geared towards any political evangelism, and are contrasting the story, actions, and imagery that the video game has injected into it, then you yourself are walking a fine line of being just as guilty as the ones you are pointing your finger at because you are in fact dressing up that piece of video entertainment into the things you yourself have issues with.
An outbreak happens in Africa. Guess what, there's a tonne of black people in Africa. Lots of Africans infected with zombie like symptoms = A lot of black people chasing people around wanting to kill them. There are also tribes in Africa that do have masks, grass skirts, spears, etc. The fact you find it racist that these images are used in a game PLACED in Africa means you find the culture(that has been mocked in the past) offensive in itself when it is within its own borders. You may argue that not EVERYONE in Africa is sporting a mask and skirt and spear, etc. just like all Native Canadians don't run around in head dresses. But you know they do use them in their celebrations and customs, among other things.
Now an art director at a gaming company might look at the cultural pieces(like masks, etc) as a major indication of the place you're in, thus dressing it up instead of it just looking like another grassy/desert like place. They are using cultural pieces to paint the characters. And I'm pretty sure that it's not racist to have a 'character'. There aren't signs beside the guys in masks that say "This is what every black person is". Rather think of it this way... Someone slaved over making the textures and the model of that mask, put it into the game, and made it look great... but because it's used more than once, it treads the path of mocking the culture?
If they show a Japanese person eating rice in a movie does that make it racist? Even better someone practicing Kung-Fu in China, does that make it racist?
You know I'm getting pretty tired of people continuing to bleed their hearts out over things that I thought were pretty simple concepts to understand. Not once did I think it was racist when I saw any Jackie Chan movies where he beat up white dudes... or that it was racist when Leonidas and the Spartans defended Greece from the Persian armies that were depicted as demons and disfigured violent mutants from other places... nor did I think it was racist when Ivan Drago beat Apollo Cree to death in Rocky 4... or Rambo when Rambo...well Rambo kills everyone.
Anyway stop looking for the racism. Racism is a conscious decision by an individual to recognize the differences in ethnicity and skin tones. Are you recognizing that? Are you seeing a WHITE(Stereotypical heroic) man mow down BLACK STEREOTYPES with mocked satirical cultural symbolism?
I just see a situation that my character has been put in...it's called being THREATENED and needing to SURVIVE. I'm so sure this dude, this one poor guy, thrown into the middle of a pit of rabid dogs basically, is taking the time to be racist while nothing thinking: HOLY FUCK I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE AND DO ANYTHING I CAN TO SURVIVE!!!!
Nope.. no he's thinking hateful racial slurs and how he can 'cleanse' the population of all these BLACK people...instead of these ZOMBIES THAT ARE TRYING TO FUCKING KILL HIM...
One of these days I wish those who see the other side would just fucking kill each other and get it over with. I'm tired of waiting and listening to the bleating of the sheep. Just shut the fuck up and rise up or something. Until then, I've got to get back to running away from 25 zombies(WHO HAPPEN TO BE BLACK, OH MY GOD CALL OPRAH!) and not get my head bashed in or my brains eating, etc, etc, etc...
If you're looking into the plot line of a piece of video entertainment, based on a past history of content that is not geared towards any political evangelism, and are contrasting the story, actions, and imagery that the video game has injected into it, then you yourself are walking a fine line of being just as guilty as the ones you are pointing your finger at because you are in fact dressing up that piece of video entertainment into the things you yourself have issues with.
An outbreak happens in Africa. Guess what, there's a tonne of black people in Africa. Lots of Africans infected with zombie like symptoms = A lot of black people chasing people around wanting to kill them. There are also tribes in Africa that do have masks, grass skirts, spears, etc. The fact you find it racist that these images are used in a game PLACED in Africa means you find the culture(that has been mocked in the past) offensive in itself when it is within its own borders. You may argue that not EVERYONE in Africa is sporting a mask and skirt and spear, etc. just like all Native Canadians don't run around in head dresses. But you know they do use them in their celebrations and customs, among other things.
Now an art director at a gaming company might look at the cultural pieces(like masks, etc) as a major indication of the place you're in, thus dressing it up instead of it just looking like another grassy/desert like place. They are using cultural pieces to paint the characters. And I'm pretty sure that it's not racist to have a 'character'. There aren't signs beside the guys in masks that say "This is what every black person is". Rather think of it this way... Someone slaved over making the textures and the model of that mask, put it into the game, and made it look great... but because it's used more than once, it treads the path of mocking the culture?
If they show a Japanese person eating rice in a movie does that make it racist? Even better someone practicing Kung-Fu in China, does that make it racist?
You know I'm getting pretty tired of people continuing to bleed their hearts out over things that I thought were pretty simple concepts to understand. Not once did I think it was racist when I saw any Jackie Chan movies where he beat up white dudes... or that it was racist when Leonidas and the Spartans defended Greece from the Persian armies that were depicted as demons and disfigured violent mutants from other places... nor did I think it was racist when Ivan Drago beat Apollo Cree to death in Rocky 4... or Rambo when Rambo...well Rambo kills everyone.
Anyway stop looking for the racism. Racism is a conscious decision by an individual to recognize the differences in ethnicity and skin tones. Are you recognizing that? Are you seeing a WHITE(Stereotypical heroic) man mow down BLACK STEREOTYPES with mocked satirical cultural symbolism?
I just see a situation that my character has been put in...it's called being THREATENED and needing to SURVIVE. I'm so sure this dude, this one poor guy, thrown into the middle of a pit of rabid dogs basically, is taking the time to be racist while nothing thinking: HOLY FUCK I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE AND DO ANYTHING I CAN TO SURVIVE!!!!
Nope.. no he's thinking hateful racial slurs and how he can 'cleanse' the population of all these BLACK people...instead of these ZOMBIES THAT ARE TRYING TO FUCKING KILL HIM...
One of these days I wish those who see the other side would just fucking kill each other and get it over with. I'm tired of waiting and listening to the bleating of the sheep. Just shut the fuck up and rise up or something. Until then, I've got to get back to running away from 25 zombies(WHO HAPPEN TO BE BLACK, OH MY GOD CALL OPRAH!) and not get my head bashed in or my brains eating, etc, etc, etc...
Great article Jim, I agree. RE5 is not about an ethnic cleansing its about post-colonial powers abusing people in a developing nation. You can easily take the base scenario in Resident Evil 5(what Umbrella is doing to the villagers) and replace Umbrella with a number of multinational corporations who abuse these people for there labor.
@Link39
Unangbangkay, I'll say again, put it well in his blog. The bar, unfortunately could have been raised.
Its fine that there are tribes in Africa, or black people actually in shambly houses and in general destitution. Its fine to show that in any media.
But what's regretable is that of all the depictions they can show of these people in Africa, they choose the stereotype.
Playing up your setting is all well and good, and makes good sense from a story telling standpoint, of course.
But what's lamentable is that, like GameGoddess has said, you don't get people setting their games in Africa that often. Not that a game has to inform the full African experience. But, so far as being innovative, progressive, creative moving a medium forward when you're able to, its unfortunate when a group chooses not to.
That's my take, anyway. People are going to see and feel what they do. I'm just glad people are communicating.
Unangbangkay, I'll say again, put it well in his blog. The bar, unfortunately could have been raised.
Its fine that there are tribes in Africa, or black people actually in shambly houses and in general destitution. Its fine to show that in any media.
But what's regretable is that of all the depictions they can show of these people in Africa, they choose the stereotype.
Playing up your setting is all well and good, and makes good sense from a story telling standpoint, of course.
But what's lamentable is that, like GameGoddess has said, you don't get people setting their games in Africa that often. Not that a game has to inform the full African experience. But, so far as being innovative, progressive, creative moving a medium forward when you're able to, its unfortunate when a group chooses not to.
That's my take, anyway. People are going to see and feel what they do. I'm just glad people are communicating.
Well, if you'll allow me: no one complained about racism against Spaniards in RE4 because you weren't shotgunning bullfighters and mariachi bands.
@PappaDukes: I can certainly be accused of taking games too seriously, because I love video games and I'm a very classic "art school student" when it comes to analyzing things like this. However, in the three days since this game has been released, I've already heard two people use severe racial epithets, which I only don't repeat here for fear of getting banned, when referring to the enemies.
Of course it can be argued that those kind of feelings are either instilled in the person already and the game was no cause of that, or even that the use of racist terms doesn't necessarily reflect racist views on the person using them. I just don't agree with these arguments. I believe that artists, be they musicians, filmmakers or game developers, have a responsibility to consider how their works will be interpreted. That doesn't mean that I want to live in a society with a completely monochrome, politically correct artistic landscape, just that it would help to curb the amount of people who take only pure, visceral and oftentimes hate-mongering pleasure from it, if its creators showed a little more care to its message.
@Sup3rt3d, Link39: When you invoke realism as a defense of the game, you put the onus on the game to handle the images that it uses with responsibility. Resident Evil 5 is not a documentary.
I see your points, I do, I just think it's worthy of argument on whether or not the game is truly harmless. And I'm far, far from a person hyper-sensitive to race. In fact, I'm often the guy presenting it as an extremely diminished issue in modern society, but there were certain things in RE5 that gave me pause.
@Pangloss: You're right, in re-reading what I wrote, that was a very pompous way to speak of the whole country; I was just trying to get through that point, as I've seen it discussed many times elsewhere, in order to reach my main issue.
Thanks to whomever agreed with me, also whomever welcomed me.
@PappaDukes: I can certainly be accused of taking games too seriously, because I love video games and I'm a very classic "art school student" when it comes to analyzing things like this. However, in the three days since this game has been released, I've already heard two people use severe racial epithets, which I only don't repeat here for fear of getting banned, when referring to the enemies.
Of course it can be argued that those kind of feelings are either instilled in the person already and the game was no cause of that, or even that the use of racist terms doesn't necessarily reflect racist views on the person using them. I just don't agree with these arguments. I believe that artists, be they musicians, filmmakers or game developers, have a responsibility to consider how their works will be interpreted. That doesn't mean that I want to live in a society with a completely monochrome, politically correct artistic landscape, just that it would help to curb the amount of people who take only pure, visceral and oftentimes hate-mongering pleasure from it, if its creators showed a little more care to its message.
@Sup3rt3d, Link39: When you invoke realism as a defense of the game, you put the onus on the game to handle the images that it uses with responsibility. Resident Evil 5 is not a documentary.
I see your points, I do, I just think it's worthy of argument on whether or not the game is truly harmless. And I'm far, far from a person hyper-sensitive to race. In fact, I'm often the guy presenting it as an extremely diminished issue in modern society, but there were certain things in RE5 that gave me pause.
@Pangloss: You're right, in re-reading what I wrote, that was a very pompous way to speak of the whole country; I was just trying to get through that point, as I've seen it discussed many times elsewhere, in order to reach my main issue.
Thanks to whomever agreed with me, also whomever welcomed me.
Well said. Playing the first few chapters I've seen nothing that would lead me to believe this was a racist game. People are looking to hard to find somethign that isn't even there. More than anything playing this game I felt sorry for these poor people being taken advantage of. I never thought at and single point in time that this was a racist game.
And if people think RE5 is racist then why isn't that 50 cent game being called racist? Bunch of black guys gunning down middle eastern people. You know why? Because looking for racism in these games, when its so obvious that it isn't there, is so beyond stupid that you have to be a whole new class of stupid fuck moron to see it.
And if people think RE5 is racist then why isn't that 50 cent game being called racist? Bunch of black guys gunning down middle eastern people. You know why? Because looking for racism in these games, when its so obvious that it isn't there, is so beyond stupid that you have to be a whole new class of stupid fuck moron to see it.
Sheva lives in Africa right? And is herself African? Thats like saying white on white violence in racist. Also, if someone is TRYING TO KILL YOU then its not racist to fight back. I mean, come on, would you rather be called racist or die a painful death? I would prefer to be alive, just saying.
@SansJason
I concur. There is no denying that RE5 is not a documentary, and therefore should not be held to the standard that it must evoke realism and handle its imagery with the utmost of responsibility.
I think you, I, and most all D-toid members can agree that this game IS, however, using factual evidence heavily rooted in our real world as a part of its setting and canon.
@everybody,
However, I take the game as a statement. Even today there is still ripples of outcries of racism against even anti-racist literature like "To Kill a Mockingbird", simply due to it being such a sensitive topic, even if it is somewhat cyclical.
Do I think the game is trying to tackle the issue of racism, either to promote it or challenge it? No.
But I do think that the game, in my opinion, has handled the issue well. This is the kind of thing that you have to be expecting. From the moment I heard the game was set in Africa, I, and many of you, I believe, knew the race card was going to be played on this game, time and time again.
Even though I'm certain this game was engineered entirely as a form of entertainment, its subject matter warps it into a cultural and political statement that it is not trying to, nor is prepared to make. In spite of this, I feel that Capcom has handled the situation quite well.
I don't know how many of you this has happened for, but I actually found myself very surprised at the percentage of black Majini in the game. I think Capcom may have toned it down to the point that they are a minority in Africa. A conscious decision?
I think so.
I concur. There is no denying that RE5 is not a documentary, and therefore should not be held to the standard that it must evoke realism and handle its imagery with the utmost of responsibility.
I think you, I, and most all D-toid members can agree that this game IS, however, using factual evidence heavily rooted in our real world as a part of its setting and canon.
@everybody,
However, I take the game as a statement. Even today there is still ripples of outcries of racism against even anti-racist literature like "To Kill a Mockingbird", simply due to it being such a sensitive topic, even if it is somewhat cyclical.
Do I think the game is trying to tackle the issue of racism, either to promote it or challenge it? No.
But I do think that the game, in my opinion, has handled the issue well. This is the kind of thing that you have to be expecting. From the moment I heard the game was set in Africa, I, and many of you, I believe, knew the race card was going to be played on this game, time and time again.
Even though I'm certain this game was engineered entirely as a form of entertainment, its subject matter warps it into a cultural and political statement that it is not trying to, nor is prepared to make. In spite of this, I feel that Capcom has handled the situation quite well.
I don't know how many of you this has happened for, but I actually found myself very surprised at the percentage of black Majini in the game. I think Capcom may have toned it down to the point that they are a minority in Africa. A conscious decision?
I think so.
SansJason:"When you invoke realism as a defense of the game, you put the onus on the game to handle the images that it uses with responsibility. Resident Evil 5 is not a documentary."
*scratching head* I honestly don't know what you mean by this. Is the meaning that RE5 is using the images irresponsibly by putting them in there at all? I don't know who could bestow said responsibility. Sure, they have a responsibility to themselves to do what they think is right, but obviously, they do not believe it's their role to avoid certain content (that is in the proper context and makes sense), due to the fact that it may have a negative interpretation. I happen to agree with them, but even if I didn't, I don't see how it's irresponsible. They simply took the risk that people might choose to see it in the wrong light, which
has happened to an extent, and that's that.
Also, about how the Spanish in RE4 were not "bullfighters", they certainly looked like "stereotypical backward European peasants", which could be offensive if people chose to see it that way. In that case, the subtext would have been more CLASSIST than racist, thus is more complex. Some people who claim to be enemies of racism would claim that the peasants of
RE4 don't matter anyway, since class apparently doesn't matter-- ONLY RACE MATTERS! They fail to see the irony. I really don't think you're in that
group.
*scratching head* I honestly don't know what you mean by this. Is the meaning that RE5 is using the images irresponsibly by putting them in there at all? I don't know who could bestow said responsibility. Sure, they have a responsibility to themselves to do what they think is right, but obviously, they do not believe it's their role to avoid certain content (that is in the proper context and makes sense), due to the fact that it may have a negative interpretation. I happen to agree with them, but even if I didn't, I don't see how it's irresponsible. They simply took the risk that people might choose to see it in the wrong light, which
has happened to an extent, and that's that.
Also, about how the Spanish in RE4 were not "bullfighters", they certainly looked like "stereotypical backward European peasants", which could be offensive if people chose to see it that way. In that case, the subtext would have been more CLASSIST than racist, thus is more complex. Some people who claim to be enemies of racism would claim that the peasants of
RE4 don't matter anyway, since class apparently doesn't matter-- ONLY RACE MATTERS! They fail to see the irony. I really don't think you're in that
group.
Dear Mr. Sterling,
Thank you for clearing up the thorny and complex issue of racist imagery in Resident Evil 5 for us. Your posts have always demonstrated your well-developed sense of cultural awareness and objective ethical relativity.
As the highly educated and intellectually gifted individual you no doubt are, I cannot think of a better person than you to make the final statement on this issue. I’m glad it has finally been settled, and, as always, I thank you for your work.
Thank you for clearing up the thorny and complex issue of racist imagery in Resident Evil 5 for us. Your posts have always demonstrated your well-developed sense of cultural awareness and objective ethical relativity.
As the highly educated and intellectually gifted individual you no doubt are, I cannot think of a better person than you to make the final statement on this issue. I’m glad it has finally been settled, and, as always, I thank you for your work.
@SansJason
not sure what you mean by 'its not a documentary', are you saying that only documentaries are allowed to use factual material? Personally I feel the game has handle the sensitive material (which I still maintain is only sensitive if you want it to be) quite well.
Also, Bullifighters and Mariachi Bands are more of a caricature than black guys in grass skirts. If they were running about shouting 'ooga-booga', wearing bones in their noses and talking about eating people in pidgin that'd be equivalent to mariachi bands; blokes in grass skirts is equivalent to spaniards in typical peasant clothing... whicch is what we get in RE4.
not sure what you mean by 'its not a documentary', are you saying that only documentaries are allowed to use factual material? Personally I feel the game has handle the sensitive material (which I still maintain is only sensitive if you want it to be) quite well.
Also, Bullifighters and Mariachi Bands are more of a caricature than black guys in grass skirts. If they were running about shouting 'ooga-booga', wearing bones in their noses and talking about eating people in pidgin that'd be equivalent to mariachi bands; blokes in grass skirts is equivalent to spaniards in typical peasant clothing... whicch is what we get in RE4.
Racism will never die as long as xenophobic, imperialist types are given any attention at all. That goes as much for idiots like Ofari Hutchinson as it does for the grand dragon of the KKK. Ignore ignorance.
An informed opinion takes actual research and thought, and people just seem to get stupider every day.
OMG AND RE4 WAS RACIST AGAINST SPANISH PEOPLE!!! I can understand saying 'Super Punch Out' is offensive...it kind of is. Hilariously offensive, but offensive. I mean, look at Aran Ryan. He might as well have been called Drunky McMullet.
Anyway, next time I'm blowing Ganado heads off in RE4, I'll feel real awkward and stuff about how racist I am. :(
I swear that anti-game crusaders are some of the biggest idiotic air-wasters on the face of the earth.
Anyway, next time I'm blowing Ganado heads off in RE4, I'll feel real awkward and stuff about how racist I am. :(
I swear that anti-game crusaders are some of the biggest idiotic air-wasters on the face of the earth.
L4D was racist since there's only very few black ppl.
Valve considered black ppl aren't cool enough to be zombies or infected.
Valve considered black ppl aren't cool enough to be zombies or infected.
@The Reborn: There IS an automatic assumption of "No, it isn't". That's why you say "In a Perfect World", i.e., specifically not this world. I don't see what your problem is.
@Pappadukes:
By your logic, if something wrong has been done before, that makes it okay to continue to do it?
Wuh? Zuh?
By your logic, if something wrong has been done before, that makes it okay to continue to do it?
Wuh? Zuh?
I'm sorry, but everyone fights prejudice on some level, and personally, I would rather stop hearing about how everything is racist. We are every last one of us, racist, or classist, or ageist, or sexist, or otherwise discriminatory, and we, as humans need to work on that.
End of story.
End of story.
""It was no surprise that Jun Takeuchi yanked out that script to defend his video game brainchild Resident Evil 5 from the charge that it's racist," claims the reactionary whiner. "But what else could one call it?""
Well, let's see. Maybe the fact that the creator in question is named "Jun Takeuchi" might have clued you in to the fact that he his work is not, in fact, racist; or at least not "racist" with any of the America-centric connotations you ascribe to the word?
I realize writing at the HuffPo means that you're permitted to assume a worldview with an hierarchy of races stratified into levels of "oppressed" up to "oppressor" with Africans occupying the bottom, but even an escapee of our public school system should be able to spot the inherent idiocy in accusing Japanese game developers of harboring, or even understanding, why certain images are "racist" in the US and Europe.
Well, let's see. Maybe the fact that the creator in question is named "Jun Takeuchi" might have clued you in to the fact that he his work is not, in fact, racist; or at least not "racist" with any of the America-centric connotations you ascribe to the word?
I realize writing at the HuffPo means that you're permitted to assume a worldview with an hierarchy of races stratified into levels of "oppressed" up to "oppressor" with Africans occupying the bottom, but even an escapee of our public school system should be able to spot the inherent idiocy in accusing Japanese game developers of harboring, or even understanding, why certain images are "racist" in the US and Europe.
So, I'm guessing "Heads exploding into gigantic bat-things" now falls under the label of "Disease-challenged".
Anywho, until someone walks into my store waving their hands in the air screaming "BAN THIS SICK FILTH" and blaming me for corrupting the world or whatever, I'm really not going to argue about this. Racism was always sort of a one-sided argument anyways.
Anywho, until someone walks into my store waving their hands in the air screaming "BAN THIS SICK FILTH" and blaming me for corrupting the world or whatever, I'm really not going to argue about this. Racism was always sort of a one-sided argument anyways.
I've played up to 3-2 and can see how some may draw euphemisms and parallels between RE5's infected black zombies and the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Torching the jumping tribal gear laden Africans in the swamp section made me feel uncomfortable. And don't let anyone tell you the Japanese aren't a bunch of racists either, they hate the white man, love(d?) his culture.
SansJohnson- Your argument invalidates itself.
If you concede that the Japanese-created (and multiculturally-produced) was not created with racism implied or referenced, then it therefore stands that any racism seen in the game is a figment of subjective interpretation.
Context is everything. It's time we, as a society, decide to stop overruling contextual extenuation or exoneration on the basis of individually subjective offense. It's fucking tiresome.
If you concede that the Japanese-created (and multiculturally-produced) was not created with racism implied or referenced, then it therefore stands that any racism seen in the game is a figment of subjective interpretation.
Context is everything. It's time we, as a society, decide to stop overruling contextual extenuation or exoneration on the basis of individually subjective offense. It's fucking tiresome.
@People Who Think It May Be Racist:
What would you change to make it not racist? How would you make it more "sensitive"?
Is it just because Chris is a white guy? Would it not be racist if he was Latino, or Japanese? Or is it only okay for a black man to kill black zombies in Africa?
What would you change to make it not racist? How would you make it more "sensitive"?
Is it just because Chris is a white guy? Would it not be racist if he was Latino, or Japanese? Or is it only okay for a black man to kill black zombies in Africa?
Jimster found a very unracist (wut?) game.
I'm curious about this brave new genre, sounds intriguing, sounds politically correctabulous.
I'm curious about this brave new genre, sounds intriguing, sounds politically correctabulous.
Resident Evil 5 game, if is to call it a racist game because a white man kills black zombies, then Resident Evil 4 was racist too because if I'm not mistaken, Chris is supposedly to be the same white guy killing Hispanics in this game! Right?
This stupid! So this kind of games can only be called racist when a white man kills a blacks, but not when he kills Hispanics? Don't make me laugh!
If there is a new game (Resident Evil 6) They're going to place it in Asia killing Muslims. Then this game is going to be called Racist against the Arabs. White man killing Arabs.
So if the guys from CAPCOM are forced to make non-racist games then they're going to force them to make a game where a white man kills only white Zombies. Then another idiot its going to say that the game creator is trying to put the white people against one another and that they're not using black people in games.
who in hell understand this guys? Next time instead a white Raccoon cop, we're going to put a black raccoon cop. Then they will be happy.
This stupid! So this kind of games can only be called racist when a white man kills a blacks, but not when he kills Hispanics? Don't make me laugh!
If there is a new game (Resident Evil 6) They're going to place it in Asia killing Muslims. Then this game is going to be called Racist against the Arabs. White man killing Arabs.
So if the guys from CAPCOM are forced to make non-racist games then they're going to force them to make a game where a white man kills only white Zombies. Then another idiot its going to say that the game creator is trying to put the white people against one another and that they're not using black people in games.
who in hell understand this guys? Next time instead a white Raccoon cop, we're going to put a black raccoon cop. Then they will be happy.
I was originally much more apprehensive about the game than i think a lot of others were. The only scene i found really disturbing is very near the start *minor spoiler alert*
As you walk through the village, you catch sight of a young, blonde white woman being dragged off by two black men. Even though in the context of the game it makes perfect sense that victims of las plagas are compelled to spread the infection there is something very blaxploitation about that scene that pissed me off. Other than that i thought they handled the situation fairly well and after that scene i never felt uncomfortable. There is a long and storied history of western companies and governments exploiting the natural resources of Africa and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. As a metaphor for that the game works surprisinly well.
As you walk through the village, you catch sight of a young, blonde white woman being dragged off by two black men. Even though in the context of the game it makes perfect sense that victims of las plagas are compelled to spread the infection there is something very blaxploitation about that scene that pissed me off. Other than that i thought they handled the situation fairly well and after that scene i never felt uncomfortable. There is a long and storied history of western companies and governments exploiting the natural resources of Africa and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. As a metaphor for that the game works surprisinly well.
Chris is supposedly to be the same white guy killing Hispanics in this game! Right? @Evilsaint Your prejudice against Chris and his supposedly white guyness way of living perplexes me.
For the record RE4's protagonist is Leon Kennedy, a Mexican, which means the theme of RE4 is Spanish on Spanish hate crime, which is a-okay. I was happy with that.
For the record RE4's protagonist is Leon Kennedy, a Mexican, which means the theme of RE4 is Spanish on Spanish hate crime, which is a-okay. I was happy with that.
God. It's like people don't even know what that bloody word means any more. And I'm sorry, but today's society is so backwards when it comes to racism. I mean, I remember watching an MTV reality show a while ago, where a black woman was clearly being racist towards a white woman, and yet nobody said anything. It's just stupid. Also, the people writing these articles aboviously have a preconseption that poor Africans are hostile and barbaric otherwise they wouldn't have made the connection. So in a way they're the ones being racist.
Also, the thing about the tribal warriors Jim, when you first encounter them Sheva actually says 'They're infected, how could somebody do something like this?' just in case people thought they were angry tribesfolk.
Also, the thing about the tribal warriors Jim, when you first encounter them Sheva actually says 'They're infected, how could somebody do something like this?' just in case people thought they were angry tribesfolk.
Really one of your best pieces, Jim. I really enjoyed reading that and I sincerely hope this Hutchinson character does the same.
Bravo!
Bravo!
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