tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post761807156076480721..comments2023-05-09T11:32:41.018-04:00Comments on The Princess and The Warlock: The Princess's Garden: Beyond the StereotypeThe Princess and The Warlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-4369580724902823312011-04-12T10:24:18.343-04:002011-04-12T10:24:18.343-04:00Great post, Princess :)
I will say, though, in so...Great post, Princess :)<br /><br />I will say, though, in some instances, it is possible to use these stereotypes as a portal for exploring that stereotype as a weakness in the character. For example, creating an overly tough 'Gun Bunny' type who may come off that way, but harbors inner reserves. Or a Damsel character who evolves into something more. As long as that is not -all- you have for a character, I'd say that you evolved out of the normal two-dimensional portrayal. The hardest of those to shake is the crazy, though: too many people love to indulge in that without understanding how to do it right in the first place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-11960692329149254572010-08-26T14:05:42.824-04:002010-08-26T14:05:42.824-04:00@ A.L. - Hmm, I would tend to disagree. I personal...@ A.L. - Hmm, I would tend to disagree. I personally find his females rather well rounded. I think he is very good at showcasing vunerability within his characters, both male and female. I'm not so sure he is making them sulky, weak and/or hollow as showing universal flaws and fears that everyone has. I don't think he limits this to his female characters. So for me they ring true, but to each their own :)<br /><br />@optiumsnakeyes - Agreed! Have you read "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins? The main character Katniss is such a well written and very realistic female character (which is refreshing to find in the world of YA literature these days). And, yes, Adelle Dewitt is very interesting. I'm very intrigued by that character. We just finished Season 1 not long ago and are looking forward to checking out Season 2.<br /><br />~ The PrincessThe Princess and The Warlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00449955822072694052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-41067098530187340782010-08-20T12:46:38.761-04:002010-08-20T12:46:38.761-04:00Hey Princess, good post! I think it's worth m...Hey Princess, good post! I think it's worth mentioning that a common complaint about the portrayal of female characters, especially in action/adventure/fantasy genres, is that they are essentially men with tits. Oddly enough, it's not just men who fall into this trap; I've seen girl gamers create this kind of character too. We have been programmed with the following equation: effective/tough = masculine. The trick is to create female characters that maintain their femininity despite taking part in traditionally male roles/activities. Second is not to pervert that femininity into a wet dream parody of itself. Some of the best examples of this kind of characterization I can think of are the characters of Boomer and, especially, President Laura Roslin on Battlestar Galactica (Starbuck and sexy-blonde-cylon not so much). Some other good examples are Thorn from Jeff Smith's Bone as well as pretty much every female character from any Terry Moore comic. A good example of a character that plays an entirely feminine role without being diminished by it is found, oddly enough, in a James Bond film: Vesper Lynd from Casino Royale may not be able to kick ass, but she is entirely Bond's equal in will, smarts and savy. Somehow she also still finds time to be absurdly sexy. Joss Whedon, as you said, does a pretty good job of this too, though personally I'm as (if not more) impressed in this regard by Adelle Dewitt as I am by Faith.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224809010132548065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4023127447302803639.post-82838756471480703332010-08-20T09:18:37.702-04:002010-08-20T09:18:37.702-04:00Good first post.
I agree with you on the need for...Good first post.<br /><br />I agree with you on the need for better female characters, in literature for geeks as well as in gaming. Some of it I think is simply a product of the myths that the games were based on originally. Especially with the damsel character type.<br /><br />I haven't seen all (much) of Buffy, but I've never particularly liked Joss's take on females. Their may be exceptions, but often the characters of his I've heard people claim are strong, are only strong in the physical sense. Inside they're weak and hollow, needing other people to help decide things for them, and prone to going off to sulk in the corner every time things go weird. As I said, limited experience, but it is the impression I've gotten, and I see it all over the place.A.L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05306497273874881493noreply@blogger.com