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Far Cry 4's art is racist and the antagonist is (potentially) gay
- Thread starter KillerIsJed
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TheCthultist
Member
I keep hoping that's the case, and even though all evidence points to it, it's really looking quite genuine...
Just to kick things off, the box art isn't racist... The person viewing it may be racist, but the art itself is just that: art. It's showing off the setting and some characters who may play a prominent role in the story. And the fact that that's immediately where someone's mind went upon seeing it speaks volumes about them from a psychological standpoint.
As for the homophobic aspect, I feel compelled to ask why it is that you, OP, feel that a gay man shouldn't be allowed to lay the part of the villain... Consistently one of the coolest, most interesting roles to fill in a video game or story, should be saved for folks from a non-homosexual background. All after implying how inappropriate it is to discriminate against people.
This entire conversation/thread just seems.... stupid? I can't think of the right word for it, so I'm going with stupid...
The "white savior" is a pretty widespread phenomenon in the media, dude. You don't need to be actively looking for offense to notice it.
Haunted
Member
RustyNails
Member
I usually stay the fuck out of sensitive topics, but this is PC gone beyond repair. Is the ONLY accepted bad guy a white dude with a thick Russian accent? Why are you assuming a flamboyant guy is automatically gay? Straight people can just be as flamboyant. This is coming from someone who is non-white and Muslim. We are the token bad guys in pretty much every Call of Duty/Battlefield story, yet no one complains.
And that right there is the issue.
You should. It's unquestionably racist and problematic. Any image of a whiteman in a position of physical superiority over any ethnic group brings up huge issues within a wider historical context. It's just continuing to perpetuate views of white elitism.
And no, even if the game seeks to 'undermine' such views and subvert them, that intention shouldn't go without question either. Just look at how badly the writer of FC3 handled an attempt to do just that in the previous game - and his God-awful writing in Child of Light hardly helps inspire confidence either.
Benzychenz
Member
All I'm seeing is a potentially interesting character.
Hours Left
Member
Responses like this don't really help either though. There are an untold number of terrible things happening in the world today, some overtly evil, some insidiously so. It's important for people to speak out against injustice, and this includes a myriad of issues related to the gaming community.
The thing is though, it's important to make sure to focus on actual discriminatory practices, and not get hung up on carelessly creating situations that only serve to harm any genuine attempts at making meaningful change.
"Context"? In this thread?
RustyNails
Member
scoobidoo112
Member
I think this box art must be intentionally designed to offend. There's no way that they arbitrarily went with this over the eight variations of "rugged dude on an island with a gun."
It's either an artistic master stroke or a conscious middle finger to social justice proponents; possibly both. Can't decide where I stand on this.
It's either an artistic master stroke or a conscious middle finger to social justice proponents; possibly both. Can't decide where I stand on this.
TheHollowNight
Member
Asian dude in a rad hot pink suit lording it over other asian dude in military attire.
Apparently racist and homophobic. Ok...sorry what?
My only concerns regarding this, is the fact that it's the same writer of FC3, and there were some pretty janky-ass themes propping up that game. More worrying was that infamous RPS interview about the story, where his explanations were completely contradictory and a mess of half-baked statements.
So I'm keeping my eye on this. I definitely do not share the misplaced outrage for the box art, but more anxious about how the writer is actually going to handle the material & setting. Hopefully he won't make a meal out of it this time because this main anatagonist(?) looks very interesting.
Apparently racist and homophobic. Ok...sorry what?
My only concerns regarding this, is the fact that it's the same writer of FC3, and there were some pretty janky-ass themes propping up that game. More worrying was that infamous RPS interview about the story, where his explanations were completely contradictory and a mess of half-baked statements.
So I'm keeping my eye on this. I definitely do not share the misplaced outrage for the box art, but more anxious about how the writer is actually going to handle the material & setting. Hopefully he won't make a meal out of it this time because this main anatagonist(?) looks very interesting.
Maybe or maybe not but how much of is true and how much of it is people simply looking to be offended by something.
You weren't offended? Stop perpetuating white elitism. Someone should get to firing the racists over at Ubisoft. Don't you get it: COLONIALISM. Don't you understand any instance that can be is every instance of the most negative.
really? because there's been a ton of questions regarding everything you are assuming as fact in this one topic alone.
please tell me how to feel. I am lost without you.
Perfect
They're the bad guys
EDIT: Although, if Khan had been cast as an Indian dude in the Trek movie, we might have heard the same outcry. It's like you can't win either way.
Unless you cast an Indian dude as Captain Kirk too, which was preferable to casting Benny Cumberbatch. Sorry guys. Who here know what Star Trek is? Far Cry. Sorry.
7DollarHagane
Banned
I think there's very little to go on and we probably should wait until e3 at least to know more about the game than its boxart and setting.
my "problem" with the cover, if there is one, is it seems like a rote reaction to the success of the last game. like, okay we hit gold with this one villain. so what's next? lets have a flamboyant guy controlling the natives with drugs or religion or something. (though that may be nothing like the actual game's plotline, who knows), seems kind of obvious and kind of lazy.
i was hoping the game would be more about the world you're exploring rather than a certain character
as for the cultural arguments, don't care
i was hoping the game would be more about the world you're exploring rather than a certain character
as for the cultural arguments, don't care
TheHollowNight
Member
Especially because it goes both ways
TheCthultist
Member
Quick question related to that cover, though... Who else immediately thought of Saints Row upon seeing it?
I got this vibe, too. I think they might be chasing after Vaas. I think there is potential if they can fix the problems with FC3.
MHWilliams
Member
Lawrence of Arabia, Dangerous Minds, The Last Samurai, The Help, The Blind Side, and Dances With Wolves. That's just off the top of my head. It's not that uncommon.
Bluekaveli
Member
Nah, one version will be 840p and the other will be 792 brah.
Good God, would I love to play as that dude in the middle. Hoooooly cow. PS4 bought. Day zero.
But I think they're just going for Javier Bardem in Skyfall.
EDIT:
That's also my bad, totally jumped to conclusions about the antagonist-status of the guy. Figured paternalistically putting his hand on another human being's head didn't make him the sympathetic character.
Delusibeta
Banned
Jumping To Conclusions: The Thread.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
I think most people would agree stereotypes are bad. It's wrong to make unfair presumptions about something you know nothing about based solely on appearance.
Oh wait.
Thats a true story for christ sake, i'm pretty sure some of the others are as well. And so what anyway, can we not have white men as the 'hero' anymore?.
RustyNails
Member
Lawrence of Arabia actually is 100% real, and the movie follows the historical events extremely well. It's pretty much a quick history lesson.
scoobidoo112
Member
I thought Niko Belić/Нико Белић being from my neck of the woods is pretty cool but sure it is a stereotype (somewhat - not more than any other). This level of political correctness would leave us promoting racism of some kind i guess, because in the end, you could have only one ethnicity/nationality/locality/sexuality in the movie or else someone would end up being offended and brand it as possibly offending.
I guess, I could take Нико Белић as Rockstar promoting World War 3 - they are making "Eastern Europeans" bad guys, thus promoting hate and animosity towards Russian's in the west. And all those COD's and BF's obviously thats training for upcoming war where it is ok to kill russians.
OMG!
BobbyRobby
Member
I feel you could use the same rationale to rally against some really cool characters.
Take The Wire. Without seeing it, you could ask, why is this gay black guy a criminal? I'm afraid this will reinforce stereotypes.
Now imagine they had caved, and made him a white straight dude. You'd have robbed us of Omar Little, one of my favorite fictional characters
Wait until you get some context. Are you that desperate to be first in the outrage line?
Take The Wire. Without seeing it, you could ask, why is this gay black guy a criminal? I'm afraid this will reinforce stereotypes.
Now imagine they had caved, and made him a white straight dude. You'd have robbed us of Omar Little, one of my favorite fictional characters
Wait until you get some context. Are you that desperate to be first in the outrage line?
The explanation by the writer was probably among the craziest fucking things I've ever heard.
It is common and totally capable of producing great works. Just like the people offended by rape and revenge tropes can't deny the fantastic films and episodes of television that come from it. This is ignoring the fact that, you know, the real-world existence of people like Lawrence complicates offense (though his relevance is overblown).
ConradCervantes
Banned
What an embarrassing OP.
It's an image of a white man in an elevated position and someone of an ethnic group outside of his race being forcibly made to kneel. He's being used as an armrest. He is basically being reduced to furniture. That's less than human. It's the final step in degrading any race.
Doesn't matter if that's the villain or the protagonist of the game - it's highly racially charged imagery.
That's a fact. If you can't see it, it's because you're choosing to not do so. Using that as your cover for a big-blockbuster action-game is beyond insensitive.
NervousXtian
Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
What is this, even, I don't know.
oh really? like what
scoobidoo112
Member
OP banned
Calling people bakery products is no joke!
Wait, what? Is that the actual reason?
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