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The Male Gaze
#15
Sadly I haven't played much of Bayonetta yet, but looking up more interviews on it Kamiya did say that they weren't trying to pander (though who knows, he could be lying):

Quote:It's more like "we're making the best game we know how to make." And for a game like Bayonetta, because there's so much blood splattering on screen when you're in battle and stuff ... if it weren't for that, it probably would be alright for kids to be playing, on just the level that it's a game, an action game, and it doesn't really matter how old you are when you're playing it. You should be able to appreciate it and enjoy it. So the idea that we're targeting a specific demographic, or specific age rather, when making a game doesn't really enter in too much. Once the game comes in reaches this level of development, and reaches this stage of concept, it naturally gravitates in a certain direction.

More after-release interview quotes:

Quote:I believe that the essential element to express sexiness is high quality design, not the exposed skin. So I always directed designers not to expose her body without having good reason to for the game design. In addition, I also attached importance to the fashionable sense, as we did in Dante, in order not to make a "battle suit". Regarding the fashion, I attached greater importance to it than before because our protagonist was a woman. I appointed Shimazaki, the female designer for that reason. Bayonetta's costumes were born from her feminine and sensitive point of view.

Quote:I want characters to fight whilst showing their principles in addition to just beating the enemies. For example, Dante, the pretentious tough guy, shows arrogance and stylishness in the way of fighting. Joe innocently plays the role of a fun hero because he is still a teenager. Then, I strongly felt that what I wanted to depict next was a feminine, beautiful and elegant fighter and the project of Bayonetta began.

The supple and fascinating motion of women is a really attractive element to take to an action game. In addition, the contrast between a very beautiful woman and violent actions that she can commit also is an interesting prospect when creating a game.

Quote:Along with her actions, Bayonetta has a lot of elements which have unique tastes specific to women; she always walks like Marilyn Monroe. Her lock-on cursor shapes like a lipstick mark. The magical power which assists her when she makes double jump is expressed as butterfly wings. Blood flying off her when she's attacked changes into rose petals. So you can see we've gone to great lengths to express Bayonetta's femininity throughout every aspect of the game.

(the last one sounds "sexist" but come on, you can't tell me you don't associate rose petals and lipstick with women)

I really just can't reconcile that Kamiya, a great Japanese game designer who seems to do everything but pander to the masses or create mediocre things because it's popular (Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe were some of the most revolutionary games of their time), would just create a character for the sole purpose of getting his rocks off Mary-Sue style. That quote Groove linked is slightly disturbing but I think it was just kind of intended as an offhand joke-ish remark that got overblown; he says "Women are scary" and then goes on to talk about how beautiful and graceful they are, and how he wants to convey this in Bayonetta's character. Doesn't sound like a misogynist to me (that's someone who literally hates all women) at all! Though, to be honest even if it was true it wouldn't reduce my enjoyment of the game much, since I don't particularly care about political correctness or morality in videogames/art in general, but I can see why it might bother other people.
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Messages In This Thread
The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-16-2011, 05:20 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Cshad - 07-16-2011, 05:50 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-16-2011, 05:54 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-16-2011, 05:55 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-16-2011, 06:01 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-16-2011, 06:04 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by PrettyNier - 07-16-2011, 06:29 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-16-2011, 06:34 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 06:38 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-16-2011, 06:50 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 06:50 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-16-2011, 06:54 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 07:01 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 07:07 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-16-2011, 07:08 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-16-2011, 07:10 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 07:13 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 07:16 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by PrettyNier - 07-16-2011, 07:31 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 07:32 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 07:33 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 07:40 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-16-2011, 08:23 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-16-2011, 08:49 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 09:01 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 09:10 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-16-2011, 09:12 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 09:15 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-16-2011, 09:15 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 09:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 09:51 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by a babyass man - 07-16-2011, 09:45 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by triptych - 07-17-2011, 04:47 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 09:54 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 09:58 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 09:59 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 10:02 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 10:05 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 10:10 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 10:17 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 10:27 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 10:30 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 10:36 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 10:45 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-16-2011, 10:21 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 10:23 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 04:10 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-16-2011, 10:23 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 03:46 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 04:00 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 04:19 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-16-2011, 10:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 10:50 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-16-2011, 10:52 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-16-2011, 11:21 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by tsr moderation staff - 07-16-2011, 11:30 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-16-2011, 11:30 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-17-2011, 12:36 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by tsr moderation staff - 07-16-2011, 10:55 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-16-2011, 11:00 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-16-2011, 11:27 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-16-2011, 11:47 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-16-2011, 11:57 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by tsr moderation staff - 07-17-2011, 12:46 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-17-2011, 12:51 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 01:00 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-17-2011, 12:53 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-17-2011, 01:07 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-17-2011, 05:46 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 06:28 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-17-2011, 06:48 AM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-17-2011, 01:43 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 01:50 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by StarSock64 - 07-17-2011, 02:46 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 03:52 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 03:56 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-17-2011, 04:06 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 04:13 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Lemonray - 07-17-2011, 04:09 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 04:17 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 04:21 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 04:23 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 04:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 04:27 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-17-2011, 04:25 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 04:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 04:27 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 04:28 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-17-2011, 04:28 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 04:31 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-17-2011, 04:30 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 04:31 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 04:42 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-17-2011, 05:11 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 05:12 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-17-2011, 06:02 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 06:11 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-17-2011, 06:28 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Jalopes - 07-17-2011, 06:29 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Kriven - 07-17-2011, 06:31 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by DavidCaruso - 07-17-2011, 06:47 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by GrooveMan.exe - 07-17-2011, 06:49 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by RétroX - 07-17-2011, 06:49 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 07:00 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 07:06 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 07:07 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-17-2011, 07:08 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 07:17 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 07:20 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by SKELTON S. SKELETON - 07-17-2011, 07:20 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 07:22 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 07:22 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 07:22 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Sengir - 07-17-2011, 07:23 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 07:24 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Alpha Six - 07-17-2011, 07:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 07:26 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chris2Balls [:B] - 07-17-2011, 07:30 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 07:34 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 07:37 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by RétroX - 07-17-2011, 07:44 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Chutzpar - 07-17-2011, 07:52 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Koopaul - 07-17-2011, 08:17 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by lord bestfriendgeny - 07-17-2011, 08:20 PM
RE: The Male Gaze - by Cobalt Blue - 07-18-2011, 03:05 AM

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