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RE5 Race Debate Continues
helava says,
This is a really odd situation. On one hand, the imagery that Capcom's created leverages centuries worth of negative stereotypes about blacks and whites. Devoid of any other context, it's really easy to say, "God, that's terrible."
On the other hand, if the context makes the imagery make sense, if it gives it depth, then what? What if the whole game is a statement about the horrible racial imagery and how people's preconceptions about this sort of thing can lead them to horrible action?
I'm not inclined to believe that such a thing is *likely*, given how generally unconcerned or xenophobic a homogeneous society like Japan can be - I'd more likely chalk it up to ignorance, not maliciousness. Either way, though, the imagery independent of meaning is hard to really discuss, but I'm glad people are talking about it.
Article excerpt from kotaku.com —
"A new salvo's been levied at the now-infamous Resident Evil 5 Trailer by Tolu Olarunda at the Your Black Writers blog, who was upset by the Trailer 's imagery.
A couple weeks ago, a friend sent me a A couple of weeks ago, a friend sent me a YouTube link. He described it as "African genocide." Not knowing what to expect, I clicked on...
Read the full article at kotaku.com »
Read the full article at kotaku.com »
Posted 3 years ago
I agree about chalking it up to ignorance over maliciousness, but that doesn't make it not racism. In addition, I'd think that the American release of RE5 had an American team or producer who worked on it. Probably, at that point, it was too late to do anything about the product, but it wasn't too late to wrap some context or better messaging around it. There is no way that any country that had been touched by white/black racism won't see the issues inherent in the bad guys = black, good guys = white presentation.
Well, at least anyone in those countries with two brain cells to rub together. *ducks from flamage*
Well, at least anyone in those countries with two brain cells to rub together. *ducks from flamage*
Posted 3 years ago
I'm not saying it's not racism, but I'm not saying it's racism, either. I'm saying that while the imagery certainly is steeped, contextually, in racism, it depends on what the game's content is - maybe it's a strong, anti-racist statement. From the trailers, you can't really tell.
Like I said, it *looks* racist, but I'm holding out some hope that it's not. Maybe my hope is misplaced, but there it is.
Like I said, it *looks* racist, but I'm holding out some hope that it's not. Maybe my hope is misplaced, but there it is.
Posted 3 years ago
You know what makes me "feel" it is racist? The way they portray the blacks in the game. It's very minstrel-ish and feels very outdated and old fashioned to me. Americans are so conditioned to be on the look out for this type of thing (at least those of us that are thinking types) that this just screams wrong.
I feel like I am watching a game consisting completely of these black people attacking me.
I feel like I am watching a game consisting completely of these black people attacking me.
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