My initial response to the prior thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.828068-Sexy-Power-Armor-am-I-juvenile-for-liking-it-a-response-to-recent-Kill-La-Kill-concepts] in gif form:
Didn't't really want to post this until the last thread lost its steam, even if it turned into what constitutes as armour (it did not, obviously as I have been thoroughly told, get your definitions right with the Escapist grew, lesson learned) and that whilst a majority of the escapist wanted to carve out their eyes upon looking at the supplied example, I was entitled to like it. Even if I am now some kind of fusion between Skeletor and Chris Brown to the Escapist community.
BUT as an artist (sorta), I have my preferences, and my favourite thing to draw is women. Some people like drawing Pokemon, some like drawing Ponies, and some like drawing the previously mentioned in creepy fan-art and making plushies with incriminating holes. When you've drawn the female body a lot, it loses its novelty and mystery, it's still one of the most engaging and challenging things to draw, but you're not giggling like a child when you start drawing nude models.
So when I happen upon designs such as these:
Kill la Kill's Magic Girl "Mecha" Costume wha-cha-ma-call-it thingy that the show uses as a gag. And the thread wasn't about whether or not I thought it was sensible as armour (I didn't say it was). Turns out it's built for speed (aside from the heels) she hasn't got much on to weigh her down.
Anarchy Reigns: Mathilda "Totally Bitchin' Jacket" McPointy-nip.
Triage X: Manga series drawn by Shoji Sato, puts an insane amount of detail into the designs, but he's the artist behind Highschool of the Dead. A comedy with zombies, at least I assume it's a comedy...
I find that I can look past the sexualized nature of female character designs, and get to appreciate the overall style and execution. Functionality, practicality, and intent be damned however, as designs that I like never make sense realistically, but that's part of the allure of Fantasy. The only thing realistic I care about is character, emotion and context, if I want realism I'll go outside.
But then these sorts of designs don't fly for a lot of women (and men) and expecting them to would be silly of me. When I'm designing for personal shits and giggles, I'm only ever thinking about what I like, as opposed to a more professional setting where my thoughts are more audience motivated. In defiance to what is assumed to be cynically motivated; "oh he only draws that stuff for attention", no, I draw that stuff because I like that stuff. So when I 'dial it down', I'm actually being more cynical; "better alter this or a lot of people will throw their shit at me".
I believe it is this line f thinking that motivates publishers to put female characters on the back of the box. Whilst a lot of outcry does put a dampener on the overtly sexualised female character, the affects seems to spill over onto realistic female characters (even Ellie from the Last of Us had sexist claims lobbed at the developers).
Broad generalization incoming: Part of the problem is eastern character designers cannot seem to make a female character that isn't sexualized (by virtue of lack of fucks given, and the potential to sell merchandise to 'otaku's'), western media doesn't want to use them at all due to perceived negative market impact (Publisher: "Put da ***** on da back yo, or my hommies won't buy dat shit").
So could my uncommon position as an artist (sorta) to which I have drawn the female form numerously potentially leave me with an appreciation for Female characters without my libido completely dominating my tastes, have I desensitized myself so to speak?
Also can good writing, providing a sense of context, "save" a character that is designed with some sex appeal in mind? Bayonetta for example, the character is incredibly over the top, and owns her sexuality in a very domineering manner.
For Kill la Kill, for what I have been told the costume is a bit of the shows joke. The clothes are sentient I can figure and that the form that takes on is not of her particular desires, but if you want the super powers you have to have the 'stripperiffic' outfit. Why doesn't it transform into something more 'practical'? Designer wanted to have laugh perhaps, or simply because of reasons listed above.
-
TL;DR: By drawing women do I get to appreciate female characters more because I'm desensitized to the sexuality to some degree?And can good writing and clever contextualising validate a sexually inclined design?
Why do I care: Creating in future should I design for the evil purposes of satisfying my own (warped) tastes, or create for the many even if my heart wouldn't be fully into it, but I get the gratification of mass acceptance later?
Didn't't really want to post this until the last thread lost its steam, even if it turned into what constitutes as armour (it did not, obviously as I have been thoroughly told, get your definitions right with the Escapist grew, lesson learned) and that whilst a majority of the escapist wanted to carve out their eyes upon looking at the supplied example, I was entitled to like it. Even if I am now some kind of fusion between Skeletor and Chris Brown to the Escapist community.
BUT as an artist (sorta), I have my preferences, and my favourite thing to draw is women. Some people like drawing Pokemon, some like drawing Ponies, and some like drawing the previously mentioned in creepy fan-art and making plushies with incriminating holes. When you've drawn the female body a lot, it loses its novelty and mystery, it's still one of the most engaging and challenging things to draw, but you're not giggling like a child when you start drawing nude models.
So when I happen upon designs such as these:
Kill la Kill's Magic Girl "Mecha" Costume wha-cha-ma-call-it thingy that the show uses as a gag. And the thread wasn't about whether or not I thought it was sensible as armour (I didn't say it was). Turns out it's built for speed (aside from the heels) she hasn't got much on to weigh her down.
Anarchy Reigns: Mathilda "Totally Bitchin' Jacket" McPointy-nip.
Triage X: Manga series drawn by Shoji Sato, puts an insane amount of detail into the designs, but he's the artist behind Highschool of the Dead. A comedy with zombies, at least I assume it's a comedy...
I find that I can look past the sexualized nature of female character designs, and get to appreciate the overall style and execution. Functionality, practicality, and intent be damned however, as designs that I like never make sense realistically, but that's part of the allure of Fantasy. The only thing realistic I care about is character, emotion and context, if I want realism I'll go outside.
But then these sorts of designs don't fly for a lot of women (and men) and expecting them to would be silly of me. When I'm designing for personal shits and giggles, I'm only ever thinking about what I like, as opposed to a more professional setting where my thoughts are more audience motivated. In defiance to what is assumed to be cynically motivated; "oh he only draws that stuff for attention", no, I draw that stuff because I like that stuff. So when I 'dial it down', I'm actually being more cynical; "better alter this or a lot of people will throw their shit at me".
I believe it is this line f thinking that motivates publishers to put female characters on the back of the box. Whilst a lot of outcry does put a dampener on the overtly sexualised female character, the affects seems to spill over onto realistic female characters (even Ellie from the Last of Us had sexist claims lobbed at the developers).
Broad generalization incoming: Part of the problem is eastern character designers cannot seem to make a female character that isn't sexualized (by virtue of lack of fucks given, and the potential to sell merchandise to 'otaku's'), western media doesn't want to use them at all due to perceived negative market impact (Publisher: "Put da ***** on da back yo, or my hommies won't buy dat shit").
So could my uncommon position as an artist (sorta) to which I have drawn the female form numerously potentially leave me with an appreciation for Female characters without my libido completely dominating my tastes, have I desensitized myself so to speak?
Also can good writing, providing a sense of context, "save" a character that is designed with some sex appeal in mind? Bayonetta for example, the character is incredibly over the top, and owns her sexuality in a very domineering manner.
For Kill la Kill, for what I have been told the costume is a bit of the shows joke. The clothes are sentient I can figure and that the form that takes on is not of her particular desires, but if you want the super powers you have to have the 'stripperiffic' outfit. Why doesn't it transform into something more 'practical'? Designer wanted to have laugh perhaps, or simply because of reasons listed above.
-
TL;DR: By drawing women do I get to appreciate female characters more because I'm desensitized to the sexuality to some degree?And can good writing and clever contextualising validate a sexually inclined design?
Why do I care: Creating in future should I design for the evil purposes of satisfying my own (warped) tastes, or create for the many even if my heart wouldn't be fully into it, but I get the gratification of mass acceptance later?