I like to write stories. One day, I hope to be able to write for a video game company, mainly in RPGs. But, the question of women's representation vs artistic freedom has always lingered on the back of my mind, and I'm not sure how I should approach it.
I'm wondering if I should let feminism 'affect' my writing. I mean, I get the criticisms: objectification, mass media affecting depiction of women, little girls being pressured into looking a certain way, I get it. I certainly don't want any women to experience rape or harassment.
But, I see my specific characters as male or female. At best, I would be willing to gender swap some characters, but even then, I feel like I would be making the "Fighting Fuck Toy" (not coined by me but someone else). I just like explosions and fight scenes. I don't want to give any negative impression on a female what-so-ever: my characters are individuals based on my imagination. Is my imagination based on patriarchal wish-fulfillment? Sure, but I don't mind. But, then again, I speak from male privilege.
Mainly, I take Bob Chipman's accounts when he mentions that women are largely missing from popular culture (specifically in video games) and that game developers should attempt to put more female protagonists. However, he also says that that self censorship is wrong and uses the quote from David Cronenberg "As an artist, that's where the paradox is - your responsibility is to be irresponsible. As soon as you talk about political or social responsibility, you've amputated the best limbs you've got as an artist.?
Obviously, all works of art are open to criticism. I accept that. However, I don't understand what a game developer 'should' do. I certainly do not wish for negative representation of women to continue, but how should a game developer approach feminism without being labeled as 'self-censored' especially considering feminism wasn't part of the game developer's agenda to begin with?
I'm wondering if I should let feminism 'affect' my writing. I mean, I get the criticisms: objectification, mass media affecting depiction of women, little girls being pressured into looking a certain way, I get it. I certainly don't want any women to experience rape or harassment.
But, I see my specific characters as male or female. At best, I would be willing to gender swap some characters, but even then, I feel like I would be making the "Fighting Fuck Toy" (not coined by me but someone else). I just like explosions and fight scenes. I don't want to give any negative impression on a female what-so-ever: my characters are individuals based on my imagination. Is my imagination based on patriarchal wish-fulfillment? Sure, but I don't mind. But, then again, I speak from male privilege.
Mainly, I take Bob Chipman's accounts when he mentions that women are largely missing from popular culture (specifically in video games) and that game developers should attempt to put more female protagonists. However, he also says that that self censorship is wrong and uses the quote from David Cronenberg "As an artist, that's where the paradox is - your responsibility is to be irresponsible. As soon as you talk about political or social responsibility, you've amputated the best limbs you've got as an artist.?
Obviously, all works of art are open to criticism. I accept that. However, I don't understand what a game developer 'should' do. I certainly do not wish for negative representation of women to continue, but how should a game developer approach feminism without being labeled as 'self-censored' especially considering feminism wasn't part of the game developer's agenda to begin with?