Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
15 January 2014
Justice Points guest appearance!
Hey kids! Do you like podcasts? Head over to Justice Points to hear me, Tzufit, and Apple Cider Mage talk about our favorite quest ladies. Justice Points is a podcast that I think is really important, so it was a humbling opportunity to get to appear on it! Put it on your to-listen list for WoW-related social justice discussions from two very intelligent women :D
10 November 2013
Blizzcon and the #RiseofAggra
As it turns out, being unemployed gives one plenty of time to do things during the day, so I found myself in an ideal position to watch the Blizzcon livestream via the virtual ticket. Unlike the other cons I've been to (Dragon*Con and Geek Girl Con), this was more about major announcements than discussion or Q&A panels, so there was a lot less panelist dialogue and plenty of presentation show-and-tell.
Not that I'm complaining. I wanted all of the juicy deets, and I was not disappointed. The announcement about Warlords of Draenor doesn't fill me with the same awe and excitement that Pandaria did, but I know that I look forward to playing it anyway. The panels at Blizzcon were really fun to watch, and I was interested in lots of the new changes they proposed. Even better, with a short Q&A session at the end of each panel, players could ask immediate questions about the news, or bring older content questions for even more exciting feedback.
Delightfully, I saw at least two guys ask specifically about female characters and their place in the narrative. High five, players who like their stories varied and their women present! And to their credit, the developers had clearly made an effort to get some more women into stories that sometimes take a turn towards sausagefest. For instance, in the cinematic teaser, we saw several female characters, and after showing a selection of updated male-only character models and sending Twitter into a frenzy, we suddenly found ourselves looking at the female dwarf and gnome models. There's even rumored to be a draenei Joan-of-Arc esque character, which just makes me want to level a draenei EVEN MORE. The movie panel confessed that the writers were called upon to expand their cast of characters beyond "young white guys." Change is happening! Minds are expanding!
However, one question and snappy comeback again reminded me that there is still so much to be done. Specifically asked about Aggra's role in the upcoming expansion, we were informed that the journey to Draenor was "more of a boys' trip." (Considering how many lady-identified players, or even female toons, will be making the trip...lolwut) This irritated a lot of players, especially ones who were disappointed that after her fantastic entry into the lore, she was suddenly relegated to Green Jesus' Grumpy Bossy Dream Girl. The response further removed her from a storyline that, based on her actual upbringing and wisdom, she should blend right in with, all on account of her now having a child (well, and having served her narrative purpose, it seems).
Well, that's kind of bullshit. If anything, Aggra would be very interested in and not at all out of place going to Draenor and encountering the pre-Horde orcs. I'm also not sure she would appreciate the insinuation that the baby is exclusively her business to deal with. (Maybe Alexstrasza could come back and gently cup, uh, "Thrall's Balls" and remind him of "the new generations he bore.") To be told that the female characters we already know and love - and we do love them, because when you have so few you must cling to what there is - will be set aside while the other long-running male characters forge ahead, it grates.
It's important to note that this isn't really about Aggra the individual character, but rather how, under what circumstances, and with what purpose, are non-player female characters allowed to participate in the narrative. Although there is a new lady draenei crusader, when we look at the Warlords of Draenor site, the background art is all male. Ogres are coming back, but have still seen neither hide nor hair of their women. The lineup of "legends" you can read about on the website features 10 characters, all male. Sure, many of these guys are already preexisting characters, so rather than go back in time and genderswap these established characters (unless you wanna maybe work in a trans* character? I'M NOT SAYING I'M JUST SAYING), the best option from here on out would be to endeavor to create a robust selection of female characters to prove that in the World of Warcraft, beings are judged on their merit and not the contents of their pants. Continue to develop the storylines of the female NPCs we already have, and continue to add more. Ensure that several (SEVERAL! I do not want one token girl) female characters make their way into the core characters that are consistently caught up in the center of the current expansion's plot. Force it. I'm serious! Use your writing skills and make it work.
That's what we did! Join us!
Not that I'm complaining. I wanted all of the juicy deets, and I was not disappointed. The announcement about Warlords of Draenor doesn't fill me with the same awe and excitement that Pandaria did, but I know that I look forward to playing it anyway. The panels at Blizzcon were really fun to watch, and I was interested in lots of the new changes they proposed. Even better, with a short Q&A session at the end of each panel, players could ask immediate questions about the news, or bring older content questions for even more exciting feedback.
Delightfully, I saw at least two guys ask specifically about female characters and their place in the narrative. High five, players who like their stories varied and their women present! And to their credit, the developers had clearly made an effort to get some more women into stories that sometimes take a turn towards sausagefest. For instance, in the cinematic teaser, we saw several female characters, and after showing a selection of updated male-only character models and sending Twitter into a frenzy, we suddenly found ourselves looking at the female dwarf and gnome models. There's even rumored to be a draenei Joan-of-Arc esque character, which just makes me want to level a draenei EVEN MORE. The movie panel confessed that the writers were called upon to expand their cast of characters beyond "young white guys." Change is happening! Minds are expanding!
However, one question and snappy comeback again reminded me that there is still so much to be done. Specifically asked about Aggra's role in the upcoming expansion, we were informed that the journey to Draenor was "more of a boys' trip." (Considering how many lady-identified players, or even female toons, will be making the trip...lolwut) This irritated a lot of players, especially ones who were disappointed that after her fantastic entry into the lore, she was suddenly relegated to Green Jesus' Grumpy Bossy Dream Girl. The response further removed her from a storyline that, based on her actual upbringing and wisdom, she should blend right in with, all on account of her now having a child (well, and having served her narrative purpose, it seems).
Well, that's kind of bullshit. If anything, Aggra would be very interested in and not at all out of place going to Draenor and encountering the pre-Horde orcs. I'm also not sure she would appreciate the insinuation that the baby is exclusively her business to deal with. (Maybe Alexstrasza could come back and gently cup, uh, "Thrall's Balls" and remind him of "the new generations he bore.") To be told that the female characters we already know and love - and we do love them, because when you have so few you must cling to what there is - will be set aside while the other long-running male characters forge ahead, it grates.
It's important to note that this isn't really about Aggra the individual character, but rather how, under what circumstances, and with what purpose, are non-player female characters allowed to participate in the narrative. Although there is a new lady draenei crusader, when we look at the Warlords of Draenor site, the background art is all male. Ogres are coming back, but have still seen neither hide nor hair of their women. The lineup of "legends" you can read about on the website features 10 characters, all male. Sure, many of these guys are already preexisting characters, so rather than go back in time and genderswap these established characters (unless you wanna maybe work in a trans* character? I'M NOT SAYING I'M JUST SAYING), the best option from here on out would be to endeavor to create a robust selection of female characters to prove that in the World of Warcraft, beings are judged on their merit and not the contents of their pants. Continue to develop the storylines of the female NPCs we already have, and continue to add more. Ensure that several (SEVERAL! I do not want one token girl) female characters make their way into the core characters that are consistently caught up in the center of the current expansion's plot. Force it. I'm serious! Use your writing skills and make it work.
That's what we did! Join us!
No more Aggra because she has a baby. FUCK FUCK FUCK.
— Tzufit (@soetzufit) November 8, 2013
Aggra had a baby, you say? MAKE THRALL TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ONCE @Warcraft
— Cameron Halse (@MagisCam) November 8, 2013
Aggra rides up on a direwolf, baby strapped to her back. She wields an axe and a massive shield. "I will not be left behind."
— Akabeko Runetotem (@redcowrise) November 8, 2013
*exciting guitar solo* Letting out a bloodcurdling warcry, Aggra guides her direwolf through the Dark Portal.
— Akabeko Runetotem (@redcowrise) November 8, 2013
That Aggra thing just pissed me off big time. Sunwalker Dezco has been going around Pandaria with both sons strapped to him, but Aggra can't
— Angel (@Tainothetank) November 8, 2013
"Bye Thrall, I'm going to storm the castle!" "Have fun!" Aggra grabs weapon, kisses Thrall. He goes back to mini finger-axe fight with baby.
— Akabeko Runetotem (@redcowrise) November 8, 2013
#RiseofAggra 'Go'el, you were not trained on Draenor, I was. I shall gain access to the Throne of the Elements for us.'
— Cameron Halse (@MagisCam) November 8, 2013
#RiseofAggra I slaughtered three ogres today. How was your day? -Well, the little one meditated for the first time with me!
— Akabeko Runetotem (@redcowrise) November 8, 2013
#RiseofAggra 'Go'el, just because you were raised by humans it is no excuse for your inability to build a crib.'
— Cameron Halse (@MagisCam) November 9, 2013
#RiseofAggra Aggra sends letters home for baby from the front lines, including smooth pebbles, feathers, weapon fragments, skulls
— Akabeko Runetotem (@redcowrise) November 9, 2013
#RiseofAggra Thrall discovers child care costs are astronomical, makes rational choice to raise child while Aggra returns to save HER home.
— Cynwise (@wowcynwise) November 9, 2013
#RiseofAggra Aggra draws pictures of the intact night skies of Draenor to decorate the ceiling in Baby Warchief's room.
— Cameron Halse (@MagisCam) November 9, 2013
Thrall is kidnapped shortly after returning to Draenor. You and Aggra must use her superior knowledge of her home to free him #RiseofAggra
— Narci (@Druidis4fite) November 9, 2013
#RiseofAggra Aggra single-handedly hunts Garrosh down and drags him back to Garadar by his ear. Stern recriminations follow.
— Cameron Halse (@MagisCam) November 9, 2013
#RiseofAggra Aggra reminds Thrall that Draenor is her home and that he wore plate and used a 2H for years. Thrall stays home with the kid.
— Cynwise (@wowcynwise) November 9, 2013
Aggra sends home tutorials of the new shaman abilities she's gaining in Draenor for Thrall to pass on to baby. #RiseofAggra
— Brandy (@brandyflare) November 10, 2013
Everything Garrosh said to Thrall will be how other orcs (minus maybe Frostwolves) feel too. Thrall's clueless. But Aggra isn't #RiseofAggra
— Rades (@_Rades) November 10, 2013
Thrall sends back finger paintings the baby has made of Mom kicking ass in Draenor. #RiseofAggra
— Brandy (@brandyflare) November 10, 2013
Out of his *ELEMENT* -RT @brendensparks: Maybe at that point he realizes he's out of his element and asks Aggra for help. #RiseofAggra
— Rades (@_Rades) November 10, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)