Comments on: Debunking the Myth of Frivolity [Understanding Popular Culture, Part 2]

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:48:02 +0000

As far as I can tell the New Lara Croft has had a nose job and a boob job, her nose is IMPOSSIBLY small for her face and her boobs are disproportionate to her waist. Although she is rendered with more polygons, her proportions look like a reflection in a funhouse mirror.

By: How to critique the critics | The Hathor Legacy

How to critique the critics | The Hathor Legacy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:31:10 +0000

[...] a really good read on this topic, check out Tekanji’s article, Debunking the Myth of Frivolity. “Men will always objectify women, and TV has to pander to that to make [...]

By: Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Responsibility of comedy writers

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:59:40 +0000

[...] seriously” to be just another cry of “it’s just a television show!” that I’ve debunked in the past. Not only that, but framing it as an issue of being “taken seriously” or not completely [...]

By: Ridiculousness? You bet. « Let’s call it a night

Ridiculousness? You bet. « Let’s call it a night — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:37:56 +0000

[...] isn’t there something more important AAM should be doing? Like telling the Chinese government to stop using so many children in their [...]

By: Girls read comics » Blog Archive » I Am Not Doing This Twice.

Girls read comics » Blog Archive » I Am Not Doing This Twice. — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:59:42 +0000

[...] Andrea Rubenstein – De-Bunking the Myth of Frivolity [...]

By: Long and disjointed response to various emails « Crimitism

Long and disjointed response to various emails « Crimitism — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:50:31 +0000

[...] 5. BUT BUT BUT BUT… “But objectification isn’t always bad!” (@ Definition) “But it’s just a game / movie / comic / harmless entertainment!” (@ Shrub) “But it’s just a joke!” (@ Stormcloud) “But men are ALSO objectified!” (@ Like Scratches In The Sand) “But feminism has already achieved equality!” (@ Shrub again) [...]

By: Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Is gender inclusive game design important?

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 03:14:22 +0000

[...] Which brings me to the subject of Fable and why I think that its male-only protagonist design is just as important as what happened with Intel’s game. I’m not going to waste my time debunking the “it’s just a game” claim, as I’ve already done that in another post of mine. What I do want to look at, however, was the difference in the way that the problem was handled. [...]

By: arielladrake

arielladrake — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 07:15:45 +0000

Oso, the simple explanation is that criticism isn’t attacking people. Critical analysis of media and media messages isn’t an attack. Assuming that it’s not WW’s job to educate people, I really don’t see how someone else taking up the role of providing information about how the product perpetuates misogyny and racism is an attack. It’s only an attack if one takes the idea that criticism of any form is an attack. Strangely enough, that charge gets laid at the feet of feminists and other anti-oppression activists all the time. Yeah, people are free to produce what they wish within the law, particularly in countries with protected free speech. However, speech that engages critically with other free speech is *also* protected as … wait for it … free speech.

The other simple explanation is, okay, so you don’t think voicing criticisms to WW is a valid response. Guess what? You aren’t the authority on what is and isn’t valid.

And, to finish with a genuine question – Since you’re such an advocate of ‘if you don’t like it, don’t engage with it’, what exactly are you doing commenting here?

By: Oso

Oso — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:08:57 +0000

while i dont defend the practices of anyone at WW. I also do not believe it is their job to educate people. IF you dont like the game dont buy it. Whats hard about that? I dont like strip clubs, because I think it degrades women,but I dont openly attack anyone, because they are exotic dancers, nor do I put up giant bulletins that anyone going into such an establishment is going to hell. Simply put if you dont like it dont buy it. I understand you are offended by the game, but negative energy begats negative energy. If you dont want your kids to play it, fine, dont let them play it, you dont want to play it fine dont play it, But you may as well want to boycott every other product in the united states because at some point in time if you dig long enough, somone got offended because of the buisness practices, that arent going to lose any buisness because you got offended.

Martin Luther King had a peacful protest and boycotted, and many buisness lost hard, you dont like it dont buy it. But thats really not going to do anything important, they are still one of the leading RPG houses in the country.

-Oso

By: Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Baby, it’s Cold Outside

Official Shrub.com Blog » Blog Archive » Baby, it’s Cold Outside — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:31:16 +0000

[...] Also known as the “you have no sense of humor” or “it’s just a song” argument. Tekanji posted about this in “Debunking the Myth of Frivolity”, and it’s a better rebuttal than any I could give here. [...]