Crispy Gamer Calls Out Resident Evil 5's Racism Pages PREV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NEXT | |
Funny but I require a valid arguement to prove that. Saying that with your closed mind makes it nothing more than an uninformed opinion. | |
This is very simple. Racism is dead as a mainstream phenomena at least in the US. Liberals and such who define themselves by having a battle to fight however, have learned that they can STILL dredge up a lot of contreversy by dropping the word. Let's forget that obviously the mainstream population of the US cares so little about race that we now have a black guy running the country. Nope, let's scream racism anyway to get some attention. The problem is nobody has the guts to shut these people down for trolling, or intentionally trying to grab some attention through contreversy. Perhaps it will come with time, but right now I'm beginning to think that allegations of this type are very similar to hate speech in their own way. Having little purpose other than to cause chaos and try and incite unrest. When it comes to Resident Evil 5 itself, I have played it a bit, though I haven't had a lot of time. The game isn't even remotely racist. About the worst you can say about it is that it shows a pretty accurate picture of Africa, without the politically correct lens. Face it, Africa is basically a wasteland full of impoverished and uneducated people. That is why we spend so much money through things like the Peace Corps. trying to educate the people in the region. Yes, a lot of those people arm themselves with things like spears, simply because such weapons are effective and they don't have anything else. This is why a dude with a couple of crates of guns and a couple of hummers can declare himself a Warlord and take over a section of the countryside. Guys with spears lose to guys with machine guns (I'm being simplistic here intentionally). We've all seen National Geographic, and heck, it's impossible to miss the stories on the news about the genocides and such in the region, and comments about how the world isn't doing enough, and how countries like the US can be playing Cowboy in Iraq, while all of this stuff is going on, etc... pick your political slant, but the bottom line is that it's reported. I'm sure we've all seen the "Sally Struthers" type "feed the hungry" movements begging for money to feed starving african children and such. Now in general, we're aware of all these things, but when people aren't asking for aid, or somehow using the state of the region for political reasons, people are expected to ignore it, focus only on the best/most developed areas and the exceptions. Hey, maybe the truth isn't as politically correct and antiseptic as you might like, but honestly from what *I'VE* seen on the news this seems like a pretty good portrayal of the region. Tons of pathetic, uneducated, and malnurished people? Well if it was any other way we wouldn't spend so much time sending aid to the region. To be kind of honest, they do a pretty fair job from what I've seen so far of showing a pretty good selection of the rough areas of Africa. In the towns for example when the infection gets going (I don't want to give too many spoilers which would explain it further) the people your up against are mostly using improvised weapons and tools, pretty much the kinds of things you'd expect a mob to be able to pick up and wield in an enviroment like that. While it's a bit further than I've personally gotten (due to time) I will ALSO point out that one thing most of these reviews conveinently forget is that as the enviroment changes so do the capabilities of your enemies. The local warlord types are infected also, and you do wind up fighting enemies with guns when it is appropriate to the setting. I guess what you can say is that the game isn't overly politically correct as it is not working to avoid depicting such things, and only focus on the best/most progressive areas on the region. Not being politically correct is however a far shot from being racist, and I think the contreversy over this game both shows the distinction, and how the politically correct movement is exploited specifically to cause trouble. When it comes to Sheva, from what I gather having read about the character is that she was born in Africa but was educated and trained in Europe (hence the accent). Being part of an anti-terrorism squad she's got top flight training, and of course being an action hero has the same kind of overblown physique/capabilities as Chris does. As far as how they appear to the guys they are up against, well highly trained, well educated, special forces guys are exceptional by first world standards. When dealing with a bunch of uneducated, malnurished, guys in Africa who are just trying to scrape by, you expect them to be a bit more capable/effective. When you take malnourished people of the sort aid is requested for on TV, and then shove a parasite down their throat, turning them into a zombiesque horror... well how do you expect them to look? | |
Well as I explained above (this is an attempt to quote a response), I have similar thoughts. Generally speaking the USA isn't all that racist as far as nations go. A lot of other nations are more or less mono-ethnic, with very limited minority populations, and those minorities usually don't have anything resembling equal rights overall. I mean for example if you go to Japan, there might be whites or blacks around, but it can take some effort to find one in many places because everyone is Japanese. It isn't like the US where seeing people of a bunch of differant ethnicities is as easy as heading to the mall, and in those places the minorities are more or less outsiders. The point isn't really about there though. When it comes to the whole White/Black thing in the US, I see most of the hype over Obama ont he subject to be ridiculous to be honest. The ONLY real thing to take away from it is that he could not have been elected without the support of the mainstream. What this means is that mainstream America voted a Black Man into the White House. What this means is that while there might be some racism out there, it is a tiny fringe element, and that racism is dead within the mainstream. The Spectre of racism is a good way to garner attention and cause trouble though. Largely because it can upset the majority of people. Alleging someone is a racist is also a good way to destroy them, or attach a shadow over them in public (whether it's true or not, and by the numbers chances are it's not). The problem of course being that fighting a war is very easy. Having an enemy to blame for your problems and focus your energies against is something that a lot of people without one wish that they had. It's one thing to go out there and buck the system, fight the man, etc.. especially towards the end of a successful conflict where it becomes relatively safe (but still appropriate). But then comes to the time when your done fighting and have to live in the peace, and well... people want the old glory. I don't articulate it well, but I think when people yell "racism" it's an attempt to get attention, and try and validate their existance even if falsely. If you see the civil liberties movement as a war, a lot of the "soldiers" are having trouble adjusting back to civilian living after such a long time. While this is another big, long post, I'll also ask fairly: how do you expect Rural africa to be portrayed? Forgetting the whole "infection" aspect, this isn't a well-to-do or touristy area where people go to sign on for Safari tourism packages. You sit down and watch the news, stuff from the Peace Corps., or the various beg-a-thon commercials asking you to "adopt" children and help swing the expense of food and education... and well, this seems pretty bloody accurate. Basically to say that this game is somehow racist or wrong, means that you ultimatly have to say that all of the people collecting money and supplies for them, the activities of the peace corps, Red Cross, etc... are all wrong and full of liars. I mean heck, if Africa is full of well educated, well fed, people who are living or or less like we do around here (other than the color of their skin) why the holy heck are we investing so much tax money, as well as personal donations in the area? You don't like how it is down there, fine. Then support the efforts to change things. A lot of people do. I've donated a bit of change once in a while myself. >>>----Therumancer---> | |
I don't even think I need to reply to make my point here. | |
I don't see the racism in RE5, I mean, cliche zombie scenarios don't have the zombies change color. Well, scratch that i guess they do turn green. But that's beside the point, in RE5 that doesn't happen. I mean, you didn't hear racism when the white guy transformed into a bloodsucking Caucasian with formal white people clothes (lol) but as soon as the black person with the spears and hide shields from Africa (which is actually what they use in Africa) comes out, everybody PMS's. Personally, I kind of think that most black people don't care. Its really the other races and the group of never ending period association of clueless mothers (NEPACM)that freak out about this kind of stuff. Its rather ironic. Sorry if your African American and took offense too that. That is pretty much the definition of ironic. And, I kind of like the new group name I made, feel free too use it if it applies too your mother and/or you. | |
but this "crispy gamer" guy was ok with killing Spanish peasants my argument is just as valid as his | |
yea, cause the guy is spot on | |
Why? do the zombies in this game smoke blunts and drive around Cadillac Escalades while eating fried chicken and corn bread while extending random fingers and slapping hookers around? | |
To say RE5 isn't racist is to say that every town, and or village in Africa has an even number of people from every creed and nation. You also kill a guy a really annoying guy from America. How can it be racist if you have two Americans killing each other? | |
God forbid they ever set a game in any major metropolitan city....statistics are racist. If I drive downtown...and let's say everyone was zombified....I'd see a bunch of white zombies around the court building and black zombies everywhere else. Oh, and way to go to all the people that say it's racist to make starving, AIDs-infected people, who live lives of desperation and walk an uphill path through life to reach a plateau of poverty look like starving, AIDs-infected people, who live lives of desperation and walk an uphill path through life to reach a plateau of poverty. You know, I'm just going to sit back and wait for Capcom to make the obvious right choice: Produce a Resident Evil game, featuring a lesbian wheelchair-bound black woman who just had an abortion because it's her choice to do so and wrote a book about it that led to a sucessful TV talk show who shoots white zombie men who slather their victims with mayonaise before they eat them, line dance while not busy, and complain to their zombie psychologist about having small penises and too much money. | |
I'm pretty sure there was racist iconography in the world before the first Cadillac rolled off the line... In other words, before there was KFC, there were stereotypes about black people. One of the most enduring ones is that they are mindless, bloodthirsty hordes.
There's a bit more of a history of portraying blacks as mindless zombie-like hordes than there is of portraying Spanish peasants as such. I mean, if there was a game where Spanish peasants did things like "smoke blunts and drive around Cadillac Escalades while eating fried chicken and corn bread while extending random fingers and slapping hookers around" and then in the sequel black people were doing that, you'd see the issue, right? I'm not even saying RE5 is racist. However, to act as if there's no line that it might have crossed--even if you don't think it did--is ridiculous. | |
Wait, the UCLA? | |
I don't see any racism in the game. The game takes place in Africa so what? This always happens when a movie or game comes out that takes place in a different country. | |
Wait...where's this coming from? I've never heard of mindless, bloodthirsty hordes of black people. I've seen more hordes of white people with torches and pitchforks than I've ever even seen black people in my whole life. | |
But we all agree that Spaniards actually are dirty, greasy, flesh consuming monsters right? | |
And the ACLU | |
I don't think the issue exists I think its fabricated. When were black people considered bloodthirsty zombies? And I had no idea Irish people were always considered potato throwing leprechauns. | |
here is where I stand.. Study Anthropology.. preferably cultural, and social take a field study to various parts of Africa note what you see. Now when I WAS in Africa during Uni I stopped in many many small villages " usually because the bus/car we were crammed into broke constantly" when I compare that to what I see in RE...there is a very very realistic aspect to it.. sure it may be a hyper-reality realized version but it's a fucking game, they have to do that or it would be a pretty limited game.. one has to remember how poor the nations are, most villages pretty much on level to a scrap yard as far as building material...they use what they can get...( though its largely due to alot of problems with governments not the individual) and there are many many tribes who by choice remain nomadic, or keep to traditions thousands of years old and pretty much avoid the modern world when they can... And on the same note, in the " modern" villages, many individuals do have relics of their tribal past... it's like a Scottish person in a large city still collecting basket hilts, or claymores....or someone in japan who only makes a katana the traditional way, or collects them as items of importance... a decedent of a zulu living in a village can and often does have spears, shields, clubs and other things of that culture as a symbol of pride, and for celebration attire. so in an outbreak of a bug leading to semi-zombiefication and a heightened state of aggressive mob/hive mentality...one would assume those people would grab anything, and everything to use as a weapon. would it be bad if it happened in Pennsylvania and you were attacked by a Amish on a buggy wielding a wooden mallet, or a wood pitch fork? I think the biggest problem today is that some people want to see fault in everything to be the hero, or to override their own doubts, beliefs, or any number of reasons...but with every cry of wolf, it reopens a wound that IS healing nicely on it's own. besides the worst outbreaks happened in a " fairly major" U.S city so... is it not fair that everyone get a chance? | |
ok so let me get this straight: since its about black people (in africa and who could have guessed their would be some their?) its racism towards black? they make RE6 in america and have 1 fat zombie are they saying all americans are fat? grow the fuck up that tard is probly like 7 years old dont advertise for him | |
No, wait, really--what UCLA are you talking about? The only UCLA I've ever heard of is the University of California, Los Angeles. | |
Exactly--it's a stereotype with no basis in reality. | |
I want to point out the fact that there are a lot of native tribes still in Africa with little ammounts of gun and instead (shock horror) use TRADITIONAL weapons. This isn't racist, I wish people woud just get over it. I'll tell you what is racist. Calling out that this is racist. Think about that one for a minute. | |
I'd expect nothing less from an intelligent & level-headed PS3 owner. :D edit: I'm not going to bother responding to any more posts in this thread because it's pretty clear that most people are deliberately missing the point (or just stupid). it's not the fact that the game is set in an African country; or the fact that black people are being killed; or the fact that the hero is white and the majority of the enemies are black. it's history, culture & context all rolled into one. if you genuinely can't see what's causing a fuss then I feel sorry for you. anyone suggesting that those who raise the issue of racism are secretly racist themselves (and there are a lot of you) should be ashamed. truly disgusting behaviour. | |
Or it might be ignorant. Now, the question is whether that ignorance is racist or not, if it turns out to be ignorance. | |
Racist I reckon racist because people see that the models are black, and therefore believe that it is racist to have black models, when in fact that is actually saying that 'Black people arn't allowed in video games becauese it might be racist'. My mind now hurts. | |
Well, I cannot accept your answer because I find your explanation for it to be ignorant. | |
guys, im half black, and i semi agree with the article when you read what it describes read this: i doubt capcom purposely made it racist at all, but you have to admit that scene seems to make little to no sense as for the spanish zombies, they weren't stereotyped into all wearing sumbreros and eating tacos (wait that the mexican stereotype isn't it?) but you get my point, they just speak spanish and carry pitchfork's but it's never implied that they have a stereotypically spanish lower way of life as for the normal zombies in resi 1, 2 and 3, there were black zombies as well anyway but if there weren't then if you were uptight, you could just about get away with being offended but it would probably have more to do with repeated character models then implicit racism anyway, my point is that this game doesnt look racist at all, but capcom could've reviewed it to make sure it wasn't since they were obviously touching upon unstable ground | |
No... you see.. YOU are missing the point. That there IS NO POINT. This game is only racist if you can't see past the colors and realize the fact that it isn't racist at all. It is no more racist against blacks than RE2 was racist against whites. Back to one of your older posts:
I saw nothing wrong with a White American guy and his buddies going into an American village (where everyone was "infected"), massacring the populace and being portrayed as a hero. I will also note that the white "infected" were portrayed pretty much the same as the black zombies... hell, I think the black zombies are portrayed as smarter, faster, and tougher than the white RE2 zombies! To me, people who see racism in this game are people who are really too attached to the concept of racism. They're so *anti*-racism that they actually become somewhat racist towards non-blacks. It happens everywhere, especially in government, with blacks and minorities and women actually being granted special privileges. I thought minorities wanted to be EQUAL rights, not SPECIAL rights above and beyond what everyone else gets.. | |
you cannot be serious.
you should be ashamed of these opinions...
... | |
yes, yes... please continue to tell me about these "special privileges". | |
Crispy calls out racist, I call out BS. | |
You can't be serious. | |
perhaps because rich white people never occupied Spain, sold off its population to be used as slaves, prevented its economic development & denied it independence for hundreds of years despite there being no valid reason to do so...? just a thought. | |
Yep if there were white people throughout the whole game whould it make sense at all ? i think it could be because were all used to seeing white peole get killed in many ways thats just a very small factor | |
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You know your full of crap, right? Who are you trying to fool?