Final Project: Destructive Plasticity and Gender in Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain

https://destructiveplasticity.wordpress.com

Metal Gear Solid is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. Helmed by director Hideo Kojima, the series focuses on what it’s coined as “tactical espionage action” against the backdrop of an ever changing militarized world. While the series has featured male protagonists exclusively, it has played with gender in interesting ways and contains a host of female characters that play pivotal roles in the plot of each and every game.

For my final project I created a web site that explores controversy surrounding a character Quiet that will debut in the next upcoming installment of the series, Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain which comes out in 2015. The initial controversy started in September of 2003 when director Hideo Kojima wrote on his English Twitter account:

“I’ve been ordering to Yoji [Shinkawa, the game’s art director] to make the character more erotic, and he did it well” [Source]

After saying this, he provided more context, explaining that the aim to to make people want to cosplay as the characters and to sell figurines. He then revealed an image of the character Quiet’s rear end, which can be seen on the right.

This stirred up a firestorm of outrage from both fans and critics alike. Many explained that Kojima was being exploitative in his actions. And while he attempted to clarify that the word “erotic” may have been a term that was misused in translation, many still cried foul.

And for obvious reasons. The commodification of women’s bodied is still a huge issue worldwide and many felt that Kojima’s choice to have a female character so scantily clad for the purpose of making her more “erotic” was simply a ploy to make more money. Kojima’s reaction to the backlash was interesting. He in a flurry of tweets he says:

“I know there’s people concerning about ‘Quiet’ but don’t worry. I created her character as an antithesis to the women characters…” [Source]
“appeared in the past fighting game who are excessively exposed. “Quiet” who doesn’t have a word will be teased in the story as well.” [Source]
“But once you recognise the secret reason for her exposure, you will feel ashamed of your words & deeds. [Source]

Now, this is where the theorizing starts. What could possibly be so damning that would prompt Kojima to say that the secret reason for the character’s appearance will make people feel ashamed of their “words & deeds?” This really stuck in my mind for some reason. And after playing Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes I came to the conclusion that what Hideo is referencing is that the character Quiet is, in fact the same person who used to be Chico. Here's the link to the website where I discuss how and why:

https://destructiveplasticity.wordpress.com

Final Project: Portrayal of Black Women

                     Young girls in today society are given false representation of what black females are supposed to behave and expected to be seen as. The display of black females by media is never represented in a positive light. Young black females are given images that are mostly negative and typically stereotypical. Black females on screen, and in the media in general are displayed as maids, thieves, unattractive, and people who are always no good. I decided to do a video interview featuring my daughter and three other girls of different ages (preteen or teens) to see their point of views of the world around them and their view on the media.

                      In the video interview that I conducted, the four girls were asked questions about the world around them and how they think that black females are viewed in the media. From what I've gathered from the interviews regardless of the age differences they felt comfortable in their own skin. Although some may not have always felt that way, they mentioned that as they matured they became more confident. It is easy for anyone to relate to someone on television, because we are all in fact human, however, it's hard to say you fit in when you do not see anyone around that looks like you. The people that they viewed as role models or people that others look up to today were among the likes of Obama, Beyonce, and even Nicki Minaj. Hearing them talk about how they think these people affect the future, had me filled with questions.  My question came soley from the fact that the names were repeated by each girl, and seeing that it was these people in particular, it made me realize even more just how few and far between it is to find a black role model. Because young black girls are more likely to be exposed to the extremes, they often look to media more to find cues that can hep them stand out among other; their self definition is not fully developed so they often get cues from others.

                       Upon this realization, I thought about the families that my daughter has encountered while hanging out with friends.  Unlike her, she told me that her friends have very little confidence in the way they look and are mostly unsure of what type of girl they want to be.  Her story consisted of her friends mother buying bleaching cream for herself and for her daughter.  Now this wasn't the first time I've heard of black women bleaching their skin, however, this being so close to home was truly sad because my daughter was exposed to it.  There are so many people trying to erase who they are, trying to fit in because the world doesn't except them for who they are.  It is sad to watch women buying bleaching cream to make themselves paler.  From the research I have done and what I have encountered, it is not just black women trying to change the color of their skin either.  These products may be disguised with the name brighter, or anti darkening.  A Real brand, such as Fashion Fair have products that change the color of your skin, and they say it is to even out your skin tone.  However, the results of products like this result in the skin looking much lighter, red, irritated and burnt.  My point is, how can the future black women stand tall and appreciate themselves if the biggest and best role models they have are trying to change who they are and conform to the media they have been exposed to.

                       After the interview I realized that in order to further help young black women we need to use modern forms of communication, infiltrate their places they get ideas, to reach them and create a place where they can get inspiration to continue pushing on and continue to love themselves as they grow up. I created a tumblr called New Age Black Women. It's going to be a place of inspiration, and a place where they can get ideas on how we can better their lives and also boost their confidence. Other plans that I have for this sites are also she maybe suggest a movie each week/month for them to watch or suggest a book that they should read . I'd like  to have discussions about this in a forum created especially for the site. It will all start with this first article.

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/newageblackwomen

Work Cited:

Why the presence of black women in media is important for everyone

Essence: Black women still poorly depicted in media

Ellie the Superhero

Ellie the Superhero PDF I am in the process of getting my work published through Queens Library, but if you would like to read my story online, this is the link.

For my project, I wrote a children’s book,  Ellie the Superhero. In the story, a little girl named  Ellie  plays with toy swords, dinosaurs and  superheroes. Her imagination makes her feel like a superhero, which is typically not “girly”. I wanted to write a book that would open conversation within children about traditional gender roles. From a young age, we are conditioned to act like a male or female based on our sex, when really we should just do what we like and what makes us feel like an  individual. As we get older, it’s harder to shake the social conditioning of gender roles. When we try to break away and do something that is not considered the norm, it feels challenging because it may not be perceived well.  My goal for the book is to make children feel comfortable with themselves and express their individuality.


My inspiration for the book was the Understanding Patriarchy chapter from Bell Hooks, when she talked about getting in trouble for playing with marbles because boys played with marbles. That led into my thoughts about growing up as the only girl in my family with two older brothers. I can’t remember a specific moment where I have gotten into trouble for “acting like a boy”, but I remember my mom saying “girls don’t play with those toys”, referring to my brother’s toys. When I was young, I never understood why she would say that, I just listened to her and played with my toys.

After reading books like Jacob’s New Dress and Ronald Humphrey is Wearing a What?, I wanted to write this book for my daughter,Ellie, also the inspiration for the book, and all the little girls and little boys out there like her. I want her to know it’s ok to express yourself, without the fear of not being accepted. Even if children reading this book have the idea that girls should be this way and boys should be that way, I would like for them to read this and have them question what they think, and to get the parents into the conversation as well. I have published my book through Queens Library, although they are in the process of reviewing my book. I have linked my PDF file at the top of the page.

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Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be. Some kids at school say he can't wear "girl" clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants? This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by boys who don't identify with traditional gender roles.

Roland Humphrey is Wearing a What? tells the story of a little boy who just happens to love pinks and purples and loves wearing barrettes in his hair as well as other stereotypically “girlie” things.  When he shows up to school one day wearing a pink-striped shirt, his friends, Ella and Lucy, teach Roland all about the “color rules” – – which colors are acceptable for boys and which colors (and patterns and accessories) are not allowed.  Roland struggles between following these rules and being true to himself until he finally decides that he should be able to wear what he wants.

ABC News- Shopping for Halloween Costumes
In an ABC News segment, a mother brings her daughter to the mall to go costume shopping and the girl picks out a Spiderman costume. Other customers notice the mom and daughter and give their opinion on the subject.

NY Times article- Turn your 8 year old into a feminist
This article is about alternative ways to think about a fairy tale and getting an 8 year old to think like a feminist without them even knowing.

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Works Cited

Eileen, Kiernan-Johnson, and Katrina Revenaugh. Roland Humphrey Is Wearing a What? Boulder, CO: Huntley Rahara, 2012. Print.

Hoffman, Sarah, Ian Hoffman, and Chris Case. Jacob's New Dress. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Hooks, Bell. "Understanding Patriarchy." The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. New York: Washington Square, 2004. N. pag. Print.

"You Can't Be a Princess" ABC, n.d.

Post 4 Girl vs. Woman

I have always tried to defend Katie Couric—she’s not stupid, she’s not goofy—but there is something about her that is just not to be taken seriously.  The variations between Couric and Rachel Maddow of MSNBC are innumerable, but I will keep it simple.

In a 2011 New York Times phone interview, Couric said, “But I’m sort of a serious working girl, so I’ll be happy when I figure out my next move.”  After being given such a coveted position in media—hosting the evening news is the most serious piece of work in her entire career—doesn’t the word “girl” totally negate “serious?”  She continues in the interview, expressing how she feels about her position as the first female anchor in nightly news, “ I’m disappointed I couldn’t help with the ratings more.  I’ve been No. 1 and I’ve been No. 3.  It’s more fun to be No.1.”

This is the second time, since I’ve been following broadcasting, that I have witnessed a network try to name a woman as the culprit for their failed ratings—Ann Curry in 2013 was dragged through the news circuits as NBC and Today Show executives blamed her for their slip to no.2 in morning television.  A teary Curry publicly took the blame.  This is one of the reasons I believe describing yourself as a “girl” when you’re a woman is problematic language. How are men supposed to treat us if we are not as earnest about ourselves and careers as we should be (or as our male counterparts)?  Can you imaging Rachael Maddow referring to herself as a girl?  What about publicly crying on television because MSNBC held her liable for falling ratings?  

For those who may feel that I am being petty, I looked up the phrase “working girl,” and found something interesting.  The term has two meanings—1. Euphemistic term for prostitute; 2. A young woman who is employed—Couric was neither one at the time she referred to herself as a “working girl.”  She comes from the world of soft news and she carried that persona into the evening news, which perhaps led to her demise.  Rachael Maddow counteracted that, which is why she is greatly needed in the media.

Maddow is wildly popular on MSNBC—one of the most successful shows the network has.  Is she successful because it doesn’t take many viewers to make a cable show a hit or is Maddow taking a raw, dourly political and feministic approach to reporting the news that the public is thirsty for?  Admitting to both would not be unfair to Maddow, for she has surpassed merely being competent.  Maddow, like Couric, injects humor into her show, but it isn’t a soft humor.  After watching The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, I turn the station feeling a little more smarter.  It’s a humor that makes other women smart and feel good about being a woman. 

Here is Katie Couric interview Lil’ Wayne, a man who makes the bulk of his money calling black women bitches and ho’s:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntL7HjQsqUg

Rachel Maddow spends none of her time introducing her audience to artists who are at the root of disenfranchisement of a race and debasement of an entire gender.  She keeps her foot on the neck of republicans and continues to correct the untruths of her network and political rival, FOX News:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMqwOOxJL4

Works Cited:

Lawton, Heather, http://www.examiner.com/article/curry-may-receive-10-million-and-feeling-not-good-enough-after-leaving-today

Collins, Gail, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/opinion/21collins.html

Urbandictionary.com

Thefreedictionary.com

#4 The Lack of Alternative Dutch Media Sources

 Major corporations own the biggest part of the mainstream media sources, which means they are all driven by the will to make money. Most of the people in higher functions making decisions about these media  are men and you can see how this manifests itself in the media. You see images of women or other minorities as second rate citizens and white straight men always have the upper hand. As Catherine Saalfield said in her interview in the article Art & Activism  "The real problem is not how do we get more women working in Hollywood, but how do we get films that represent women's visions out." If there are no women making media products or can make the decisions about these images the representation of women won't be like the authentic experiences of women. Luckily there are alternative media sources in the world, but I think in the Netherlands there are just a few of these media sources which are very hard to find.

The alternative media source I would like to discuss is the alternative media platform Vrije Wereld (translation: free world), a Dutch media platform that is one of the first hits on Google if you try to look for alternative media. They claim to be a sovereign futuristic think tank and describes its main goal as follows: "There is only one truth, but there are many perspectives. Who has the most complete view about everything? Vrije Wereld tries to provide this view from many perspectives to the Dutch audience"(translated from www.vrijewereld.org).

On their site a disclaimer that not every opinion on their site is necessarily truthful, because there's wrong information everywhere in the world and that it is your own responsibility to know what you want to believe and what not. So it is pretty amazing to see how they at the same time claim to be objective and strive for a representation of the truth, their views are incredibly biased. An example is the article about Gloria Steinem and feminism, which start with this picture:

Which has the caption: feminist Gloria Steinem makes an illuminati gesture and promotes murder. Then it goes on to say that "feminism did not free women, but made them into slaves (because now you have more tax paying citizens). Cheaper slaves."(translated from http://www.vrijewereld.org/2014/11/02/feminisme-is-een-nwo-ideologie/) This is obviously not what you want if you think of an alternative media platform and it's a shame that you have something like this as an alternative for the mainstream media.

Another alternative news site that comes up if you do a little bit of digging is xandernieuws.punt.nl. This source has a lot of articles about 'forgotten' foreign news, but if you see how the articles are written they are just as bad as the former source. You can  find headlines like "President Hillary Clinton starts war against Russia" claiming that if Hillary Clinton becomes president she'll definitely start a war with Russia. Another one is Barack Obama who is claiming to rule as an emperor, with the following picture:

All the articles are posted under the name Xander and there's no links to extern sources to find. This is also by no means a reliable news source and this one of the easier to find alternative news sources.

These are only two examples of online Dutch alternative sources, but most of them are comparable in their views and the way of expressing them in articles. There are 'news sites' who use satire and parodies to make the readers think about the credibility of news sources (like for example www.speld.nl), but they don't try to offer this themselves. It is amazing to see that for Dutch news sources the mainstream sources are still the newspapers that existed when the country was still segregated in different religious communities. Although there's of course the separation of religion and state and there has been a very strong decline in the amount of people practicing religion, the power structure where they are led by white males is still standing strong. Luckily with the access to the internet it is possible to find alternative media sources from abroad.  

Sources:

Catherine Saalfield Art & Activism

www.speld.nl

www.vrijewereld.nl

www.xandernieuws.punt.nl

Post 5: The Art of Eiko Ishioka

Eiko Ishioka is one of my biggest inspirations as both a visual artist and media maker. What's interesting is that while she is not known by name, she's made a distinct mark in the world of advertising, music, film and theater as a production designer.

Arguably her most recognizable work is Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula (for which she won an Oscar for best costume design in 1992), but her distinct visual style was also apparent and some may say, a main draw for those who went to see the Tarsem Singh film The Cell in the year 2000 and the music video for Bjork's song Cocoon. While she is not usually in the directorial role, I believe that her work as a production designer is distinct enough to put her into the category of auteur due to it’s being instantly recognizable and essential to each film.

Eiko had her start in advertising, which some may say attributes to her bold and controlled graphic sensibility. Only four years after joining the advertising division of the cosmetics giant Shiseido, she has already won Japan’s most prestigious advertising award. So it goes without saying that her work has been met with great praise. 

Her work can be characterized by her carefully controlled pallets and use of distinct geometries that produce fantastic images that have a surreal atmosphere which transcends traditional conventions. In Dracula, she combines historic research of period costume but infuses each with an animal quality. Lizard skin becomes a lace print and snakes become appliqués on a ballroom gown. Dracula's armor itself is inspired by an armadillo . To her, research is simply a starting point for her to be able to freely invent upon.

As far as criticism, there has been very little with he exception of the controversy surrounding the music video for Bjork’s song “Cocoon” because in which the singer is depicted seemingly naked and painted white as red threads burst from her nipples and slowly form a cocoon around her. Given the content of the video it was actually pulled from MTV and banned from being shown (http://tinyurl.com/kffbsqj). 

Works Cited:

Dracula. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. 1992. Film
Bjork. "Cocoon" 2002. Music Video
"The genius of Eiko Ishioka". HT Mint. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February2013.
Ishioka, Eiko. Eiko by Eiko: Eiko Ishioka, Japan's Ultimate Designer. San Francisco CA: Chronicle in Association with Callaway, 1990. Print.

Post 5 Linda Day Interrupts My Feminism with Marriage and Children

Television director, Linda Day, was responsible for creating some of the funniest scenes in television I had ever witnessed as a child.  Day made history when the show, Married with Children aired its pilot on FOX in 1987 and I was hooked.  She helped establish a show that told women it was acceptable to have absent an enthusiasm for taking care of a family (although Peggy Bundy surpassed not being enthusiastic), and there was absolutely nothing wrong with, instead of the husband (as we mostly spectate), the wife pursuing, even pleading, with her partner for sex.  

The lead character, Al Bundy, was an obnoxious, unkept, sexist shoe salesman, who never missed an opportunity to belittle and degrade women.  Why does a feminist like myself love what Day helped to create in this character?  It was Al’s obvious, but sparse, love for his wife that redeemed himself with me.  

Day’s approach to Married with Children was unchanged when directing the urban hit comedy, The Parkers.  Once again, the heroin, Nikki Parker, is in hot pursuit of a man, Professor Ogolvee, who appears to be uninterested.  For the second time, I was captivated.  Moreover, the compensation for the male lead not reciprocating his feelings for his female pursuer is that he marries her at the end of the series, showing some compassion.

In Maggie Wykes Barry Gunther’s, The Media and Body Image: If Looks Could Kill, Gunther writes, Women feature in culture more often than not because of how they look and the preferred look is young, slender, sexual and white (p. 206).  In both television shows the female pursuers, Peggy and Nikki, are the total physical antithesis of one another, but Day masterfully gets the same plausible results from each.  Both women feel sexy and it shows through the director’s lens.

Day directed 33 episodes of Married with Children and as I remember, feminists hated the series and I understood why.  But Day did something that many artists are currently executing through their art, but they have reversed the roles of their characters.  The modern message seems to be, “If a man pursues a woman long enough, she will eventually say ‘yes’ after being worn down.” Although Married with Children and The Parkers are off the air, what keeps me going back to them is acquiescence of the man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twu7NFjG1Ys

Works Cited:

• Wykes, Maggie and Gunter, Barrie. “The Media and Body Image: If Looks Could Kill.” Sage Publications Inc. 2005 : p. 206
• IMDB.com
• youtube.com
• Google Images