[UA] UA unintenionally sexist?

[Chad Underkoffler]

> Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 16:58:03 +1100
> From: Liam Routt <liam at routt.net>

Whoo. Go away for an evening, and BOOM! Seems I dropped a
firebomb. I've been reading the aftermath with interest, and I'd
really like to send some good vibrations out to Patrick, who's
doing a hell of a job playing devil's advocate in two courts.

> > Patrick O'Duffy wrote:
> > To an extent, I agree with her.  If I were a 'laddish' (and
> > less intelligent) type, looking at UA for the first time,
> > I might certainly decide that this was a game that catered 
> >to my blokey interests.
>
> I cannot imagine such a person reading UA in any way and 
> feeling that there was something there for them. It is
> simply not written in a style that supports that sort of 
> attitude well at all. It would take far too much to get to
> the point where those interests could be seen. By that
> point you have to have gained at least a passing glimpse of
> the content of the game, and you have to be aware that 
> this is not the game for titilation. It just isn't. Its
> too hard (conceptually) for that style of play. At least as
> presented (I'd nbever argue that the mechanics are anything 
> but supportive of fast play in a variety of styles).

I'd agree with this. Indeed, I think this is the point.

It might look, on a very shallow reading or flip-thru to a
certain mindset of browser, that this is a book glorifying sex,
porn, booze, and violence, just as PULP FICTION, RESEVOIR DOGS,
and FIGHT CLUB seem to be about glorifying violence. Well, it
ain't.

I think the sexism comments stem from three bits: 
1. the presence of sex, porn, drugs, and violence as targeting a
lad audience via titillation.
2. the abscence of female NPCs/GMCs on a level with the big guns
of the setting.
3. (some of) the most powerful female characters in the setting
are related to a powderkeg and often sexist element of society
(porn).

Number 1 is this *unintentional* sexism we've been talking about
(though Jo has wondered how unintentional it was). Number 2 is
also *unintentional* sexism, by favoring male NPCs over female
NPCs. Number 3 compounds with both 1 and 2, and acts as a
lightning rod. All are interesting and worthy of being looked at
and pondered-- which is what we are doing.

Discussion is good.




=====
Chad Underkoffler [chadu at yahoo.com]
http://www.geocities.com/chadu/index.html
"Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three."
  -- Willy Wonka

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