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Cover art: Sexist and lack of talent?

245

Comments

  • AmylionAmylion Member Posts: 38
    Originally posted by Ryowulf

    This thread was made as a joke right?

    It was pretty funny to claim sexism against males when the female in red has almost nothing on.

    The art work is fine.  What would be the point of it being super realistic when the game is cartoony?

    No, it's not a joke. In my eyes this painting is made by an artist focusing on women and neglecting the male aspect of reality.

    You are right that showing off female skin is another sexism in this picture.

    But that doesn't negate the lack of a positive depiction of maleness. Well, the whole thing is made out of stereotypes, probably not much to expect there, but to me it gives the impression of a world where males don't matter, and I wouldn't be surprised if the artist actually would think this way...

    Others just shoot the zombies which are chasing us. Whereas I try to talk to them.

    If the brainless realized that it is dead, maybe, just maybe, it would lay itself down to rest...

  • TelondarielTelondariel Member Posts: 1,001
    Originally posted by Amylion
    <snip>

    I think you are really stretching here.

    image
  • AmylionAmylion Member Posts: 38
    Originally posted by Normike
    Well it's a video game and they are catering to their audience (mostly male).
    Rosie Rappaport ‏<span js-action-profile-name"="">Rosierap

    "Nearly half of all video-gamers are women"

    Links to: http://us.cnn.com/2013/08/08/tech/gaming-gadgets/female-gamers/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter

    Others just shoot the zombies which are chasing us. Whereas I try to talk to them.

    If the brainless realized that it is dead, maybe, just maybe, it would lay itself down to rest...

  • Joseph_KerrJoseph_Kerr Member RarePosts: 1,113
    If you dont like it, ignore it. Thats what grown folks do.
  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247
    Originally posted by thinlizzy

    Its bad in many ways

    however I do wish people would get over issues of sexism ffs

    ooo 1 of them but 3 of those OMG stop the presses... damn PC rubish

    +1

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
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  • AmylionAmylion Member Posts: 38
    Originally posted by donpopuki
    Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

    There's no Devinci code deeper meaning here. Maybe some of the artist's subconscious leanings and cultural filter but no secret motive.

    Oh, you are right, I think it's a subconscious tendency of the artist!

    Others just shoot the zombies which are chasing us. Whereas I try to talk to them.

    If the brainless realized that it is dead, maybe, just maybe, it would lay itself down to rest...

  • ElikalElikal Member UncommonPosts: 7,912

    I just thought, those poor women will die horribly with their exposed kidney areas of pneumonia or what. It is more hilarious how female characters are posing like with broken spines and hips.

    If men would pose like female heroes, it would look like this:

    People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert

  • AmylionAmylion Member Posts: 38
    Originally posted by Shubawkss
    Male sexism because he's behind ladies? Oh please. I'm a Male myself, but that is the dumbest argument I've ever heard regarding sexism. 

    Yeah, that would be dumb. The problem is that he is the only male. In the original art by Keith Parkinson he was an Erudite with an obvious big brain, looking into a far distance because he is too intelligent for this world. That's something different than hiding the only generic-looking male behind a woman with a big hammer.

    Others just shoot the zombies which are chasing us. Whereas I try to talk to them.

    If the brainless realized that it is dead, maybe, just maybe, it would lay itself down to rest...

  • rodingorodingo Member RarePosts: 2,870
    From a technical art perspective the image is well balanced with both positive and negative space.   However it looks like it was done by someone who doesn't do many character illustrations.  Hardly any of the characters are drawn with the "line of action" in mind and like someone else said, the characters lack any emotion.  Makes the characters look really stiff.  About the sexism, I have no opinion becuase that's subjective anyways.

    "If I offended you, you needed it" -Corey Taylor

  • BlazefireBlazefire Member UncommonPosts: 44

    My god you people will complain about ANYTHING!!

    Lol...

  • ElikalElikal Member UncommonPosts: 7,912
    And as usual Jim Sterling made the best comment about the topic.

    People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert

  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    The shadows didn't bother me until I looked at them... now they do. That alone shows the hurried, cobbled-together sloppiness to me... damn you OP!
     
    But sexist? Lol give me a break...precisely because of the target audience there is a preponderance of fantasy females in heroic poses.
    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

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  • RocknissRockniss Member Posts: 1,034
    Thank you for this thread, /Rockniss deletes mmorpg.com account
  • GravargGravarg Member UncommonPosts: 3,424

    I don't think it's sexist.  I always make it a point to stand behind scantily clad women that wield a huge 2 hand hammer :)

     

    Edit: Or any weapon(s) for that matter :P

  • BlazefireBlazefire Member UncommonPosts: 44
    Originally posted by McSire
    Oh my god just shut up, out of all the things there are to complain about in this world, you complain about a picture of art? Like really, please go re think your life.

    I know right. Maybe the OP should create a better piece of art for them and submit it to SOE... lol

    I mean seriously... what are we all art critics now?? It sure seems like it lately.

  • ElikalElikal Member UncommonPosts: 7,912
    Originally posted by Deleted User
    Thank you for this thread, /Rockniss deletes mmorpg.com account

    Wow, drama over the top? o.0

    People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert

  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    Originally posted by Elikal
    Originally posted by Deleted User
    Thank you for this thread, /Rockniss deletes mmorpg.com account

    Wow, drama over the top? o.0

    I wonder what his new user name will be when he's done pouting?

    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • SpottyGekkoSpottyGekko Member EpicPosts: 6,916

    It's threads like this that keep me coming back to MMORPG.COM !

     

    It will be many months before EQ:Next launches. If we're already at in-depth critiques of the promotional art, we'll probably be down to 1000-word reviews of the game's desktop icon by the time open beta rolls around image

  • Crazy_StickCrazy_Stick Member Posts: 1,059
    To me it's old school EQ and a bit reminiscent of some 80's D&D product covers. Kind of bright for a typical fantasy MMORPG. I never considered it sexist and I think you may be reading too much into it. At least they are not selling digital panties in the cash shop like SWTOR to take advantage of the typical teen gamer with his girl toon. The thing that really sticks out to me is the down right anime sized weapons on most of the characters in the artwork.  Very stylized and not too realistic. That's fine by me but I know it will gripe some bottoms.
  • IselinIselin Member LegendaryPosts: 18,719
    Originally posted by SpottyGekko

    It's threads like this that keep me coming back to MMORPG.COM !

     

    It will be many months before EQ:Next launches. If we're already at in-depth critiques of the promotional art, we'll probably be down to 1000-word reviews of the game's desktop icon by the time open beta rolls around image

    Dude...icons matter!

     

    I also love threads like this... it's an opportunity to release the inner nerd and bask in all the geekyness of dissecting what 99% of the population isn't even aware of.

    "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”

    ― Umberto Eco

    “Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” 
    ― CD PROJEKT RED

  • SovrathSovrath Member LegendaryPosts: 32,941
    Originally posted by Amylion
    • Scene doesn't make sense regarding physical logic:
      • The original scene painted by Keith Parkinson was set down in a valley. This scene now is on a peak, but without paying attention to it: There are no such small ponds on a peak like seen on the right of the painting.

    - Sexism:

    There is no equality regarding gender!

    The front row is occupied by females. The only male humanlike is hiding behind another female. Other males are poorly painted animal races. The subtext is obvious: Women rule this peak, the only man is only a side-note (tolerated as someone standing behind a woman, looking into the distance without interfering with the scene), and the other maleness is depicted as rude, brainless savagery.

    There is a clear focus on the female characters which are painted with much more love to detail, combining the grace of female "tenderness" with virile power (note the male leg of the female fighter to the right!).

     

     

    1, what about "Lake of the Clouds" on top of mount Washington (to name one)? There is also a lake on top of Mt. Aragat.

    2, so you are saying that all "art" has to paint everyone equally? I can't imagine you are saying that it's the men who have to be in front. As per usual as it seems that most game art until recently was ruled by "big burly men being all burly and manly". Someone has to be in front I don't see the issue in having women in front.

     

    Other than that, I don't think the painting is "amazing" or anything like that.

     

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  • JustsomenoobJustsomenoob Member UncommonPosts: 880
    Originally posted by EvolvedMonky

    EQ1 cover art was far worse. Brings back memories as a kid I felt so uncomfortable while in Comp USA my eyes kept glancing at the EQ art. I felt like a pervert geek everytime I picked it up to look at it....... Memories like the corners of my mind..MEMORIES

     

     

    Atleast they kept the dragon.

     

    Worst was the box for Kunark ,with Vie in bondage with the lizard drooling all over her.

     

    "Oh, so you like THOSE kinds of games huh"

  • NaowutNaowut Member UncommonPosts: 663
    Woman dress like this in real life even in the winter. It's reality, not sexist.
  • AmylionAmylion Member Posts: 38
    Originally posted by Sovrat

    1, what about "Lake of the Clouds" on top of mount Washington (to name one)? There is also a lake on top of Mt. Aragat.

    Thanks, interesting, but it seems to me that these lakes aren't on the very top of a mountain? Whatever, it's not so important. It just think it shows a bit the lack of love to detail by the artist because she just took the original art of Parkinson and transferred it to a different place without thinking too much about it. Of course it's a fantasy world... maybe the Kerran just made his whirlwind action move and Fiorina Vie filled the hole up with water using her rain bow. ;D

    2, so you are saying that all "art" has to paint everyone equally? I can't imagine you are saying that it's the men who have to be in front. As per usual as it seems that most game art until recently was ruled by "big burly men being all burly and manly". Someone has to be in front I don't see the issue in having women in front.

    No, of course not. I just feel a lack of balance there: Every woman is beautiful and strong, there is one male human who is – hyperbolically speaking – looking like a dumb coward, and the rest is a freak show. The original art by Parkinson was some sort of balanced panopticum. This is missing here. I admit that Parkinson was focusing more on the woman too, for obvious reasons, but it felt more respectful to both genders.

    Regarding sexist stereotypes in game:

    Of course it's "just" the cover art. But it would be problematic if it would translate into sexist stereotypes in game. I think the in game style is really good and way better than the cover and concept art! The male human face looked even better than the female. I was a little bit bothered by the class panel video, where the male characters had a tendency to small heads and big arms, hands... but it's too early to tell.

    On a base note: I think these topics are important. It's a fantasy game, so let's build a virtual world without patriarchal / matriarchal constraints, with many different gender roles to choose from, from strong women to skinny mages.

    Amylion.

    Others just shoot the zombies which are chasing us. Whereas I try to talk to them.

    If the brainless realized that it is dead, maybe, just maybe, it would lay itself down to rest...

  • uggeh12uggeh12 Member UncommonPosts: 44

    Just another example of the inequality towards men in our world. Whats next? Will they tell us what we can and can't do with our own bodies? When will we get equal pay for the same job? Oh the injustice of being a man in this modern world of ours, the tribulation us men have had to suffer over the millennia s is all coming back again. God help us all...

    /sarcasm off

    Really OP? Sex sells and in the gaming industry a bunch of half naked glistening muscle bound men isn't going to appeal to the masses. If anything this is more sexist towards women as once again they are put front and center wearing hardly anything in an attempt to sell the game to a mostly male audience.

    If this really is an issue with you, then I think you have too much free time and too much of that free time is spent in front of a computer. 

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