Anita Sarkeesian vs. Rockstar

Anita Sarkeesian, while making several valid points, falls into the classic sensationalist trap of exaggeration and hyperbole. These extended and weakly supported claims take away from the valid claims she makes and detracts from her credibility. The second video I choose to watch was “Women as Background Objects pt 2” and she addressed in more detail how sexualized women have become in video games. She talked about how sexualized female characters are often used to market to a straight male audience and exist as little more than objects. I agree that such representations are shallow and lack artistic value but she tries to place misogynistic shackles on far too many female characters for my liking.

She addressed the random acts of violence towards female characters in games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption as macho power fantasies being fulfilled and here her argument seems to weaken. Anita Sarkeesian is incredibly knowledgeable about games as long as it sticks to her argument and she seems to conveniently forget the other murders and beatings in these games. I have seen quite possibly thousands of random acts of violence and crime in both Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. These are mature games, featuring explicit violence, drug use and language. The sad truth of the world of both GTA and RDR is that sexual violence happens and women are beaten. The games do not portray these things as positive or in any way acceptable. They simple depict a darker and more dangerous side of the world we live in. The depiction is not a service to depraved male desires but rather a valid piece of an incredible artistic work in the case of both GTA and RDR.