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(02-23-2017, 09:09 PM)Nako Vesh Wrote:(02-23-2017, 08:43 PM)ZOMGodzilla Wrote: EDIT: I must also say it's quite disturbing that rape as an event in fiction has been turned into some sort of anti-edge fuel source. As if the presence of rape in a story suddenly makes it this brooding (and consequently less valued as a story) tale meant solely to be edgy. How exactly is rape as a subject not "employed easily"? What constitutes proper portrayal of rape? Seriously?
Well, for one, I think it was handled "correctly" in Jessica Jones. In the case of that show it wasn't so much "used" but was an implied oppressive presence that colored the entire season of the show (which mirrors how it affects victims IRL). We never see the act, but still without many words, we come to know it happened. When it is finally spelled out, it's the victim, Jessica, who calls it out to the perpetrator as rape.Â
Unfortunately, it is handled clumsily over, and over, and over again. As are a number of tired tropes directed at mostly female characters in fiction. Fridging comes to mind, and FFXIV is absolutely guilty of that one. People simply get tired of these.Â
Is rape handled clumsily in FFXIV? I don't know. I want to say yes in some cases, but it's hard for me to tell because I'm somewhat close to the subject so any mention of it is glaring to me. I do think it's an oversight on their part that the rape of only women seems to come up.
As an aside, I think OP is under the mistaken impression that gender and sexual attraction are inexorably tied to the act of rape. They're not. Rape is essentially about two things: Violence and power. That's it.
True enough. I had realized after I posted that there certainly is a proper way to handle rape themes in fiction. I see clearly where my statement could make it seem like i'm not aware of that.
I think what I meant to say, more specifically, was that it seemed weird to consider the mention of rape as 'employed easily', and that it was necessarily a bad thing. Is rape as a subject supposed to be explored only in a deeper manner, as a subject that prevails the fiction? Essentially, I don't see why rape can't/shouldn't be something brought up on occasion as existing in the universe as a simpler conversation piece, rather than something deeper.
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