Am I the only one not put-off by the Dead Island statue?

[xPixelatedx]

Don't get me wrong, it's horrifying and gross, but isn't that... you know, the point? Is this not a franchise based around zombies, dead people and gore? Did the original trailer not feature a family being attacked? Did it not show a girl, a little girl, falling out of a window to her (second) death after being partially eaten/bit by zombies? I'd expect the collector's edition of a zombie franchise, particularly this one, to be a body part, or assembly of body parts. Sure, I'd have been offended if this was the collector's box to Gears of War or Halo, because there would have been no context. This has context, it is fitting for the game it is attached to. Yes, it has boobs, but you know what? Grow up. Believe it or not a dead body is just a dead body, women or not. I don't believe they were actually attempting to use a sort of crude sex appeal, as some are suggesting. It's just a torso, and ignoring the horrible anatomy that was sculpted, it's pretty safe to say it's mutilated past the point of possibly being used as a sex symbol. The whole thing is outright cartoonish in appearance and simply over the top, as a good videogame or videogame themed item should be.
This controversial hunk of plastic wasn't a product of sexism, misogyny, sexual allure or hate for women. It is a product of the game it came from. If you have any complaint against this thing, it should first be directed at the game; a game people apparently had no problem allowing to exist up till now. Maybe this is a good time for some self reflection. Is fantasy violence ok as long as it's digital but not plastic? Where exactly does this start and end? Are toys of women zombies "not ok" now?
That said, yes, it's in poor taste. But you know what? It's ok to make offensive things, you kind of have to when you are dealing with the topic of zombies. Everything about them is offensive: the idea of using people as food. Having to kill your relatives. People turning on each other like animals. Women and children often being depicted dying in many horrible ways. It's also ok to be offended by it; you should be, it's horrible. Hence the genre horror. If it offends you so much you cannot tolerate it, fine. Don't watch horror movies or play gross games, and don't buy special editions that come in plastic torsos.
Deep Silver isn't sorry, you know it's just PR. You cannot honestly believe a game developer didn't know their own game was being released in something like this. The truly sad part? That (genuine or not) they had to give an apology at all, just to stop the whining; probably while scratching their head the whole time, wondering if anyone has even played their game and knows what it is about.



Just for the record, I've never even played Dead Island. I can only go by videos and screenshots to tell what it's about. So if the game is actually about teacups and ponies, please feel free to correct me.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

For me it's not that it depicts violence against women it's that they have tried to make the dismembered torso sexy. That just makes me feel a bit ill. It's that combination of titillation and violence that makes it offensive for me like the hitman trailer.

On a lesser note it also kind of suggests that Dead Island fans are all of the male or lesbian persuasion. Out of me and the OP I've played Dead Island and I'm female so....yeah.

 

[lechat]

do we really need 3 threads with the same topic?

dead island was a game about a zombie infestation on an island resort
it contained dismembered female torsos
why exactly is this even an issue? had it been a hand, head or leg noone would have cared.

ask your self this. if it had been a black male torso would that make it racist? would a white torso be reverse racism?

 

[Zhukov]

Well, having paid top dollar for the first game I was already put off the new one by the fact that it had Dead Island written on the box.

...

Zing?

Eh, whatever.

Here's the thing:

I don't believe they were actually attempting to use a sort of crude sex appeal, as some are suggesting. It's just a torso, and ignoring the horrible anatomy that was sculpted, it's pretty safe to say it's mutilated past the point of possibly being used as a sex symbol.

That's very clearly not the case. The fact that we're even having this conversation makes it clear that a lot of people took one look at that statue and thought, "Oh hey, it's a sex thing." I suspect that you did too. Call me crazy, but somehow I doubt that when you first saw it you thought, "Nope, that has nothing to do with sex or sexualization at all." At the very least, when people suggest that it's a bit unsavoury for one reason or another you know exactly what they're talking about.

I have a question for you: Whoever conceived of and designed that little statue didn't decide on that design by flipping a coin. They made the very deliberate decision at some point to make it a female torso in a skimpy bikini with a pair of big, sexy DD boobs on it. Why do you think they decided to make it like that?

 

[Rawne1980]

Nope, you are certainly not the only one.

I'm not put off by it nor do I care about it.

It doesn't bring up feelings of rage or disgust ... it's a little plastic statue ... with boobs. Like we haven't seen worse over the years.

The truly hilarious thing is people keep trying to separate games from reality (see all the arguments on why video games don't cause violence) yet as soon as something is perceived as sexist or (laughably) misogynistic then people jump all over it like a rash. Hilarious hypocrisy. If video game violence doesn't matter than what difference do a pair of breasts make?

I remember in Dead Island, walking around having female zombies in bikini's try and eat my face and then proceeding to cave their little heads in with whatever happened to be in my hand at the time.

I'll start panicking on the day I make my wife walk around topless while I beat her round the head with my penis because video games have turned me to strange kinky violence.

Until then i'll just laugh at the stupidity of all the heated debates.

"Video games do not cause violence ... what is this? ... a pair of breasts? ... HOW FUCKING DARE THEY".

 

[xPixelatedx]

That's very clearly not the case. The fact that we're even having this conversation makes it clear that a lot of people took one look at that statue and thought, "Oh hey, it's a sex thing."

Well, it wasn't in a sexy pose of any kind, there was no smooth jazz playing, and to be honest I don't like the fact she avoids eye contact (hurr). But seriously, the body is just there, as plain and dull as the naked, female outline on the poster in my doctor's office (it has organs inside it!). An no, honestly when I see a woman just standing around, my first thought isn't 'shes just trying to be sexy for men'. Anyone who thinks a female body cannot exist aside from being a sex symbol is where the real objectifying of women plays in, and I think that's a big problem stemming far outside of this one game and it's trinket. Also, while your observation about the bikini might be true, I will remind you that the game takes place on an island resort. As for the boobs, those are DD? I happen to know men with a bigger chest size then that (well, at least comparable size). Those aren't huge at all, and considering the limitless potential of fantasy, they could have done whatever they wanted if they were really reaching for that sex appeal.

 

[Zhukov]

That's very clearly not the case. The fact that we're even having this conversation makes it clear that a lot of people took one look at that statue and thought, "Oh hey, it's a sex thing."

Well, it wasn't in a sexy pose of any kind, there was no smooth jazz playing, and to be honest I don't like the fact she avoids eye contact (hurr). But seriously, the body is just there, as plain and dull as the naked, female outline on the poster in my doctor's office (it has organs inside it!). An no, honestly when I see a woman just standing around, my first thought isn't 'shes just trying to be sexy for men'. I do however think this horrific objectification of women is a big problem stemming far outside of this one game and it's trinket. Also, while your observation about the bikini might be true, I will remind you that the game takes place on an island resort. As for the boobs, those are DD? I happen to know men with a bigger chest size then that (well, at least comparable size). Those aren't huge at all, and considering the limitless potential of fantasy, they could have done whatever they wanted if they were really reaching for that sex appeal.

You didn't answer my question.

I have a question for you: Whoever conceived of and designed that little statue didn't decide on that design by flipping a coin. They made the very deliberate decision at some point to make it a female torso in a skimpy bikini with a pair of big, sexy DD boobs on it. Why do you think they decided to make it like that?

Look, I'm not saying you or anyone else should be outraged by the statue. I'm personally pretty "meh" on the whole deal because, well, it's just a little plastic bust thing being packaged in an utterly mediocre little game that will be completely forgotten with three years. But I think you're going to the opposite extreme in trying to deny that there's anything there. If you can really look at this...

... and think it has nothing whatsoever to do with sex appeal of any kind then you are clearly operating on such a completely different level of reasoning to me that there really isn't any kind of discussion we can have.

 

[xPixelatedx]

do we really need 3 threads with the same topic?

Considering this is the only thread in favor of the statue, yes.

had it been a hand, head or leg noone would have cared.

That's a very good point, but I am thinking it had to do with the fact that those aren't where the boobs are located. It seems to keep going back to that, the boobs. Which, in reality, is making the people who hate the statue look as juvenile (or worse) then the theoretical "gaming man-children" they think the statue is aimed at.

ask your self this. if it had been a black male torso would that make it racist?

Actually, I am indeed asking myself that... Not because I believe it would be, but because I (sadly) know people. That's just the kind of silly thing that could have caused a rage, and it just depresses me further.

 

[xPixelatedx]

... and think it has nothing whatsoever to do with sex appeal of any kind then you are clearly operating on such a completely different level of reasoning to me that there really isn't any kind of discussion we can have.

I honestly didn't find it sexy. Maybe it's because I am an artist and the first thing I see when looking at a statue is 'anatomy and shapes'(off anatomy at that) but no, I didn't find it sexy. Other people? Well... sure, maybe? I guess it could be sexy... if their idea of sexy is a Sears catalog. XD
http://www.sears.com/clothing-intimates-bras/s-1021550?keyword=bra&viewItems=25&autoRedirect=true&redirectType=CAT_REC_PRED

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I think that it is in poor taste but it is not an example of misogyny. Given the context, I am presented with the grisly aftermath of what is presumably a zombie related event on an island. The bikini is of the sort one would expect a fit young female of the species to wear while strolling on a beach and while provocative, that it could easily have been taken further in that direction by using any of a number of common styles shows at least a measure of restraint. That the torso belonged to a female is relatively incidental - the violence isn't sexualized nor is there evidence to suggest it was directed at her because she was a woman but rather that she was simply involved in a scenario with dismemberment is somewhat common.

In other words, other than the fact that it is vaguely representative of a female of the species, there is nothing that suggest misogyny as many have said. It just doesn't seem like the sort of statue anyone would want.

 

[Zhukov]

... and think it has nothing whatsoever to do with sex appeal of any kind then you are clearly operating on such a completely different level of reasoning to me that there really isn't any kind of discussion we can have.

I honestly didn't find it sexy. Maybe it's because I am an artist and the first thing I see when looking at a statue is 'anatomy and shapes'(off anatomy at that) but no, I didn't find it sexy. Other people? Well... sure, maybe? I guess it could be sexy... if their idea of sexy is a Sears catalog. XD
http://www.sears.com/clothing-intimates-bras/s-1021550?keyword=bra&viewItems=25&autoRedirect=true&redirectType=CAT_REC_PRED

You don't have to find it sexy, just sexualized. There's a difference.

I can look at... I dunno... Japanese vomit porn or something and not find it sexy because, well... ew. But I can still tell that it was made to be sexually appealing in some way, just not to me. Same with this here little statue. You don't need to get a hard on every time you look at it to tell that there is a degree of sexual intent behind it. It's the combination of overt sexualisation and mutilation that a bunch of people are finding off-putting.

This comes back to that question of mine that you still haven't answered.

I'm going to repeat it a third time with some added emphasis, because apparently you're having difficulty seeing it.

I have a question for you: Whoever conceived of and designed that little statue didn't decide on that design by flipping a coin. They made the very deliberate decision at some point to make it a female torso in a skimpy bikini with a pair of big, sexy DD boobs on it. Why do you think they decided to make it like that?

 

[Chairman Miaow]

... and think it has nothing whatsoever to do with sex appeal of any kind then you are clearly operating on such a completely different level of reasoning to me that there really isn't any kind of discussion we can have.

I honestly didn't find it sexy. Maybe it's because I am an artist and the first thing I see when looking at a statue is 'anatomy and shapes'(off anatomy at that) but no, I didn't find it sexy. Other people? Well... sure, maybe? I guess it could be sexy... if their idea of sexy is a Sears catalog. XD
http://www.sears.com/clothing-intimates-bras/s-1021550?keyword=bra&viewItems=25&autoRedirect=true&redirectType=CAT_REC_PRED

You don't have to find it sexy, just sexualized. There's a difference.

I can look at... I dunno... Japanese vomit porn or something and not find it sexy because, well... ew. But I can still tell that it was made to be sexually appealing in some way, just not to me. Same with this here little statue. You don't need to get a hard on every time you look at it to tell that there is a degree of sexual intent behind it. It's the combination of overt sexualisation and mutilation that a bunch of people are finding off-putting.

This comes back to that question of mine that you still haven't answered.

I'm going to repeat it a third time with some added emphasis, because apparently you're having difficulty seeing it.

I have a question for you: Whoever conceived of and designed that little statue didn't decide on that design by flipping a coin. They made the very deliberate decision at some point to make it a female torso in a skimpy bikini with a pair of big, sexy DD boobs on it. Why do you think they decided to make it like that?

Note: I think the statue is really stupid, I'm just playing devils advocate. The torso had to be either male or female. Female allows them to slap a Union Jack/flag of choice bra on it for extra targeted marketing.

 

[Mungular]

nah i'm right there with you

 

[Strazdas]

When i read about it on the news article my reaction was: ok, i jsut found a reason to buy this game.

 

[Phasmal]

Did you seriously miss the thousands of other dudes going `Well I DONT SEE ANYTHING WRONG`.
We get it.

For me it's not that it depicts violence against women it's that they have tried to make the dismembered torso sexy. That just makes me feel a bit ill. It's that combination of titillation and violence that makes it offensive for me like the hitman trailer.

On a lesser note it also kind of suggests that Dead Island fans are all of the male or lesbian persuasion. Out of me and the OP I've played Dead Island and I'm female so....yeah.

Also pretty much this.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Maybe this is a good time for some self reflection

it's in poor taste

I'm not sure if this was kind of an embedded message in your OP meant to reflect your actual feelings on the subject, and this is some next level shit you've got going on, or whether you're genuinely being obtuse on the subject of whether or not this obviously sexualized statue is sexualized and what kind of problem anyone could POSSIBLY have with that.

Incredibly, even though the statue does not offend me, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever understanding why it might offend someone else. Especially someone who had a particular concern about the sexualization of violence towards women. Why do I not have a problem understanding points of view that might differ from my own? I have no idea! I like to think it's because I'm a fucking adult.

However, this IS the Escapist, so I would be remiss if I did not touch upon the following tiresome talking points:

1. SOMEONE IS OFFENDED? THIS IS INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE TO ME.
2. SOMETHING SOMETHING FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
3. IF IT HAPPENED TO A *MAN* NO ONE WOULD CARE HERP DERP.

By the way, what are the odds that someone misinterprets a Stephen Fry or Ricky Gervais quote about taking offense and employs it before the end of this thread? I want to get in on that action.

 

[D Moness]

I'll start panicking on the day I make my wife walk around topless while I beat her round the head with my penis because video games have turned me to strange kinky violence.

Or you are just trying out something you read on the internet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaffelen <- and yeah that is 100% true and reAL
Sometimes i cry for my country.

 

[Strelok]

ask your self this. if it had been a black male torso would that make it racist? would a white torso be reverse racism?

There is no such thing as reverse racism, just racism, in fact it's kind of racist to say reverse racism.

On topic, I find it distasteful, and at a time when gamers have to defend themselves against accusations that we are all raving violent lunatics ready to snap at any moment this does not help the cause.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

As my new avatar/title suggests, I think it was a stupid thing to do

Out of ALL the zombie-related things they could have added, they had to go with the stuff that makes them look like they're trying to use sex appeal to sell a game

Why not a scale model of, say, the characters? A weapon? ANYTHING at all would have been better