28th May 2010, 9:10 AM
ABF, I certainly don't think it's all over and done with, it's a lot better than the past but there's still work to be done. I just don't think focusing on Mario rescuing Peach is part of the problem. Mario games don't HAVE symbolism. There's no need to apply a post modern interpretation. They needed a reason to get him into space, and Peach being kidnapped does the job. Don't tell me you never want to see that story again, because well, it's going to happen. Also, I just gotta say that it really was a technical issue with that dress thing. Again I'd say they were lazy, but I'd hardly call it a sexism issue. I think it's worth just taking their word for it here. I'm not saying that always having the kidnap victim be female doesn't send a wrong message, but it isn't always, one, and two it's a running joke of the series that Peach gets kidnapped now. It isn't based in sexism!
Now you want something sexist?
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MsZb8mYFoCs/S_6lgWCY9CI/AAAAAAAAJ2A/lKwO0NmZ52g/s800/vintageads1.jpg">
There. Instead of arguing that a cartoon is going on a subtle subliminal angle, try looking at the in-your-face sexist stuff that's still around. Heck, Spike TV saying Star Trek is "For Men" is one example, or those stupid Axe commercials. Nowhere in the Mario games does anyone say anything like "women are so weak" or anything of the sort.
Now you want something sexist?
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_MsZb8mYFoCs/S_6lgWCY9CI/AAAAAAAAJ2A/lKwO0NmZ52g/s800/vintageads1.jpg">
There. Instead of arguing that a cartoon is going on a subtle subliminal angle, try looking at the in-your-face sexist stuff that's still around. Heck, Spike TV saying Star Trek is "For Men" is one example, or those stupid Axe commercials. Nowhere in the Mario games does anyone say anything like "women are so weak" or anything of the sort.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)