Comments on: On feminine representation in 'The Void'

By: Joshua Meadows

Joshua Meadows — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:20:21 +0000

example: (Never seen this blog before, I found it googling for some information about the sisters. But it's obviously just rationalization from people who don't like the idea that they enjoyed some sexist art)

As a gay man and with this site covering a predominantly LGBT-focused slant, I'm not sure why you would come to the conclusion that I "enjoy some sexist art." At any rate, I disagree with the crux of your comment for the reasons I laid out at length above, but I think it's fascinating that a game like this can engineer such disparate viewpoints on this issue.

By: example

example — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:08:47 +0000

The idea that the void is not sexist is absurd. It's clearly an engaging peice of art, but come on. First of all, just because something is artistic and symbolic doesn't make it not a strip tease.

A feminist assertion that the game is sexist in its portrayal of women is also an assertion that any woman who expresses physicality and/or sexuality is invalid

The sisters in the void don't express anything. They have no free will to decline your 'gifts' and you can punish them if you fee like it. They are totally captive and you can 'control' them completely (once you defeat the brothers)

The 'sexism' in the game has nothing to do with female sexuality or sexual expressiveness. It's all about controlling women who are dependent on you, and in a sexualized context

(Never seen this blog before, I found it googling for some information about the sisters. But it's obviously just rationalization from people who don't like the idea that they enjoyed some sexist art)

By: AK

AK — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:34:06 +0000

A feminist assertion that the game is sexist in its portrayal of women is also an assertion that any woman who expresses physicality and/or sexuality is invalid, an exception to what a woman should be and antagonist to women's issues.

The Sisters of the Void clearly are not meant to represent the role of women, they are expressions of extreme emotions that apply to both men and women. Personally I believe that the game's story explores the irony of gender and does in fact have anti-sexism undertones. Despite the story basis appearing to be female "Sisters" vs. male "Brothers", it's discovered that those labels have nothing to do with the actions, emotions, or standing of the characters. Some of the Sisters are aggressive and considered masculine in our culture, while some of the Brothers make attempts at being nurturing and passive, clearly identified to us as feminine. This just adds to the complexity of the non-linear plot and quickly dissuades players from compartmentalizing the game's plot as the traditional good vs. evil. By not allowing players to use social gender as a tool of thought, the deconstruction of gender roles serves as an added subconscious layer of despair, the kind of which psychological horror is based upon.

By: aWang

aWang — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:59:47 +0000

Its funny to think of this game as anything other than a remarkable work of art. The complaint of objectifying women in the game can hardly be supported. I dont know about the others, but the majority of my time in the game was spent just looking at the beautiful environments, pondering the interesting lines, and just soaking up the atmosphere as a whole. If even a person like me, who usually plays FPS and RPGs and such could appreciate the beauty of such a game, im sure people should be able to enjoy the game more rather than complain about brief nudity

By: Shavings from Other People’s Nightmares | Tap-Repeatedly

Shavings from Other People’s Nightmares | Tap-Repeatedly — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:28:53 +0000

[...] any intent to objectify them, or any desire to sexualize victimization. I really don't, and others agree with me. I feel that The Void is, taken as a whole, a piece of art and that, like some pieces of art, it [...]

By: Joshua Meadows

Joshua Meadows — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:49:37 +0000

I definitely think there's a degree of over-analyzing going on; there is an interesting discussion on the official Ice-Pick Lodge forums that I've been participating in, which was where I found the Adventure Gamers review in the first place.

Nevertheless I think it's cool that we can have this discussion in the first place. There's so much symbolism in The Void that it lends itself well to this conversation and it's interesting to me to see how people approach it from different angles.

By: Halfgild Wynac

Halfgild Wynac — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:51:18 +0000

It is interesting to see the reaction to nudity in this game and its rationalization, and still – sexism is probably not an important concept in Russia. At least, I have never heard about sexist parades or things like that. I didn't even hear about sexism, not until the game was translated into English and released in English-speaking countries.

Could it be that people are over-analyzing it? It scares me that some reviews of the game DON'T EVEN MENTION NUDITY AND EROTICISM. As if it was some very embarassing element of the game one really shouldn't know about. It seems strange to me that someone might not notice that these "improper" elements are integral part of the game's aesthetics. This game is probably one of the very few (except hentai, of course) that have nudity and er.. "suggestive themes" as one of its core elements and would become completely different game without them.