Okay, I'm rested. Let's do this.
- "Isn't there something of an overlap between the two?"
Sure? But these are still fundamentally different concepts.
True, but the audience doesn't always say things the way the creator intends. Case in point, Anno intended for Rei to be
creepy, but legions of Otaku the world over consider her their waifu.
- "But is Samus really sexualized? She doesn't act even remotely sexual."
She was put in an outfit that accentuates her boobs and figure while previously, (might be wrong on this) her outfits didn't. The design change is a display of increased sexualization in the design of Samus.
I meant in terms of behavior. She doesn't gratuitously twist her spine in such a way that her breasts and butt were both visible. She wears a more revealing outfit, but she still acts pretty much the same. Now, there
is legitimate sexism in
Metroid (see:
Other M), but I don't think the Zero Suit is all that objectionable.
Besides, in
Twilight Princess, Link takes off his shirt. Does that make
him more sexualized?
- "Besides, if anything, he's far more sexualized than Samus is. Unlike with her Zero Suit, Snake's ass crack is showing."
Male ass cracks don't have greater sexual pressure put on them by society than female breasts. I don't think even Japan is that weird.
Nevertheless, Solid Snake has legions of fangirls. Which I'm sure his revealing outfit has
nothing to do with.
- "Liquid runs around shirtless in the middle of Alaska."
Another example of idealization, not objectification, at least to me. "Look at this mega-badass who can run around shirtless in the middle of Alaska. Such strong. Very agency. Wow."
Considering the sexualization of other male characters in the franchise, I wouldn't be so sure, especially considering how weird the series can get.
- "Raiden (whose character was created to appeal to women, by the way) was forced to go naked. That's not even getting into Kaz."
Okay, Raiden would be a good example of sexual objectification in that case. And what's this about Kaz? I don't know as much about MGS as I should, and when I googled the guy all I got was a dude in a cool brown jacket.
Well, feast your eyes on this:
If you think he's not sexualized, I've got an Infinium Phantom to sell you.
- "But nobody gave a shit about any of that. You know what raised hackles before the game even came out? Quiet's outfit. Double standard, much?"
It's almost like gaming has a long-ass history of sexualizing women at the cost of depriving them of agency while letting men be fully realized characters without sexualization or something. And no, that doesn't mean that EVERY GAME EVER has done this or that things aren't better in more recent games, but still. Also, the whole "boob doll" thing doesn't help.
And there's a big problem. See, there are certain self-proclaimed "culture critics" who focus on the broader cultural context surrounding female characters, rather than judging them on a case-by-case basis. In my opinion, that's not a good strategy for analysis. True, the big picture is important, but one shouldn't lose the trees for the forest (to turn an idiom on its head). That's like lumping Virgil Tibbs, Al Powell, and Alonzo Harris in together.
- "And on the other hand, there are those who think the latter is happening when it's really the former. Just look at all the self-righteous outrage about Morrigan and Bayonetta."
Yeah, Bayonetta's a bit of a border case. On one hand, the copious crotch and ass shots, but on the other, Bayonetta's presented as a character who's in control and enjoying her sexuality on her own terms. So it's kind of grey.
How exactly is that a "border case"?