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Bayonetta: The Virtual Barbie on Game and Player

Bayonetta: The Virtual Barbie

Jessica Johnson  //  January 27, 2010


How not to empower women.

T

he story of Bayonetta is confusing amalgam of random elements, and while I believe it tries to be light-hearted, it comes off as ridiculous. What seems like a straightforward representation of a struggle amongst the heavens quickly degrades into a story about a witch who is capable of moving in ways you wouldn't expect from someone trying to save the world.

In a recently featured article by Gamepro, contributor Leigh Alexander praised Bayonetta for its provocatively empowering gameplay. But the truth is that Bayonetta is about as empowering as being hitched to a plow. According to Alexander, the context is what should be judged when determining appropriateness. With scenes that involve masturbation, nudity, plus an end-credit scroll superimposed over an erotic pole dance performed by the title character herself, I fail to see how this game should be considered empowering in any context.

Bayonetta is about as empowering as being hitched to a plow.Perhaps we should define empowerment. According to the dictionary there are two definitions, and both can have very different interpretations. One is that empowerment gives control, or power, over some one or something else, much in the way Bayonetta uses her sexuality as a tool to subdue her enemies. The second definition is that it gives someone a greater sense of confidence or self-esteem. Search the internet for "empowerment of women" and you will not find websites about sexuality. What you will find are websites for all types of women, to give them support in their success and to help them achieve greater things in life.

But Alexander argues that "it's unfair to strip video game women of their sexuality completely, or to assert that if a character is sexual that she must be getting exploited." I might agree if the developer who designed both Bayonetta's and Jeanne's bodies had not been so forthcoming with the gratuitous nature of their design. In fact, if anyone is doing the exploiting, it's Bayonetta who uses a seductive fighting style to combat the powers that be. Is that the lesson we are to learn? That exploiting our own bodies will give us confidence?

Female empowerment is not about using gender as a weapon, although there are plenty of women out there who believe it is. The truth is we can have the confidence and self-esteem without degrading ourselves, and without losing our sexuality. It's a little thing called modesty. Consider Elika from Prince of Persia. I can assure you she exudes the same level of kick-ass confidence as Bayonetta, and without sacrificing her sexuality or dancing about a pole. Elika is very feminine, beautiful and even regal, and while she appears to be this fragile flower, she is very strong-willed and determined to resolve the conflict at hand. Her attitude is inspiring, not because she flounces around while shooting at enemies, but because she seems to have a distinct feminine character built into her 3D model.



Consider Elika from Prince of Persia: heroism without dancing about a pole.
Alexander cites characters such as Chell in Portal, and Heather Morris of Silent Hill 3, claiming that being "mousy, tomboyish or turtle-necked" should not be the mold for female characters. I agree with that, if only because not all women are the same. But Bayonetta was neither trapped in a secret lab nor fighting her way out of a nightmarish hell. Survival takes precedence, and I expect characters — male or female — to reflect the situations they have been placed in. So if a female character is fighting for her life, the last thing I expect her to do is run around in enormous high heals.

As for Bayonetta's situation, she is portrayed as a woman who lives without fear, dances like a stripper more so than fights her enemies, and occasionally strips naked as part of her most powerful moves. For a character that is supposed to portray women in a positive light, she has quite a few characteristics about her that are questionable.

Bayonetta is detrimental to the "positive portrayal of women" not because of why she was created — that part is obvious — but because of how people interpret it or listen to another's interpretation. Everyone lives by their own standards, but to refuse to acknowledge such an obvious striptease-inspired character for what she is, and then to praise her as if she were at the same level of female heroism as Samus Aran of Metroid or Faith Connors from Mirror's Edge — that alone will prevent progress.




Ed Kirchgessner // January 27, 2010 // 10:23 AM

Couldn't agree with you more, Jes. As an uncle, I love the idea of being able to pass on my appreciation of games to my two nieces. Still, this is pretty difficult while the vast majority of the industry maintains its "boys club" image.

I don't argue that games like 'Bayonetta' shouldn't exist, though I too would appreciate a bit more balance in the design of female characters in games. Remember Jade in 'Beyond Good and Evil'? Michel Ancel pretty much hit the nail on the head: a female character with wit, beauty, intelligence AND modesty (odd... all the things I appreciate in a real woman). I'm not sure what it will take to convince publishers that a good 50% of their audience isn't necessarily craving hotpants and bodysuits...


Timm // January 27, 2010 // 10:58 AM

You've been mad about this for a while, Jess.


Jessica Johnson // January 27, 2010 // 1:49 PM

Timm,

It is one thing to be mad. Getting angry implies an insecurity about the issue, and I am neither angry nor am I insecure about my own body. I just have a very high moral standard, something not typically reflected in this industry.

How else will they know that there are those who dislike their direction if I do not stand up for my point of view?


Jace Proctor // January 28, 2010 // 8:13 AM

You said everything I wanted to say about this particular issue in my review, only much more elegantly. Curses and congratulations, both.


Bob // February 27, 2010 // 5:43 PM

I really must disagree with you here, to my view you have rather missed the point and muddled several different personality types together. What you advocate is that women can only be sexually empowering in a reserved sense, hiding it behind a supposed cool exterior, but why must this be the case? Bayonetta is an openly sexual being certainly and partly her lack of inhibilitons stems from as you say, her complete lack of fear when encountering enemies. This is why she is no Chell, she is in control of every situation. As such, it seems chirlish to assert only game characters such as Elika are acceptable. There are countless games where the protagonist is a hyper masculine, rather intimidating character, ala Marcus Fenix, which is deemed appropriate for his context. By contrast, Bayonetta apparently is not appropriate, a sexually and physically intimidating character. I fear you have actually become rather sexist, advocating women have a particular sexual role to fill that is demure and only quietly confident for fear of being frowned upon.

Further, Bayonetta does not "wield her sexuality as a weapon" in that sense. Her sexuality is not a blugeon she uses to defeat her enemies, she uses a manifestation of her physical strength, fists and feet to defeat them. I would argue she stands closer to a Kratos like character, using extended versions of his own limbs as weapons.

Referring to Samus does not aid your arguement either, Samus is a lifeless, virtually A-sexual woman, who hides in a suit silent and unfeeling. Bayonetta retains her personality during gameplay, rather than shrinking to become the game-player. You ARE Samus in Metroid, you PLAY Bayonetta.

Also, I'm sorry, when does it depict masturbation?

Interesting article though, if only to spurn me to write a quick retort.


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