Bayonetta: The Virtual Barbie

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.

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