Gender, Fantasy, and the Women of Dragon Age.

[prozacpark]

At some point, I was avoiding LJ/fandom because of the fail, and then I got busy and forgot to post. A lot. But I have been randomly consuming various media, and having thoughts, but mostly too distracted to post. One of the things I kept telling myself I would definitely post about was "Game of Thrones." Which I have been both watching and reading

Comments

[prozacpark]

I had never played one before this one! Well, the Nancy Drew games, but that's more...puzzle solving than anything else. And this was very different from what I am used to. So I cheated a lot on the gameplay, and mostly just sat back and enjoyed the story and the characters. I SHALL SHARE MY SECRETS. ;)

[sisterjune]

Origins is SO great. You will love it. Be sure to play awakening too which wasnt mentioned in the post, its a short bit of fun but has two awesome ladies in dwarf Sigrun and elf Velanna. Also nathaniel and his sexy voice lol. /shallow. Plus its fuuun. unlike dragon age 2 which was so boring to me thaat i never finished it. and i got as far as i did because i loved the characters but ultimately it wasnt enough.

[just_smiling]

Well, you have now made me put Dragon Age down on list of things for me to look into.

while I can't say that's not where it's headed with certainty, there's enough misogyny and gender fail that I very, very much doubt that it will ever go there.

Agreed. Yeah, there are many problems in ASoIaF and yet there are still many things that I do greatly like about the series. I won't leave any spoilers because I don't know how far you are in the books...

[prozacpark]

I really fell in love with several women in "A Song of Ice and Fire," but I feel that for my own sanity, I need to stop reading before they meet with horrible fates. I know, men have horrible things happen to them, too, but they're usually the result of their own choices, and not the result of choices made for them by other people. The lack of agency makes me very iffy, even as I admire the women for their strength in the face of that much fail.

[just_smiling]

LOL, I can't help myself from reading.

The lack of agency makes me very iffy, even as I admire the women for their strength in the face of that much fail.

Exactly. It's actually why I hope that GRRM takes a chance and ends his series not with yet another person on the throne but an uprising of the people fighting against the male dominated authority that uses the people as means to their own end. If only. I don't think it will happen but it's what I hope for.

[fictionalfemme]

Hey you! Long time.

Anyway, I'm completely green with envy right now. I've been wanting to play DA since it came out. Unfortunately, my graphics card won't pass the test. *sigh*

[prozacpark]

Yeah, once I stop posting, I sort of fall out of the habit.

And,OMG, I WANT YOU TO PLAY IT SO MUCH! And write me awesome femslash about it.

[prozacpark]

I ADMIT: In my reading/watching, they kind of are. I have been skipping/skimming most of the men bits.

I am actually largely spoiled for large bits of character plots because I could never sign up for a world that misogynistic without needing to prepare myself for it. Even so? I am constantly surprised by the misogyny.

I honestly don't know if I'll be returning to it now. Maybe the show, but the books have made me very iffy on how often the women are filtered through men's POV. At this point, my primary investment is a meta-level interest in portrayal of Cersei in the two different versions and what that says about fiction's relationship with women who like power.

[prozacpark]

I am spoiled for what happens with her, but I haven't read it. And the more I hear from people, the more I am thinking it might be better if I just...don't read it.

I don't doubt that I would still love Cersei through it? But I would probably hate all the men enough to quit then, anyway.

I know...she's done questionable things, but the fact that I am currently getting her exclusively filtered through Tyrion POV makes me just...well, hate him. ;)

[lafemmedarla]

I really want to check out Dragon Age. I was curious because Steve Blum does a voice but then I I really loved the other characters and voices and the story sounds intriguing enough. And your post reminds me how much I need this in my life.

Alas, not sure if my video card supports the guy *Seriously pondering new computer*

[prozacpark]

Only way to find out is to try it! ;) And it would be the best reason to upgrade.

Alternatively, the game is also available on various gaming platforms.

Steve Blum's character is involved in a fun romance with another hardcore woman with great power and a greater agenda. I love when a universe gives me so many awesome women that I can't possibly mention them all. ;)