Mayonnaise?

Puerto Rica-minica-Tex-Mex buffet does sound delicious. Sign me up!

BTdubs, why are there no Latinas represented in that video segment? Are there no women on the streets of New York who would like to share their bigoted views about Central Americans, South Americans, and West Indians on basic cable?


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Almost worse than Twilight

How does Anne Hathaway go from helping break barriers in Brokeback Mountain, to reinforcing stereotypes in Bride Wars?

bt-dubs, I started reading Twilight, and the experience has not been a good one. The pattern of physical and psychological abuse starts early for Bella and Edward.

An excerpt:

"What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?" [Edward] smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable.

"Oh," I said, as several things he'd hinted fell suddenly into place. "I see."

"Do you?" His face was abruptly severe, as if he were afraid that he'd accidentally said too much.

"You're dangerous?" I guessed, my pulse quickening as I intuitively realized the truth of my own words. He was dangerous. He'd been trying to tell me that all along.

He just looked at me, eyes full of some emotion I couldn't comprehend.

"But not bad," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, I don't believe that you're bad."

"You're wrong." [. . .]

Umm . . .

[. . .] We were near the parking lot now. I veered left, toward my truck. Something caught my jacket, yanking me back.

"Where do you think you're going?" [Edward] asked, outraged. He was griping a fistful of my jacket in one hand.

I was confused. "I'm going home."

"Didn't you hear me promise to take you safely home? Do you think I'm going to let you drive in your condition?" His voice was still indignant.

"What condition? And what about my truck?" I complained.

"I'll have Alice drop it off after school." He was towing me toward his car now, pulling me by my jacket. It was all I could do to keep form falling backward. He'd probably just drag me along anyway if I did.

Oh, it continues.

"Let go!" I insisted. He ignored me. I staggered along sideway across the wet sidewalk until we reached the Volvo. Then he finally freed me -- I stumbled against the pasenger door.

"You are so pushy!" I grumbled.

"It's open," was all he responded. He got in the driver's side.

"I am perfectly capable of driving myself home!" I stood by the car, fuming. It was raining harder now, and I'd never put my hood up, so my hair was dripping down my back.

He lowered the automatic window and leaned toward me across the seat. "Get in, Bella."

I didn't answer. I was mentally calculating my chances of reaching the truck before he could catch me. I had to admit, they weren't good.

"I'll just drag you back," he threatened, guessing my plan.

I tried to maintain what dignity I could as I got into his car. I wasn't very successful -- I looked like a half-drowned cat and my boots squeaked.

This is in Chapter 5. I haven't gotten halfway through the book yet, and already the main character is being dragged across a parking lot by the twisted, emotionally-manipulative vampire that she is inexplicably in love with.

Readers, if your love interest tells you that he is "the bad guy", believe him. Then run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.

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Yet another (white) guy who just doesn't understand.

I try to read Racialicious every day, and almost every time I end up yelling at my computer screen. Today was no different. Here is the article that the site linked to yesterday that got me perturbed: That's Racist! The Unjust Crusade Against Video Games, by Chris Mottes, CEO of developer Deadline Games, on GameDaily BIZ:

Members of the media often attack video games for being racist, sexist, mean-spirited, callous, unpleasant, insensitive, or just generally nasty. As a developer, I find most of these claims not only a touch insulting but also extremely tenuous, and in the majority of cases unfounded...

Unfounded? Really? Has he heard of Grand Theft Auto?

...while critics most frequently assert that video games contain too much violence and sex, they also endeavor to expose games as racially prejudiced. Games with minority characters, and especially minority stereotypes—even tongue-in-cheek characters not meant to be offensive—are torn down by accusations of intolerance. A surprising number of critics condemn video games as blatantly racist...

How dare they.

...Total Overdose and Chili Con Carnage, titles I helped develop at Deadline Games, were both targets of this type of criticism...

Chili Con Carnage? (Shaking my fist.) Calm down, calm down.

...When researching for Total Overdose, we spent a great deal of time in Mexico, taking over 6,000 photos—photos that were the basis for the vast majority of the textures that appeared in the game. We visited a variety of nightclubs to influence the settings and humor of the game, and we spent time in the company of self-styled gangsters to get a flavor for how they spoke and what they said.

When recording dialogue for both games, we employed Mexican-American voice actors to ensure that we would be providing accurate representations. And when it was time to decide on the soundtrack, we chose to include music from several acclaimed underground Mexican bands, including Molotov, who enjoyed the game to such a great extent that they offered to record unique tunes for a sequel.

However, in reviews, forums, and blogs following the releases of both games, some people slammed Deadline for being bigoted towards Mexicans. While we did employ stereotypes we considered lighthearted and humorous...

Well, if you considered them lighthearted and humorous, Mr. Mottes, why should anyone else complain? I'm sure you not only have participated in, but also have led many Diversity Days.

...our intent was most certainly not to cast Mexican individuals in a derogatory light. In fact, we continue to receive fan mail from Mexican gamers who love the games and praise us for depicting our cartoon version of Mexico as a modern, if corrupt, place.

Someone better hold me back. Who the bleep does Chris Mottes think he is?

In response: Denial and Delusion - Why Public Conversations About Race Fail Before They Begin, by Latoya Peterson, on Racialicious:

...As a black, female console gamer, I can definitively say that many of the video games I play (and enjoy) can be considered both sexist and racist. Sexism is rampant, particularly when you consider character design, costuming, and forced gender roles in play. Most female characters are designed for maximum sex appeal, relegated to damsel in distress roles, or physically limited and/or forced to contribute to the game in a limited capacity...

...The reality is that no stereotype can be considered light-hearted and humorous. A stereotype is defined as “an often oversimplified or biased mental picture held to characterize the typical individual of a group.” Stereotypes are negative. Even “positive” stereotypes are ultimately detrimental to the groups that struggle to find a sense of self within the narrow parameters of society’s vision...

...Stereotype after stereotype abound in the virtually crafted console world, with very few characters of color to provide an alternate perspective. Mottes argues that "most games with racist characters do not reflect the mindset of their developers." I would argue that they do. It reflects the developer’s mindset in dealing with the world and in dealing with minorities. If the developer was not holding on to this mindset that minorities can be categorized with one or two main characteristics, we would have multi-faceted characters of color to play...

If anyone knows of a similar critique of the video gaming industry based on sexism, homophobia, or any other general bigotry, prejudice or discrimination, please let me know. Thanks, readers!