Why So Much Rape in Stormblood

[Mahri]

This thread isn't full of utter jackassery, so I'm less disappointed in it than I thought I'd be.

I'm not a huge fan of sexual assault in fiction I consume, because most writers are utterly clueless about how to use it, tend to fall back on it for shock value or as cheap shorthand for showing how "evil" a villain is. It can be used well, but it is incredibly rare. Far more often, it just makes a work of fiction flat-out unenjoyable.

Game of Thones keeps coming up. Game of Thrones, and even more so the books it's based on, is a flaming garbage heap of luridity dumped unceremoniously on what is otherwise basically good storytelling. Praise the great acting and visual artistry that goes into it. Nothing else.

As far as FFXIV is concerned: They could have done better with a few things (why not actually bring Arenvald's mother into the story as a survivor rather than being effectively "fridged" for the sake of his tragedy?) but they could have done a whole lot worse, especially since the arc we're in now is all about the grotesquerie of conquest. Most of the characters stated plainly to have been victims are there to tell you their story upfront, which is the preferable way that this should be handled.

To anyone here who has actually suffered this kind of abuse in real life: Never stop telling us your actual stories. If it were more visible than it is, a whole lot of things might get better -- the least of it would be trends in fiction to use this element with greater discretion and respect.

[CosmicKirby]

As far as FFXIV is concerned: They could have done better with a few things (why not actually bring Arenvald's mother into the story as a survivor rather than being effectively "fridged" for the sake of his tragedy?) but they could have done a whole lot worse, especially since the arc we're in now is all about the grotesquerie of conquest. Most of the characters stated plainly to have been victims are there to tell you their story upfront, which is the preferable way that this should be handled.

I don't recall Arenvald saying his mother is dead. Did he bring it up? I thought he was merely abandoned by her, or he ran from her after getting the scar on his head.

Being 'fridged' effectively or not would require her to be dead or something of a similar tragedy. Her being alive but hating her son isn't fridging her in any sense of the trope. And while there's a story to be told there sure, I don't think it's really needed? Fordola currently represents a similar angle. And both of them are in the running for dramatic death this xpac already.

[Mahri]

I don't recall Arenvald saying his mother is dead. Did he bring it up? I thought he was merely abandoned by her, or he ran from her after getting the scar on his head.

Being 'fridged' effectively or not would require her to be dead or something of a similar tragedy. Her being alive but hating her son isn't fridging her in any sense of the trope.

It's inflicting something on an out-of-focus female character for the sake of tragedy that primarily affects an in-focus male character.

Yes, it is that trope.

[CosmicKirby]

It's inflicting something on an out-of-focus female character for the sake of tragedy that primarily affects an in-focus male character.

Yes, it is that trope.

I would 'really' hesitate to throw it around here when it's purely for a character's backstory, involving a character who doesn't even have a name, in a piece of media where:

1.) The 3 leaders of the major factions are all female
2.) Half of the NPC leads in the current story are female. the main NPC lead is currently female as well.
3.) The character isn't dead, nor being injured to up the ante in any way. It seems like the only reason you're calling it friding here is because Arenvald is male. Is any male product of rape fridging their mother?

It's a very evocative phrase with a very negative connotation to anyone that knows of it. And using the term in a situation where it isn't particularly the case serves only to devalue it. The term's value lies in how it criticizes objectification of a female character. Arenvald's mom took action here entirely on her own, that's not objectification.

[Mahri]

I would 'really' hesitate to throw it around here

I wouldn't.

It's there.

It should be called out.

This is a critique. It's a very, very fair one. If you don't like the term "fridging", okay. You don't have to like it. It's nothing more than jargon for a storytelling device that is frequently a problem. I'm going to repeat what that problem is, for the sake of total clarity:

It's inflicting something on an out-of-focus female character for the sake of tragedy that primarily affects an in-focus male character.

Please remember that critiques are not condemnations.

[CosmicKirby]

Please remember that critiques are not condemnations.

I don't feel that using evocative jargon with highly negative connotations without nuance or consideration is indicative of critical thinking.

Agree to disagree.

[FateAudax]

Hahahaha, all these threads makes my day. What's next? People complaining too many players chose a fairer color for their character's skin color creating an imbalance of skin colors in-game?

Or too many female gender character in-game? squadron members not sitting on proper chair and instead are sitting on the floor?

[Llus]

I don't pay attention to the story, so when I saw this post I thought "Holy crap, are they addressing the occupation and Korean comfort women period in-game?!?!?!" then I find out it's just one person and now I'm like all, meh sympathy plot w/e. TBH, I think it'd be more impressive to address major real-world issues in-game as an avenue to open discussion and provide awareness for those that don't know.

[Quri]

It's inflicting something on an out-of-focus female character for the sake of tragedy that primarily affects an in-focus male character.

Yes, it is that trope.

It's child abandonment trope.

[LalaRu]

XIV is rated T (may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language), and OP's argument is just one of multiple "suggestive themes" in it.

You now see this theme prominent, because you are now focusing on it. It is a cognitive bias called "frequency illusion".