Damsel in Distress: Part 1 - Tropes vs Women in Video Games

This video explores how the Damsel in Distress became one of the most widely used gendered clichés in the history of gaming and why the trope has been core to the popularization and development of the medium itself. 

As a trope the Damsel in Distress is a plot device in which a female character is placed in a perilous situation from which she cannot escape on her own and must then be rescued by a male character, usually providing a core incentive or motivation for the protagonist's quest.

ABOUT THE VIDEO SERIES
The Tropes vs Women in Video Games project aims to examine the plot devices and patterns most often associated with female characters in gaming from a systemic, big picture perspective. This series will include critical analysis of many beloved games and characters, but remember that it is both possible (and even necessary) to simultaneously enjoy media while also being critical of it's more problematic or pernicious aspects.

MORE INFO
For more examples of the Damsel in Distress see our Tumblr for this series:
http://tropesversuswomen.tumblr.com

Visit http://www.feministfrequency.com for more information, videos and a full transcript. English language captions coming soon!

This video series is created by Anita Sarkeesian and the project was funded by 6968 awesome backers on Kickstarter.com

ABOUT COMMENTS
Comments are currently closed (for obvious reasons) however, please feel free to share and embed this video on your own blogs and social media networks to facilitate discussions on the topic.

For more information on Cyber mobs and gendered online harassment, you can watch my TEDxWomen talk on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZAxwsg9J9Q

"Maríó!"

"Ó! Hjálp!"

Velkomin í þáttaröðina okkar þar sem við skoðum
hlutverk og birtingarmyndir kvenna í tölvuleikjum

Í þáttunum könnum við þær klisjur, frásagnartækni
og munstur sem oftast tengjast konum í tölvuleikjum

á kerfisbundinn hátt
með heildarmyndina í huga.

Í þáttaröðinni verða margir vinsælir leikir og
ástsælar sögupersónur rýndar á gagnrýninn hátt.

en munið, að það er bæði mögulegt,
og jafnvel nauðsynlegt,

að hafa ánægju af listformi, en vera um leið
gagnrýninn á galla þess og neikvæðar hliðar.

En komun okkur að efninu,
og sökkvum okkur í að kanna Konur í ánauð.

Við skulum byrja á sögunni um leikinn sem
enginn fékk nokkurntíman að spila.