Did anyone find Snow to be a tad... creepy? SPOILERS, I guess

[WickedRequiem]

The entire thing with Serah, I mean.

She appears so young in cutscenes... The entire situation looks like one of those stereotypical child molester in a trenchcoat trying to gain a trust of a young girl.

Eek.

I take back everything bad I said about Lightning for hitting Snow (but not for hitting Sazh... because Sazh is awesomeness).

[Dirty Macarons]

Considering Snow is only 3 years older then Serah (who is 18, making her an adult), I personally never found their relationship that disturbing.

[mystiq]

I found Vanille's sexual portrayal creepy. Her l'Cie brand being on her upper thigh has to be a joke.

[talgaby]

You haven't seen Rikku in FFX then, did you? Vanille's level of fanservice is the shining example of conservative modesty compared to what Square did with Rikku. (Just count the close-up ass shots in the cutscenes on her…) Who, by the way, was actually underage (15), while Vanille is 19 years old physically.

[Improper Use]

The dimorphisim (size difference) displayed between Snow and Serah is rather extreme.
Buuut I simply took my queues from the other characters, no one is bothered by them. Since I am the outsider in this 'world' it has to be fine.

Though as an external observer I can't deny that she is definately drawn as young as she could be. The tartan mini-skirt, exposed midriff, body size and her behaviour is all redolant of early teen imagry.
Snow himself often acts like an early teen.

A whole bunch of concepts could be drawn from just these two characters. I bet the female sexualisation is pretty much hammered into most peoples minds by now so I'm going to digress very briefly into Snow and Serah as a couple, and how both of them are sexualised.

Is Snow a metaphor for the overreaching young man? His physical height, musculature, fighting style and consistant unrealistic demands on his own role within his relationships with others.
Is this the gender role of the fantastical unreal male to an early teen?

Both Snow and Serah are... how do I say it.... bait.
Unfortunately the female is typically cast in the submissive role and stands out much more than a stereotypical male bait would ever stand out.

It is unfortunate in this example that we find out there could indeed be a total disregard for the female sexualisation of the male form and the consequences of allowing this type of ideation to develop within social expectations.

Something to think about.

ps this and much more is a good example of the perceptual layering that the writers put into this game. Although the story is very teen with dead horse themes delivered through over dramatised and oftimes ramrod delivered exposition. The visual subtexts are rather well done, from the stylised hair though to the dopey faces.
Each character performs within a set and clearly defined boundry. This creates a consistant and understandable character from generic character types. Most people sould be able to recognise and identifiy various aspects of the characters within the game.

If nothing else the game is a rather interesting look at the mechanical aspects of character creation and design.

[Dogui]

WTH? Everything is creepy nowadays, huh?

You guys should just forget japanese media as a whole :p

[Nobody]

That kind of stuff is considered normal in Japan.

[KupoMogKupo]

Oh how terrible! A 21 year old guy with a 18 year old girl. There's absolutely nothing creepy about it. Snow is freaking huge so of course he's going make a girl with a petite build like Serah look even smaller. Serah is about the average female height actually, but Snow is 6'7.

I'm sick of people saying Serah looks underaged. She doesn't. There are a lot of real girls like who are Serah's age or older. It's like people in Western culture are shocked to see a petite build.

Thanks OP for calling me creepy.

Originally posted by WickedRequiem:

I take back everything bad I said about Lightning for hitting Snow (but not for hitting Sazh... because Sazh is awesomeness).

So you condone violence, too? That's nice.

[Improper Use]

Originally posted by Serah Is Love:

I'm sick of people saying Serah looks underaged. She doesn't.

She looks 12-16

[Superior]

*facepalm*

[talgaby]

Originally posted by Improper Use:

She looks 12-16

You never saw Asian women? This woman[i2.asntown.net] is 43 years old. She[shanghaiist.com] is 36. This is not uncommon there. If Serah would be around 14 she would be much more child-like.

[KupoMogKupo]

Originally posted by Improper Use:

Originally posted by Serah Is Love:

I'm sick of people saying Serah looks underaged. She doesn't.

She looks 12-16

This is utterly ridiculous. Seriously, 12? I've never seen a 12 year old who looks like Serah. Western culture makes me facepalm sometimes.

[Improper Use]

Sunshine listen.

1) An Image is both a Idea and a Visual Reference.
2) No definition is given within the gameplay of either Snow's or Serah's age.
3) For the first 5-10 hours we are splashed with a huge melange of repetitious imagry that is used to reinforce and emplace each characters Image. A lot of these visual subtexts are common and used accross various cultures. Serah's subtexts are extremely redolant of common early teen cliches.
4) An apologist you are, yes?
5) Do not forget this is a targeted multi-regional game, it is trying to be inclusive of various cultures and concepts. What one person from one are may see another from across the ocean may miss. Just like a mangled metaphor. Should the author 'get away' with the mangling? Well thats up to the audience, yes?

[KupoMogKupo]

Originally posted by Improper Use:

Sunshine listen.

Stop reading here. I could do without the condescending tone.

[Improper Use]

:D its common venacular where I come from.

You need to de-sensitise yourself

[KupoMogKupo]

Originally posted by Improper Use:

:D its common venacular where I come from.

You need to de-sensitise yourself

Something being common.doesn't make it right. I'm pretty sure that's a logical fallacy of some kind. It is condescending as hell to address a female as "sunshine" when you don't even know them, especially in the context you used it in. And by the way, I'm a guy.