They ruined Harley Quinn's aesthetics

[Melody]

Alright, let's dive into the topic of Harley Quinn. I've been pondering about the evolution of her character design. She was initially portrayed as this alluring, seductive figure, right? But then, something shifted. It's like they decided to completely revamp her aesthetics. And it's not just her, this trend seems to be happening across the board in many games.

As a woman, I find myself particularly invested in the representation of female characters and protagonists in games. They're not as common as they should be, and when they do appear, their portrayal matters. So, it's frustrating to see these changes that seem to diminish their appeal.

There's this idea floating around that maybe feminists are behind these changes. But is that really the case? And if it is, why? Why would people feel so insecure about themselves that they'd feel compelled to alter the aesthetics of game characters? It's a complex issue, and I think it's worth exploring further.

[RuleofTwo]

Sweet baby inc. Neomarxism. Third wave Feminism. Old media and Japanese content is the way forward now.

[Dakuwan]

Originally posted by RuleofTwo:

Sweet baby inc. Neomarxism. Third wave Feminism. Old media and Japanese content in the way forward now.

[Aiendreas]

Originally posted by RuleofTwo:

Sweet baby inc. Neomarxism. Third wave Feminism. Old media and Japanese content in the way forward now.

Those are words, sure.

[PortalShifter]

Originally posted by Melody Digital Harmony:

Alright, let's dive into the topic of Harley Quinn. I've been pondering about the evolution of her character design. She was initially portrayed as this alluring, seductive figure, right?

No, she was way more about being goofy and chaotic than about being sexy.

Original Harley design is not sexualized and her costume shows no skin at all outside of her face.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dcanimated/images/3/3f/Harley_Quinn.png/

[Melody]

Originally posted by PortalShifter:

Originally posted by Melody Digital Harmony:

Alright, let's dive into the topic of Harley Quinn. I've been pondering about the evolution of her character design. She was initially portrayed as this alluring, seductive figure, right?

No, she was way more about being goofy and chaotic than about being sexy.

Original Harley design is not sexualized and her costume shows no skin at all outside of her face.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/dcanimated/images/3/3f/Harley_Quinn.png/

She looks much better in the picture than in the game, to be completely fair with you. I'm not talking about being half-naked.

[unholyghost842]

Honestly it's not so much the diminishing of female aesthetics that bothers me (although it is very grating), it's the c u next Tuesday-ification of female characters I'm really starting to despise.

Harley was a very smart woman -but horrifically naive and susceptible to emotional manipulation.
She was a tragic figure, a woman who worked so hard to get into a position where the apathy of Arkham management lead to her being tricked into falling for the Joker.

Her book smarts couldn't save her from that, she ended up being strung along for years and abused by a man who was incapable and unwilling to love her. And her only friend was a psychopathic ecoterrorist who wanted her dead too but could sort of relate to her desire to be noticed.

Batman was the only one who wanted to save her from Joker, he was the only one who believed she could be saved when even she had given up on herself.

She was a truly tragic character, dressed as a clown so no one really took her seriously and provocative because it was probably all she could get from Joker. Lust instead of love.

Now, because they wanted to "empower" her, she's actually lost all of her depth. She's basically discount Deadpool, or a worse verison of She Hulk. Being condensating to the only man who truly wanted what was best for her (literally shooting him in the face in this game), having her leave or be left by her abuser to go find love in a woman who again I don't buy into their romance at all- Ivy hated humanity, she wanted Harley dead with the rest of us, but again they could sort of relate to each other as they were both tragic femme fatals. But Ivy had mind control pheromones so... strange to see an obsessive romantic like Harley happened to fall for her. Especially when Harely was usually Joker's muscle. Almost like she was stolen away to weaken another rogue. And considering how emotionally abusive Ivy has been to her she has basically just walked from one abuser to another. Which is fairly realistic I suppose but since they're marketed as healthy it doesn't send the right message...

Covering Harley up (honestly even covering Nightwing up with his sleeker cooler black suit, they both kinda have this problem) seemed to be a symptom of losing the core of their character. Any heart that was there was lost and ironically they became more vapid, promiscuous and abhorrent to deal with.

[Guyver2]

Originally posted by RuleofTwo:

Sweet baby inc. Neomarxism. Third wave Feminism. Old media and Japanese content in the way forward now.

100%

I'm having a blast replaying the Arkham trilogy.

[PortalShifter]

Originally posted by Melody Digital Harmony:

She looks much better in the picture than in the game, to be completely fair with you. I'm not talking about being half-naked.

I agree. Her original costume is one of my favorites. My favorite is from the New 52 Suicide Squad comics:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/44/0d/7e/440d7e470025584aebc2648ecd3a5458.jpg

[PsionicDiamond]

For me the whole appeal to Harley Quinn is the fact she’s a walking Juxtaposition - attractive but deadly.

In SS: KTJL it appears they did try and shimmy her away from the ‘male gaze look’ she had in previous Arkham games, but even I will admit this change was unnecessary.

They did make it so you could unlock her Arkham Knight corset in chapter 5, but it’s censored as they hid her cleavage area. I hope they don’t do this with all of her previous arkham outfits, if they ever decide to include them. I’m not a fan of Harley’s shaved hairstyles either, so thank god they included her normal ones.

Im lost on why they made the decision to tone her down in this game… maybe to make her look more ‘mature’ since the Joker’s gone? She’s got no reason to dress up I suppose

It’s strange honestly. Every year at comic con, Halloween or any event like that you’re guaranteed to get so many ladies dressed as Harley - people LOVE her fashion and aesthetic! So it’s not like there was community backlash that caused RS to go in this design direction…

[RageMojo]

Only super models and 10's allowed is that it? LOL pathetic.

[Melody]

Originally posted by RageMojo:

Only super models and 10's allowed is that it? LOL pathetic.

How does that statement make any sense at all?

[MegaClaus]

Originally posted by RageMojo:

Only super models and 10's allowed is that it? LOL pathetic.

Why not tho? Its a videogame. Also harley was always portrait as a sexy but really messed up person.

[Heret!C]

Originally posted by RuleofTwo:

Sweet baby inc. Neomarxism. Third wave Feminism. Old media and Japanese content in the way forward now.

Activism and politics should not be part of games. Companies like Sweet dung inc should not exist at all.
But here we are.... LBTQBLM, quotas and other letters rule the world, trying to destroy all we love, saying that we dont love the right things.

[Killzone]

Gotta be ugly for representation, attractive people dont exist.

[Hand of Vecna]

Originally posted by unholyghost842:

Honestly it's not so much the diminishing of female aesthetics that bothers me (although it is very grating), it's the c u next Tuesday-ification of female characters I'm really starting to despise.

Harley was a very smart woman -but horrifically naive and susceptible to emotional manipulation.
She was a tragic figure, a woman who worked so hard to get into a position where the apathy of Arkham management lead to her being tricked into falling for the Joker.

Her book smarts couldn't save her from that, she ended up being strung along for years and abused by a man who was incapable and unwilling to love her. And her only friend was a psychopathic ecoterrorist who wanted her dead too but could sort of relate to her desire to be noticed.

Batman was the only one who wanted to save her from Joker, he was the only one who believed she could be saved when even she had given up on herself.

She was a truly tragic character, dressed as a clown so no one really took her seriously and provocative because it was probably all she could get from Joker. Lust instead of love.

Now, because they wanted to "empower" her, she's actually lost all of her depth. She's basically discount Deadpool, or a worse verison of She Hulk. Being condensating to the only man who truly wanted what was best for her (literally shooting him in the face in this game), having her leave or be left by her abuser to go find love in a woman who again I don't buy into their romance at all- Ivy hated humanity, she wanted Harley dead with the rest of us, but again they could sort of relate to each other as they were both tragic femme fatals. But Ivy had mind control pheromones so... strange to see an obsessive romantic like Harley happened to fall for her. Especially when Harely was usually Joker's muscle. Almost like she was stolen away to weaken another rogue. And considering how emotionally abusive Ivy has been to her she has basically just walked from one abuser to another. Which is fairly realistic I suppose but since they're marketed as healthy it doesn't send the right message...

Covering Harley up (honestly even covering Nightwing up with his sleeker cooler black suit, they both kinda have this problem) seemed to be a symptom of losing the core of their character. Any heart that was there was lost and ironically they became more vapid, promiscuous and abhorrent to deal with.

Very well said! I agree that the character and her predicament were interesting. Indeed, separating an experience from its contexts is the hallmark of post structuralism. I think it's an empty philosophy. I also don't think many of the creative people who implement it now fully understand it. They were merely educated to do it. Separating the value of experiences from their contexts precludes selection based on merit, precludes virtuous acts, and alienates people who value those things.

Anyway, #GOINGFREETOPLAYISNOTFAILURE! Hahaha!

Edit: Had the wrong contraction for its possessive.