what element is in knights of guinevere’s greater theme | #knightsofguinevere #kog #indieanimation — Transcript

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1. 0:00Is sexualization exclusively negative?
2. 0:01Let's talk about depiction. Now, when
3. 0:03fans criticize sexualization in a story,
4. 0:04they usually view it as negative because
5. 0:06it disrupts narrative immersion. Not
6. 0:07only that, but it undermines character
7. 0:08development and alienates a part of the
8. 0:10audience. And while intimacy, romance,
9. 0:11and whatnot can theoretically enhance a
10. 0:13story, forced or even gratuitous
11. 0:14depictions of sexualization can often
12. 0:16come across unnecessary. But I feel like
13. 0:17the thematic application of
14. 0:18sexualization in Knights of Buena Vir is
15. 0:20actually integral to the story. It plays
16. 0:22more so as a narrative engine that's
17. 0:23utilized intentionally to separate Buena
18. 0:24Vir as a character from the otherwise
19. 0:26gritty, non-sexualized depictions of the
20. 0:27rest of the cast. Her design is sexual
21. 0:29because it's reflective of industry's
22. 0:30habit of commodifying bodies, whether
23. 0:32it's for social, political, or financial
24. 0:33incentive. Essentially, the show
25. 0:34utilizes a stylized kind of
26. 0:36sexualization, like wider hips, open
27. 0:37back, and larger breasts, not for cheap
28. 0:39audience [music] gratification, but as a
29. 0:40deliberate critique of corporate greed,
30. 0:42the likes of which is readily apparent
31. 0:43when you look at the mold design versus
32. 0:44the one that's depicted throughout the
33. 0:45entirety of the brand and material in
34. 0:47the show. And that's something I feel
35. 0:48like a lot of people forget when they
36. 0:49look at depictions of sexualization or
37. 0:50objectification in a story. And that's
38. 0:52the fact that it can be used as a
39. 0:53narrative tool. So, by understanding the
40. 0:54way that it can feel or come across out
41. 0:55of place in a story, choosing to
42. 0:56tastefully apply it doesn't just
43. 0:58highlight the objectification in Buena
44. 0:59Vir, but also the cosmic and almost
45. 1:00alien feel of Buena Vir as a character.
46. 1:02Essentially, the way that she sticks out
47. 1:03like a sore thumb. Nevertheless, in
48. 1:04modern media, objectification and
49. 1:05sexualization is definitely stigmatized
50. 1:07to an extent. And though it's relatively
51. 1:09understandable, I feel like the habit of
52. 1:10being apprehensive about its possible
53. 1:11depiction in a story takes away from any
54. 1:13nuance that could possibly be provided.
55. 1:14Not only that, but it strips the
56. 1:15narrator and the narrative of the
57. 1:16possibility to contribute [music] to a
58. 1:17greater conversation or story.