Here is the trailer for Resident Evil 5, which is not yet on the market:
The player is the sole white person in a dismal, threatening city, apparently in Africa. The locals engage in torture (which we see in some detail) and gleefully cheer at a hanging. At one point the hero is accosted by an angry mob, all of whom just make gutteral, animal-like sounds. In a beleagured voice he tells us he just doesn’t know “if it’s all worth fighting for. Who knows?” Oh, the white man’s burden, indeed!
Thanks once again, Patrick C.!
Jeff G. sent in links to several articles about the game, if you’re interested. Here’s one with the director, and here’s an article about a British government censorship agency officially ruling the game isn’t racist.
NEW! Ryan sent in an image of a character from the game:
Ryan points out it’s another example of non-White women being portrayed as exotic or animalistic. Thanks for the image!
Comments 9
thechrisproject — April 11, 2008
As a fan of this series (of which this is, I think, the 13th game), I want to rush to its defense. But this topic has been covered already in some depth at the racialicious blog:
http://www.racialicious.com/2007/10/12/moving-gaming-forward-having-meaningful-conversations-about-social-issues/
I'd check that out.
Anonymous — April 11, 2008
pretty sure it's set in haiti
Anonymous — April 11, 2008
This made me a little uncomfortable, but given the game title all the violence is most likely related to a bad case of the ZOMBIES.
Resident Evil zombies have always come in all races, creeds, and colours.
Sociological Images » “AFRICANS” AS PROPS FOR WHITE FEMININITY — July 4, 2008
[...] exactly what I would write for this post here. You might also want to look here and here and here and also here for historical context. I will only add [...]
Ben Zvan — January 12, 2009
Since the other games and movies have been set firmly in the United States, I wouldn't confuse racial violence and torture for brain eating due to an unending hunger. The main character in the first four movies, while sexualized, is a strong female zombie killer. I'm sure there are valid race and gender issues you could pick on in these movies other than the melanin content of the zombie's skins.
mordicai — April 1, 2009
I really enjoy discussions about race re: RE (re: RE! I kill me...) but I think we're failing to take into account that this is also a Japanese take on race-- right?
& Ben Zavan-- isn't RE IV set in "generic Europe"?
Ben Zvan — May 25, 2009
Mordicai: I have not managed to play any of the games, so my comments are based almost entirely on the movies. My recollection is that the zombies in the games up to this point have been majority white, so this could be considered equal opportunity zombie slaying.
äåìîíòàæ çäàíèé — August 23, 2009
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Anon — July 4, 2011
For the record, that "tribal" outfit is unlockable - that woman is one of the main characters, and wears generally sensible clothes for the duration of the game. When you win, she puts on a bikini!