this post was submitted on 07 Apr 2024
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Helldivers 2’s Politics Appear To Be Flying Over The Heads Of Some (www.forbes.com)
submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
201 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

There is currently a very funny, kind of sad dust-up over Helldivers 2, in which self-proclaimed “anti-woke” gamers have previously heralded it as a rare game where they believe “politics” does not play a factor. Their faith was been shaken by an Arrowhead community manager they believed they found to be (gasp) progressive who was then subsequently harassed, but their head-scratching reading of Helldivers 2 as a “non-political” game is worth examining.

The only thing that makes sense is that these players have the shallowest of surface-level readings of the game. You are a patriotic soldier serving Super Earth. You must kill bugs and evil robots trying to hurt your brothers-in-arms and innocent citizens. There are no storylines to insert progressive causes into, everyone wears helmets so no “forced diversity.” Therefore, no politics.

Of course, this is…wildly off the mark, as Helldivers 2 is about the most blatantly obvious satire of militaristic fascism since the film that inspired it, Starship Troopers.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

I wonder if when extreme satire flies over someones head, outside of not consuming the media critically enough, the difference between heavy satire and pantomime can be subtle. A quick example being One Punch Man, I'd categorize that show as a Pantomime of Anime Cliches rather than satire, as while its playing up the ridiculousness of common anime tropes, its clear it's doing so with a full love of the medium, and indeed the tropes its making fun of

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

That just made me think of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. With Edgar Wright simultaneously: satirizing (at times bordering on parody) the genre; paying homage to the genre; and showing their love of the genre by making an actual really good, high quality film.

The third one of that trilogy is fine, but those first two are near perfect films. You could show either of them to someone who's never watched a cop or zombie movie or whatever, and they would still be able to enjoy them on multiple levels. It's kind of remarkable actually.

I can't really think of many, if any, other films that fit the same criteria. Maybe that new-ish Weird Al "biopic"?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I wonder if conservative fans of One Punch Man miss the progressive politics in there, too.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I'm a Leftist who watched One Punch Man, doesn't that show imply that gays are rapists and that anyone without a job most be lazy? Not very progressive...

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago

It's Japan, not executing the gay guy might as well be a pride flag

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (2 children)

They definitely make fun of the rich though with the guy who's building has a golden turd on top of it.

I don't remember any part that implied anything about gays being rapists, what part are you referring to?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

The show's sole gay character being Putty Putty Prisoner?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Purdy Purdy Prisoner is both gay and a rapist, and the two aspects aren't presented as orthogonal.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Lol, how could I have forgotten that character.

I never got that impression that the two aspects were inseparable. And he is a very exaggerated representation of a gay man, so maybe it's that exaggeration that hints at it making fun of those who think gay people are all flamboyant rapists.

Though, I admit it sounds like a stretch.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Given that he's the only gay character in the show......

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

This IS Japan we are talking about, anime FREQUENTLY draws black women more muscular than men, and other such shit thats noooooot the greatest

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean if they're missing that ~~Super Troopers~~ Hell Divers is satire, then probably xD

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Starship Troopers?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

lmao, you're right, I got the name mixed up with the cop one