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Student Name
Professor Evan Peterson
ENGL 101
Date
This is about a B minus paper. The student is trying too hard to sound smart, but
she/he doesn't need to do this because she/he is already smart. Why force it on the page?
In trying so hard to write in an intellectual style, the student has become a bit confusing
and vague.
Fighting Streets, Reinforcing Stereotypes
Street Fighter is a well documented and highly recognized enterprise in the
entertainment world. Currently illustrated and published in a variety of comic books,
magazines, films, websites, and various other media, Street Fighter originated and is best
known as a popular video game. The game’s premise is basically having fighters battling
each other to the death in one on one matches. The game’s success eventually led to a
1994 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as its main hero, Guile, and Raul Julia as his
arch-nemesis, Bison. Both forms of media representation allow for multiple identity
issues to be examined.
The video game industry is known for developing visual fictitious parodies of
real-world stereotypes. This is especially true in the case of specific attributes of
characters being over-exaggerated (or veiled) to easily allow its consumers to identify
each character type. This video game explores those ideas extensively. However, the film
version goes another route by focusing more on the emotional and personality traits of its
characters to aid viewers in distinguishing individual identities. Street Fighter, the video
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game, portrays the characters’ emotional complexity and depth with back stories, music,
and appearance.
A perfect example of how the two media differ in representing their characters
would be through Guile, a fictional military character in the Street Fighter series. In the
video game he is identified as an all American hero. He is here to serve and protect. He
dresses in camouflaged military fatigues and a tank top, has a massively overdeveloped
muscular body type, and constantly combs his hair in an attempt to stay clean-cut. It’s
easily understood that Street Fighter’s producers meant for Guile to represent American
military stereotypes, and nothing else. As mentioned earlier, Guile’s theme music and
fighting stage helps define his identity by reinforcing military and American standards.
His theme music resembles an upbeat and revamped "Star Spangled Banner." All the
while in the background there are fighter jets and American flags swaying proudly in the
wind.
In the Street Fighter movie, the same character is given a full name and title,
Colonel William F. Guile, and is played by Belgian superstar actor Jean-Claude Van
Damme. Introducing Guile’s character with his full name immediately lets the movie
audience know that “Guile” no longer represents a single stereotype, but is an actual
person with a history and past. Van Damme does indeed have the muscles and brute
looks, however in the movie he reveals he has a softer, more human side as well. The
movie version’s identity of Guile is not only one of an American hero but one who lives
with anguish, fear, and pride. A scene in the movie that exemplifies these traits is when
Guile has to deal with the mutation of his friend Charlie. He feels and understands for his
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friend’s unfortunate becoming by lashing out with actions of rage and revenge. These
traits are distinct weaknesses that cannot be portrayed in a fighting video game.
**Wouldn't this be a stronger example if the writer added concrete, specific
details about Guile "lashing out?" **
In contrast, in a two-dimensional video game characters can show depth by using
back stories and clothing. In the case of Chun Li, a Chinese born female fighter, it is
revealed by completing the video game that she is trying to avenge her father’s murder.
Her motive to fight is now understood but she still faces the hardship of not only being
female fighter but an Asian one at that. She is showcased as being a powerful fighter yet
her heritage and femininity is definitely present. She wears a traditional Chinese gown
and has her hair rolled up in a bun. The outfit the game’s developers chose for her
represents an Asian culture and it is easily noticeable.
In the movie, Chun Li is very apparent with her looks and identity. Her plan is to
kill Bison by using her sexuality and seduction to lull Bison into a relaxed and unguarded
state. In this scene she is dressed like her video game counterpart is dressed- costume,
make up, hair style and all. Asian women are stereotyped to be submissive and
subservient. The combination of her outfit, heritage and intentions in this scene allow for
that stereotype to be prevalent. Chun Li, the video game version, uses her muscles and
fighting abilities as her forefront powers while the movie version Chun Li disguises her
strength behind her female and Asian vulnerability. The director could have easily
portrayed Chun Li as a ruthless fighter. It is not a stretch by saying that sexuality sells
movie tickets. Being a Hollywood production and having goals of making money that is
the way the director chose to go. **This previous paragraph is confusing. It would be
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clearer if the author gave more examples of Chun Li's actions and dialog, not just her
costume, to provide evidence that she is a female Asian stereotype.**
The movie is based on the video game and follows the storyline pretty closely.
For the most part, the characters that are present in the movie carry the same background
story from the videogame. For fans of the video game, this provides easy lineage and
appreciation when following along. Not everything can be easily duplicated or even
transferred to the big screen. Finding actors and actresses that fit the physique of the
characters is nearly unattainable. **Again, concrete details would help to develop
examples and prove the point this author is making**
There are critical differences in the ways videogames and movies portray ideas
and stories. Both media have other persuasions driving them. For both cases, revenue
goals drive storylines and how messages are communicated. Both media allow for its
users to be fully experience the story being communicated but video games allow a first
person point of view at it. A way video games help with the story line is that they allow
the player to make choices. These choices reflect how the story will be told. Movies on
the other hand have a set story for the user to follow. There is no alternate ending or
another way of telling the story. The director gives it to you. **Notice how this previous
paragraph has interesting, logical points, but it doesn't fit in between the paragraphs that
come before and after it. The author would improve this essay by placing this paragraph
somewhere else, perhaps early in the essay.**
Both media also share similarities. Video games and movies allow for the
outrageous and unfathomable using computer graphics and editing. They allow our
imaginations to be stretched where any concept or idea can become reality. Unlike books
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or other written texts you can physically see the characters, instead of just imagining
them. Video games can be edgy like movies, especially with respect ideas of race and
sexuality. Street Fighter follows these guidelines and maybe pushes the limits, especially
with its female and ethnic characters. Cammy, a female fighter from England,
unnecessarily shows the shape of her breasts with a tight-fitting leotard costume. Edmond
Honda, a sumo wrestler from Japan, is portrayed as a heavy person wearing only a towel.
I personally like the video game version better than the movie. Being an avid and
long time fan of the game, I have high standards when a movie is based on a game. I tend
to find little nuisances and discrepancies that make me feel cheated. The video game sets
high visual standards that cannot be duplicated even with advancements of CGI and other
special effects. The movie never reached the level of imagination the game allows for and
has reached. It did not live up to the high anticipation and expectation normally set by
video game turned movie. I think I will stick to the controller and my Xbox.