That's actually a really good reply.
There is no such thing as non-political entertainment. Your entertainment came with political views, whether they were consciously put in there or not. You just can't see them because they're the defaults.
In the immortal words of Tim Minchin:
Hm that's a good point, let me think for a bit
Oh wait, my mistake, it's absolute bullshit.
You confuse politics with culture and society. Let's ignore the 50,000 smartphone games that are so simple you would have to stretch a lot of things far beyond breaking to find any culture in them, to the point where Pong was some kind of social statement. But even with all those games ignored and restricting ourselves to PC games, yes they very often reflect parts of our culture and society. Some intentionally, some not. It's not a surprise, given that culture influences on us as members of society, and thus leaves a mark in our creative pursuits, just like greek culture influenced greek art and literature and any famous american book of your choosing would've been very different had it been written by a chinese author in China, for example.
Politics, however, is not the same as culture.
Merriam-Webster says:
polÂiÂtics
noun plural but singular or plural in construction \ËpÃ-lÉ(TM)-ËOEtiks\
: activities that relate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in a government
: the work or job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government
: the opinions that someone has about what should be done by governments : a person's political thoughts and opinions
Basically, politics is an activity. Writing a novel or creating a computer game is not a politicial act unless you intentionally make it so. There is no such thing as "unconscious politics".
Second:
This worrying about reflection of culture in our creations is vastly overrated. It's the same nonsense as the claim that violent games turn people into killers. I can play a game set not in todays culture, but in a culture where women have almost no rights, a medieval or fantasy setting, and I won't come out of the game wishing to take any rights away from women in the real world. On the contrary, it may make me more sensitive to gender issues.
When I look at female characters in video games, I see them as characters. I laugh about their ridiculous fantasy armor. I look at their boobs and think "yeah, suuure". Just like I look at the men and think the same.
It seems that, when women are pushed towards the sexual object ideal, people like you are okay with it; but when we turn men into sexual objects you guys scream bloody murder
You make too many assumptions about people you don't know. I'm not for turning all women into sex objects. I do, however, understand that sex and viewing a member of the opposite sex in a sexual way is normal human behaviour. Also, you can have your Chipendales, if you want. Why would I scream anything, let alone murder? You can look at me as a sex object, if it makes you feel good. I'm sure enough of myself to not be bothered. Heck, I've been hit on by gay men. Yes, it's a bit uncomfortable, but not a big deal. Yes, I wouldn't like having that as a constant part of my life which is why I feel for attractive women in clubs and understand why they prefer to go with a small group.
But all of these are a small selection of social imperfections, and there are thousands more of them, some related to gender and some not, some to the disadvantage of women and some to the disadvantage of men.
The muscular body-builder type of ideal is an ideal of strength, control, and power. [...] [women characters] appearance to look submissive, inferior, or passive.
True to some extent. But you ignore that this "male ideal" is not better or more comfortable. Many men do not enjoy the role that society puts them in, and they don't want to be strong and powerful and in control. Worse, other than women they can't complain about it, because the role doesn't allow it. Stereotypes and forced roles affect both genders, that's my point. And just because you may think that the male role is preferable doesn't mean that all men agree with you.
Also, some of the smartest and most successful women I know are very much ladies at the same time. Because they understand how real power works and that it has nothing to do with the size of your bizeps.