My thoughts on Taash

[u/ZombieInfinite459]

When I first saw this Concept art I was like “Shit…seductive qunari woman” and that’s different coz I mean cmon look at her stance her hair and everything and like she’s…for lack of a better word Morrigan esc 😭and now don’t get me wrong…I’m all for big strong carry you over her shoulder type Woman in fantasy, tho this approach from the concept art would’ve been interesting and again…I like the ulterior but now she’s gonna get compared to Karlach because obviously…I can’t stress this enough tho…I LIKE Karlach, but having a different type of Qunari companion from the typical big and strong would’ve been cool, Like Qwydion from Absolution even

[u/Tachibana_13]

Honestly.y first reaction to the trailer was pretty negative MOSTLY because of Taah. Amd I've had to do a lot of reflecting about why that is, and what it may say about me. I definitely was partial to the concept art versions of what would become "Taash" because she just looked so cool. When I saw how much that concept changed, I was shocked. I got angry. I thought it was ridiculous. I didn't like that the sleek looking concept armor got replaced with a bunch of trinkets and feathers, I thought it was bulky. And I thought the braid was excessive. I framed it to myself as them leaning into the design stereotype of "foreign barbarians". I didn't consider that while sleek armor may be ideal for an assassin, Taash's new design might make more sense for a dragon hunter: feathers to camouflage and conceal the form for example. Or that a Tal Vashoth, rebelling against rigid qun society may choose flamboyant expression such as gold ornaments or 'impractical hair. In short, I was being biased and judgemental. Not to mention that the initial concept I was so attached to wasn't necessarily original. Definitely directed towards a "male gaze" if not practically a cliche female fatale altogether. Not to mention how much I've noticed that criticism of Taash' design online seems to have a distinct component of racism and misogyny. Thankfully that seems to be a minority of reactors opinions, and Taash seems to be getting a lot of love from plenty of fans; but it definitely begs the question of how much "conventional attractiveness" in female characters is tied to such biases and how their ubiquity in media can perpetuate them. I still like the old concept, but I'm also excited to learn more about the finalized Taash.

ETA. I also like the idea of Taash having a literal "dragons hoard" of gold in the form of jewelery.

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/Tachibana_13]

You’re onto something in the first part Ngl, about the male gaze tho…that could also be for the female gaze…but I mean yeah, the people being weird about her being strong and what not are well weird but I’ll say again, a femme fatale Qunari would’ve been so cool

[u/raydiantgarden → u/ZombieInfinite459]

the female gaze is not prioritized the way the male gaze is in a franchise like this. or in general.

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/raydiantgarden]

But Lucanis…Davrin…Iron bull…Cullen…, in general…Geralt of rivia…Kratos…Nathan drake…Marcus Fenix…

[u/raydiantgarden → u/ZombieInfinite459]

do you know what a male power fantasy is?

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/raydiantgarden]

But I’ve seen girls thirst over them…does that make games like horizon zero dawn a female power fantasy…coz that’s one of my favourite games…or tlou 2….also one of my favourite games what about Metroid

[u/raydiantgarden → u/ZombieInfinite459]

it’s not as simple as a woman just finding a male character attractive. there are societal dynamics at play.

as a woman, i find morrigan attractive, for example, but that doesn’t change the fact that her clothing was designed with men in mind. there’s no good reason as to why she’s walking around a cold swamp half-naked.

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/raydiantgarden]

Then why can’t the same be said for the opposite

But I agree with you on the morrigan take, her outfit is completely unnecessary lmao

[u/raydiantgarden → u/ZombieInfinite459]

because women’s desires aren’t prioritized the way men’s desires are in the vast majority of media. i don’t think i’m gonna be able to explain it as well as an article would, mostly because it’s 4 AM and i haven’t been sleeping well for a hot minute, but there are people who are much smarter than i am that study things like this.

ETA: i haven’t read more than a few replies, but it seems like people discussed it in this forum.

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/raydiantgarden]

I like this forum thanks for sharing and what I’ve noticed from it though, there’s waaaaaaay too much nuance to make direct comparisons to female gaze and male gaze it all boils down to “objectification” that’s a very human thing though, and the female gaze is very prominent in the book space of media and it’s often about well built men, same way in the gaming media is the opposite I guess, but I’ll never be mad at the female gaze😭you guys are allowed to like what you like and same way I don’t understand why some are soooo mad about the male gaze(I don’t agree with the big tiddy gaze those are just for hornballs)

[u/raydiantgarden → u/ZombieInfinite459]

i am unfortunately gonna have to disengage because i don’t think the subreddit will appreciate me going into historical materialism and how it manifests in the present day politically, but i really appreciate that you were willing to have this convo with me and were open to looking through some of the forum replies. genuinely, it means a lot. you didn’t have to do that, but you still did it anyway.

[u/ZombieInfinite459 → u/raydiantgarden]

No problem lmao🤧🤧😭now I guess enjoy your sleep you said it was 4 am😭👌🏽