| Tamron said: Camera panning around her crotch is empowerment? okay. |
Absolutely. It's indisputable that Bayonetta is empowered by her sexuality, and she embodies this philosophy as completely as possible. She is very literally empowered when the camera provides an "indecent" view of her body, because she willed it to do so. Her behavior is her own choice. She uses her sexuality as a weapon, and she is confident in it. Contrast the mechanics of Bayonetta with something like Senran Kagura: in that game, characters take clothing damage as they are hurt. Their exposure is not a choice, it is not empowering. When Bayonetta unleashes powerful attacks, her clothes are stripped from her body. She knows this will happen, she wants it to happen, she embraces it. She does not cower and blush in embarrassment. She poses like a supermodel.
This is part of what defines Bayonetta as a character. She is sexually confident and she is very loud about it. Yes, even when it's just camerawork, she is empowered. After all, you (the player) have no say in the matter. You do not choose to zoom in for an up-close look at her crotch. Bayonetta will dole out titillating camera angles as she sees fit. Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Does it make you feel like you aren't really in control of the game? That's because you're not in control. Bayonetta is in control. That is the definition of empowerment.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this. Maybe Platinum just likes T&A, and doesn't care about the characters they're making or whether their actions match their personality appropriately. It's possible. But Kamiya created this character, so I sincerely doubt it.
