Feminism in Halo 5 - An Article

Games Halo 5: Guardians
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So, I’m in the camp of folks who feel that Cortana’s shift of character in Halo 5 is confusing, unnerving, and a -Yoink!- to her legacy.
HOWEVER, in an article I read today, Cortana’s character in H5 can be seen (in the opinion of the writer) to be a big boost for feminism in the series.
I would be VERY interested to know what the community thinks on this topic, as I am often willing to entertain opinions that do not match my own. I had always thought of the Halo franchise to be pretty forward-thinking in the matter of feminism, as there are many MANY strong, non-sexualized female characters in the games and books. Although this is not the primary argument of the article, I wonder what others may think in regards to the writer’s opinions on Cortana.

Caveat: Posters should read the entire article before posting a response, so as to be best informed.

Feminism in Halo 5
(Links to an outside source)

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Cortana in Halo 5 is displayed as an evil tyrant who kills millions of people and forcefully pushes her agenda of the Created under the guise of “actions that we don’t agree with”, as hypocritical as the writers put it. She is in no way a good character (now in Halo 5; she was amazing in Halo 4) nor a good role model, either for males or females.

EDIT: By this I mean to say that Cortana’s current fascist outlook isn’t a particularly good boost for feminism just because she has more power than everyone else.

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“I’m standing up and taking over everything. If you don’t agree with me, I’ll lock you up or outright kill you.”

This is a road that’s really best left untraveled.

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> 2533274895603860;2:
> Cortana in Halo 5 is displayed as an evil tyrant who kills millions of people and forcefully pushes her agenda of the Created under the guise of “actions that we don’t agree with”, as hypocritical as the writers put it. She is in no way a good character nor a good role model, either for males or females.

The article isn’t dealing with her morality so much, it addresses the power that she has and the effects of her using it have on both the Halo universe and how feminism is related to the use of that power.

> 2533274844346441;1:
> Caveat: Posters should read the entire article before posting a response, so as to be best informed.
>
> Feminism in Halo 5(Links to an outside source)

5

Feminism articles in a sci-fy game? Alrighty Magnyss you will now be named Arc Warhammer and will be debunking every point in your best Norwegian- English accent.

I opened the article and issues with the most nude female catalyst in the game. I stopped reading at the second paragraph when it said that cortana had more depth and character growth in H5.

“In all my history with Halo, Cortana has never been my favorite character. Halo 5 might have changed this, giving her more power and more depth than before while building on both her characterization and her relationship to other important female characters.”

She was visible for like 10 whole seconds and told everyone, even the ladies, to buzz off.

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How would it even do that? We have a lot female characters in Halo 5 like Palmer

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Ye

> 2533274909139271;5:
> Feminism articles in a sci-fy game? Alrighty Magnyss you will now be named Arc Warhammer and will be debunking every point in your best Norwegian- English accent.
>
>
>
> I opened the article and issues with the most nude female catalyst in the game. I stopped reading at the second paragraph when it said that cortana had more depth and character growth in H5.
>
> “In all my history with Halo, Cortana has never been my favorite character. Halo 5 might have changed this, giving her more power and more depth than before while building on both her characterization and her relationship to other important female characters.”
>
> She was visible for like 10 whole seconds and told everyone, even the ladies, to buzz off.
>

First of all…Arc Warhammer? Am I in trouble???
Next, I had almost the same reaction when reading, but saw it through just in case there was a point I might agree with. The article bothers me, but I’m not here to defend it, neither tear down the writer. I just want to see other people’s viewpoints to this rather…controversial issue. Cortana may have more POWER now, but she’s lost a great deal of charisma. The writer seems to argue that the more POWER Cortana has and her willingness to use it to a ‘justified cause in her mind’ somehow lends her more credibility from a feminist point of view (my interpretation). This seems to lend the bias toward ‘power makes a better cause for feminism.’

Hmm…I am probably treading some perilous waters here.

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> 2533274844346441;7:
> Ye
>
>
> > 2533274909139271;5:
> > Feminism articles in a sci-fy game? Alrighty Magnyss you will now be named Arc Warhammer and will be debunking every point in your best Norwegian- English accent.
> >
> >
> >
> > I opened the article and issues with the most nude female catalyst in the game. I stopped reading at the second paragraph when it said that cortana had more depth and character growth in H5.
> >
> > “In all my history with Halo, Cortana has never been my favorite character. Halo 5 might have changed this, giving her more power and more depth than before while building on both her characterization and her relationship to other important female characters.”
> >
> > She was visible for like 10 whole seconds and told everyone, even the ladies, to buzz off.
> >
>
>
> First of all…Arc Warhammer? Am I in trouble???
> Next, I had almost the same reaction when reading, but saw it through just in case there was a point I might agree with. The article bothers me, but I’m not here to defend it, neither tear down the writer. I just want to see other people’s viewpoints to this rather…controversial issue. Cortana may have more POWER now, but she’s lost a great deal of charisma. The writer seems to argue that the more POWER Cortana has and her willingness to use it to a ‘justified cause in her mind’ somehow lends her more credibility from a feminist point of view (my interpretation). This seems to lend the bias toward ‘power makes a better cause for feminism.’
>
> Hmm…I am probably treading some perilous waters here.

YouTube arc warhammer and feminism … Entertaining for die hard fans. Normally he does warhammer/40k but he goes on other material with good lore. And no you are not in trouble. Lol.

The article clearly ignores cortana;
controlling the key to a halo (very powerful) in CE
beating through Hicharity’s defenses and control on the nuclear engine of Miranda’s ship (also powerful)
activating a broken halo in h3 (powerful)
fighting a forerunner and almost deactivating infinity with a “sneeze” in h4 (still more power than the mc)

so so I doubt the writer actually played them or skipped as many cutscenes as humanly possible.

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> 2533274909139271;8:
> > 2533274844346441;7:
> > Ye
> >
> >
> > > 2533274909139271;5:
> > > Feminism articles in a sci-fy game? Alrighty Magnyss you will now be named Arc Warhammer and will be debunking every point in your best Norwegian- English accent.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I opened the article and issues with the most nude female catalyst in the game. I stopped reading at the second paragraph when it said that cortana had more depth and character growth in H5.
> > >
> > > “In all my history with Halo, Cortana has never been my favorite character. Halo 5 might have changed this, giving her more power and more depth than before while building on both her characterization and her relationship to other important female characters.”
> > >
> > > She was visible for like 10 whole seconds and told everyone, even the ladies, to buzz off.
> > >
> >
> >
> > First of all…Arc Warhammer? Am I in trouble???
> > Next, I had almost the same reaction when reading, but saw it through just in case there was a point I might agree with. The article bothers me, but I’m not here to defend it, neither tear down the writer. I just want to see other people’s viewpoints to this rather…controversial issue. Cortana may have more POWER now, but she’s lost a great deal of charisma. The writer seems to argue that the more POWER Cortana has and her willingness to use it to a ‘justified cause in her mind’ somehow lends her more credibility from a feminist point of view (my interpretation). This seems to lend the bias toward ‘power makes a better cause for feminism.’
> >
> > Hmm…I am probably treading some perilous waters here.
>
>
> YouTube arc warhammer and feminism … Entertaining for die hard fans. Normally he does warhammer/40k but he goes on other material with good lore. And no you are not in trouble. Lol.
>
> The article clearly ignores cortana;
> controlling the key to a halo (very powerful) in CE
> beating through Hicharity’s defenses and control on the nuclear engine of Miranda’s ship (also powerful)
> activating a broken halo in h3 (powerful)
> fighting a forerunner and almost deactivating infinity with a “sneeze” in h4 (still more power than the mc)
>
> so so I doubt the writer actually played them or skipped as many cutscenes as humanly possible.

Yeah, I just Googled AW after that last post…
Also, too bad we don’t have a good insight into the writer’s actual involvement in Halo…was it academic, or did she play everything and love/hate the characters the way the community players do (or don’t…). It seems her main argument stems from the fact that no matter how much power Cortana wielded pre-H5, she was still ‘dominated’ by her makers, and therefore still slaved to someone else’s will.
I think I have the most trouble with that part. Power doesn’t make one a feminist symbol or not…or does it? Gahh, more research required.
Perhaps, as she alluded somewhere in the middle, the writer was simply put off by Cortana until she ‘put something on.’

10

> 2533274844346441;4:
> > 2533274895603860;2:
> > Cortana in Halo 5 is displayed as an evil tyrant who kills millions of people and forcefully pushes her agenda of the Created under the guise of “actions that we don’t agree with”, as hypocritical as the writers put it. She is in no way a good character nor a good role model, either for males or females.
>
>
> The article isn’t dealing with her morality so much, it addresses the power that she has and the effects of her using it have on both the Halo universe and how feminism is related to the use of that power.
>
>
> > 2533274844346441;1:
> > Caveat: Posters should read the entire article before posting a response, so as to be best informed.
> >
> > Feminism in Halo 5(Links to an outside source)

I’ll admit, I only skimmed over the article at first, but after giving it a careful read, my comment still stands

It’s not that the article is trying to justify that Halo 5 or Cortana as a character are well written (because it does), and it’s not that it tries to sympathize with Cortana a bit (because it does that too), but because it implies that Cortana is a boost for feminism by mere virtue of a female role being more in control than anyone else. My problem is the bad writing: Cortana’s morals are beyond hypocritical, she was supposed to stay dead, but no, Microsoft wanted her to come back for marketing purposes, and this all completely destroys her character.

The point is, this boost for feminism isn’t really worth it because of the botched characterization and rushed execution. It also feels pretty cheap to call it that, all things considering.

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> 2533274895603860;10:
> > 2533274844346441;4:
> > > 2533274895603860;2:
> > > Cortana in Halo 5 is displayed as an evil tyrant who kills millions of people and forcefully pushes her agenda of the Created under the guise of “actions that we don’t agree with”, as hypocritical as the writers put it. She is in no way a good character nor a good role model, either for males or females.
> >
> >
> > The article isn’t dealing with her morality so much, it addresses the power that she has and the effects of her using it have on both the Halo universe and how feminism is related to the use of that power.
> >
> >
> > > 2533274844346441;1:
> > > Caveat: Posters should read the entire article before posting a response, so as to be best informed.
> > >
> > > Feminism in Halo 5(Links to an outside source)
>
>
> I’ll admit, I only skimmed over the article at first, but after giving it a careful read, my comment still stands
>
> It’s not that the article is trying to justify that Halo 5 or Cortana as a character are well written (because it does), and it’s not that it tries to sympathize with Cortana a bit (because it does that too), but because it implies that Cortana is a boost for feminism by mere virtue of a female role being more in control than anyone else. My problem is the bad writing: Cortana’s morals are beyond hypocritical, she was supposed to stay dead, but no, Microsoft wanted her to come back for marketing purposes, and this all completely destroys her character.
>
> The point is, this boost for feminism isn’t really worth it because of the botched characterization and rushed execution. It also feels pretty cheap to call it that, all things considering.

Exactly some of the issues I have; I dislike the characterization that the Cortana we all know and love(d) is somehow less of a character than she is now; tyrannical, misguided, completely anathemic to what she once stood for and believed in. Like you, I don’t see this as a positive thing for feminism (based on my imperfect understanding of it), when it means that a character has become generalized (tyrannical villain thinking she is doing the right thing) and just because she has been ‘set free’ from her makers, she is now a more credible character.

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<mark>This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not post inappropriate content.</mark>

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

Triggered

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Pro feminism and anti feminism are equally bad. Were all equal.

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Feminism isnt needed in video games. Halo has always had women in strong roles. Majority of gamers are male and they will cater to majority for sales. Cortana was always a strong female role. Dont feminist want to wear anything they want and not be sexualised? 3rd wave feminism on a whole is uneeded. I dont think they thought to make cortana a villian because shes a woman but thay she was chiefs bff for 15 years. Man created ai to serve man and will they will bow down to man.

15

<mark>This post has been edited by a moderator. Please do not post inappropriate content.</mark>

*Original post. Click at your own discretion.

> I’m standing up and taking over everything. If you don’t agree with me, I’ll lock you up or outright kill you

And you guys say Third Wave Feminists identify with this character? This is quite the shocking revelation I tell ya h’wat.

> Cortana was always a strong female role

Until Halo 3 where she became an annoying damsel in distress.

Other than that she’s always been shown as competent and a huge aid to the chief.

The Librarian would’ve possibly been a better choice to write about if you’re writing about strong female characters. She’s even more powerful, she stopped a regime, she has noble intentions. I guess not as many people know who the Librarian is though.

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There’s other examples in 5 to write a feminism related article too. But tired right now.
Holly Tanaka, makee, Halsey, vale, palmer.

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She had the key to halo 1 proving she was still useful and the way bungie wrote it she had to be the damsel in distress which there is nothing wrong with. Feminist only know cortana because she is most 2nd most popular character and shes half naked which brings even more attention to her. I still prefer her halo 4 look

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> 2533274819302824;15:
> >
>
>
>
>
> > Cortana was always a strong female role
>
>
> Until Halo 3 where she became an annoying damsel in distress.
>
> Other than that she’s always been shown as competent and a huge aid to the chief.
>
> The Librarian would’ve possibly been a better choice to write about if you’re writing about strong female characters. She’s even more powerful, she stopped a regime, she has noble intentions. I guess not as many people know who the Librarian is though.

Think it’s only a boost if it very obvious and very displayed.

I mean, Osman is in a high up ONI position, and her predecessor, Parandasky or whatever her name was, had the same position.

Then we have characters such as Palmer and Miranda, both in commandning positions.

Then of course there’s Halsey, smarts overflowing. In the same department we got Anders from Halo Wars.

Let’s not forget Vale, Tanaka, Linda, Kelly and Kat. Or Veronica Dare from ODST.

A minor one is the marine female on the bridge part in Halo 2, next to the male marine whos underwear probably never forgot that Scarab.

In the AI department we got Serina and the upcoming Isabel.

These are just the games themselves

I do not see any of these women as anything like what accusations against female characters make them out to be in video games.

Apart from a naked Cortana, there’s no oversexualisation of any of them. They’re made to be as capable as men, if not even better in some cases. Strong, compenent and non-oversexualised females in video games. In my opinion, there is no sexism present.

This is of course the games only, the Extended Universe has even more examples of strong, independant females.

I find it incredibly annoying that having one female character who has been in a support role, as a main character, is the big stuff for feminism when that character suddenly gets a sudden massive power increase, and not the fact that we have a franchise full of good examples of how to portray “more ordinary” and realiatic women in video games.

I also find the last part of the article, yeah I don’t know what to say.
See, the reason why she has obeyed or done things others has told her to do (she has suggested and done things on her own as well) isn’t because she’s a female or an AI, but because she was following orders and fought for survival against the Sentinels, Covenant, Loyaliats and the Flood.
I mean, change the Avatar and voice for Cortana to a red sphere and a male voice, and the end result wouldn’t be any different to what we have now, it makes just as much sense with cortana, as it woulf woth another different non-female Avatar AI.
Or MC for that matter, he does the exact same thing, follows orders, suggests things and gives orders.
But MC is a soldier, that’s his job, and Cortana’s isn’t?

I lost track of where I’m going. Hope I made it clear enough.

19

well cortana going from good to evil without any explanation was bad from the writers

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> 2533274871425050;19:
> well cortana going from good to evil without any explanation was bad from the writers

Ehh its probably gravemind or didact or the rampancy which is causing her to be like this. Also i think it will be revealed in halo 6. I dont think that was bad writing but to keep us intrigued.