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So square can make drastic changes to FF7 in the remake but couldn't be bothered to not make Barrett an ignorant racist caricature? (Read Threadmarks)
- Thread starter Chief Malik
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I don't know why they keep the Mr.T persona in the dub, that was an asspull from the original american translation not how he was supposed to be.
Barret ends up being alright in the second half IMO but it would have been way better if they didn't insist on that on the localization.
Barret ends up being alright in the second half IMO but it would have been way better if they didn't insist on that on the localization.
Fully agreed with this, the staircase scene in particular made him seem like an actual human being that was isekai'd into a JRPG.
He's probably my favorite character in the Remake, unlike the original.
Did you actually play the game? He's only really angry at the enemies. Sure he raises his voice at allies but that doesn't mean he's actually angry. Hell even with Shinra employees who directly opposes him, he would compose himself and only shout at them in a way that makes sense for him to do.
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Because it doesn't matter if he's a black man, his character IS angry (because of the stuff happening to the planet) and he is PRETENDING to be scary (see his scenes with Marlene, his fear of heights, etc). Barret is a well written character (perhaps the best in FFVII:R), it's easy to see tropes when you look for them, but they've not only been faithful to his '97 character, they've much expanded on his other traits apart from Angry.
That said, yes, the voice acting can be a bit over the top, but that goes for essentially the entire cast and was the direction they were given. I'd recommend watching the interview with John Eric Bentley, the EN voice of Barret, and get to understand HIS motivations, feeling and take on the character before playing the "that's racist" card.
But I do think it's a japanese thing... just like women in this game are mostly depicted as extra sensual, and verging on virginal, whenever the scenario needs it. It's gross, but I don't think I can expect better from SE. I love FF7 but it's definitely a bit too pervy, and yah, Barrett's characterization is often cringe and makes me uncomfortable. They'll have more chances to balance his personality as we go (I hope). I'm thinking about the Corel flashback. I hope he's not going to remain a loudmouth used for comic relief. It makes him look like a clown.
I'm part of the LGBTQ community and Andrea is also a stereotype of a gay man as per Hollywood's world, which is also often very offensive.
I definitely got gay vibes from Biggs tho.
I'm part of the LGBTQ community and Andrea is also a stereotype of a gay man as per Hollywood's world, which is also often very offensive.
I definitely got gay vibes from Biggs tho.
Waypoint Radio's Austin Walker has spoken about Barret in their podcast. Overall he seems to like the character but also has problems with him being loud and angry.
Urghhh...this OP has been trying to point this out in every single FF7R thread for some reason no matter how many argument people has made against it.
He has an arc and there's nuance to his characterization littered throughout with how he interact with different characters. I feel calling him a simple racist caricature with voice like a Tropic Thunder make it sound like he's angry all the time for no reason and ignore all the characters moments that he has.
He has an arc and there's nuance to his characterization littered throughout with how he interact with different characters. I feel calling him a simple racist caricature with voice like a Tropic Thunder make it sound like he's angry all the time for no reason and ignore all the characters moments that he has.
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I like Barret and don't mind his voice. The thing that pisses me off is that every black character has to be either this tough scary black man or a comic relief type of joke character. See Naruto where B and the Raikage kinda fulfill both of these stereotypes. And Darui who is neither of those is well liked.
It's the prevalence of seeing it over and over again which annoys me. That black characters are only allowed to live as these one dimensional stereotypes.
FF7R get's a pass from me only because Barret actually has character and depth to him and defies some of these stereotypes. But that's just my opinion.
It's the prevalence of seeing it over and over again which annoys me. That black characters are only allowed to live as these one dimensional stereotypes.
FF7R get's a pass from me only because Barret actually has character and depth to him and defies some of these stereotypes. But that's just my opinion.
Barret has to be one of the most butchered characters in translation. As someone who's played the original in English and Japanese the English completely ruined his character.
Dude is literally one of the most compassionate, caring characters in the game in the Japanese script.
I think the initial character design and everything about it in the OG is problematic at best. Here, they gave Barret sensitivity and self-awareness in a way he rarely exhibits in the OG. He is well-read, as shown by his knowledge of planetology books. Yeah he can be hot-headed and rash, but just because he's black doesn't mean that's racist. That isn't the only note of his character. He's a good father, and his belief in bettering the livelihoods of the slums and the poor is something I think a lot of us would love ourselves.
His English VA is black, not a white person wearing black face. I really fucking hate this observation. It totally distracts from the conversation.
His English VA is black, not a white person wearing black face. I really fucking hate this observation. It totally distracts from the conversation.
In 20 years I've never, ever heard someone say Barrett is racist or it's racist that Barret is how he is?
He's very very passionate about being an eco-terrorist, and yes, sure he has hatred towards Shinra.
Also, OP, have you played the original game? Because he has the best backstory in the whole game.
He's very very passionate about being an eco-terrorist, and yes, sure he has hatred towards Shinra.
Also, OP, have you played the original game? Because he has the best backstory in the whole game.
His voice direction is absolutely awful in the game.
I need to hear more opinions from black folks on him because my inclination is that SE directed the voice actor to sound like what they think black men sound like, rather than letting the voice actor do work.
I need to hear more opinions from black folks on him because my inclination is that SE directed the voice actor to sound like what they think black men sound like, rather than letting the voice actor do work.
The fact that there's an in-universe reason for something problematic doesn't make it not problematic. Just like how the in-universe reason why Quiet is borderline naked doesn't fucking matter.
I can't say if the character's racist or not until I see his development for myself. In any case, how I perceive it has no bearing on how another person of color might perceive it so even if I disagreed you wouldn't be any less right.
OP
OP
Yes it does
typical
I don't have to look for anything, it's extremely in your face and that man is doing a job and isn't the writers of the game who were obviously mimicking what they seen in blaxploitation films.
I think he is that Mr.T stereotype, but I checked German and Japanese out and he is way less screamy there.
People defending Barrett's depiction by pointing out that he's angry because of environmental issues or because of his backstory have it backwards. Squaresoft chose to make the angry, passionate environmental activist black because the angry black man trope was already in existence. Drawing on an existing racial trope emphasised that aspect of the character.
I do think they temper it a bit in the remake, especially by fleshing out his relationship with Marlene. But it's still there.
I do think they temper it a bit in the remake, especially by fleshing out his relationship with Marlene. But it's still there.
I think he was definitely a racist caricature in the original despite having some good scenes.
They tried to make him a more believable person in the remake, but I'm not sure what else they can do other than replace him with a new character people wouldn't want there. They can try toning down his anger even more, but he has a lot of anger because of Shinra and his past with them, and it'll be weird if it's not there in the remake.
But I do see why stereotypes being so prevalent sucks as well.
You've never heard someone call the OG Barret a racist caricature?
Nice bubble to live in.
Even as a kid playing the original I knew Barret had some problematic stereotypes. This isn't a new discussion by any means at all. From the pre-release trailers I had some issues with Barrett's VA. The full game does a good job contextualizing Barret but it doesn't completely wash away the loud & angry & large black man stereotype.
If you've played the original FFVII, it adds more context. There's a reason he's so angry
He feels guilty as he blames himself for the destruction of his hometown.
Even in the Spanish translation he wasn't Mr.T. I was surprised to see how bad they treated the character in the English localization and it sucks they did the same with Remake.
OP
OP
i didn't like his english voice, too stereotopical (even if he's voiced by a black man)
he sounds more natural in japanese IMO, he just has the voice of a big guy you hear a lot in their media
he sounds more natural in japanese IMO, he just has the voice of a big guy you hear a lot in their media
What are the drastic changes in the game? I've played through it completely and I only saw added stuff. Everything else was basically 1:1 down to the tiniest details from the original.
There's also the scene where he finds Marlene, and the scene where his in the destroyed remains of Sector 7 which are some of the best scenes in the entire game.
Barret's a vast improvement over what he was in the original game.
Shinra killed his wife, destroyed his town, and destroyed one of his hands. He also thought his best friend was dad, and raised his daughter as his own.
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I have not heard of this angry black man trope before. With that said, you're coming off as racist to me OP for assocaiting emotions to a race. Yikes..
Call it as it is - a personality trope, don't see the point of adding colour to it.
Call it as it is - a personality trope, don't see the point of adding colour to it.
I mean sure. That's all in the writing though. Like there's a reason Quiet wears no clothes, but that doesn't make the character not problematic.
It's not a secret that the English localization emphasized the black angry man stereotype way more than the Japanese script. This was totally avoidable in this game, but they still chose to go this way - which should be critisized, even if you like the character.
OP
OP
He's got a shitty voice. As I got through the game I was wondering if it would ever grow on me but it didn't. I'm black so when I hear voices like that I do wonder if people realize theres a different between passion and agression and just sounding like Mr. T or some shit. The voice is subpar but at times it fit well when he was being more somber. By the end of the game I tolerated it, but its easily the worst voice in the game for me personally. How he acted was mostly okay, but how he sounded was fucking stupid.
You should play the Japanese version of FFXIII. He is horrendously bad.
What a load of crap. Barrett is depicted as more than just an "angry black man". He comes across as gruff but he's a strong charismatic leader who cares about his friends and is passionate about saving the planet. The fact that you're taking one facet of him and ignoring the other traits of his personality says more about you than the creators. If you don't like the way he's acted then you're entitled to your opinion but to say he's an "ignorant racist caricature" is being disingenuous at best.
I wish there was more nuance to the direction of his dub, but a lot of POC characters in Japanese media are basically stereotypes. It's not an excuse but, just, not very surprising.
I found him grating at first but he's more goofy now, and I do enjoy his scenes with Marlene.
I found him grating at first but he's more goofy now, and I do enjoy his scenes with Marlene.
This is ignorant af.
1) What does you never hearing of the stereotype have to do with it? It still exists even if you don't know if does.
2) Calling someone racist for calling out a racist stereotype. This is some classic deflection and is a tactic that is usually employed by a certain type of person.
3) What you're doing is low-key trying to pull an "I don't see color" card which is the highest grade of bullshit.
I thought the same as you OP. I was actually surprised how all in they went with his original "Mr T" influenced characterisation.
However. That's Barrett. That is a big part of his personality from the original game. It wouldn't have felt as genuine without him being like this, but I'm from a White Passing ethnic group (Turk) so I can't talk about what's right or wrong from a position of privilege.
However let's consider that the teacher from the orphanage is Black and she is portrayed appropriately. Same with little Moggie from the Children's playground.
However. That's Barrett. That is a big part of his personality from the original game. It wouldn't have felt as genuine without him being like this, but I'm from a White Passing ethnic group (Turk) so I can't talk about what's right or wrong from a position of privilege.
However let's consider that the teacher from the orphanage is Black and she is portrayed appropriately. Same with little Moggie from the Children's playground.
To be fair I think that was fully intentional from the writers, because of how Cloud and Jessie look at each other knowingly while Barrett goes off on his rant.
OP
OP
But I didn't.... He is still a stereotype regardless. His character as you see it wouldn't exist without blaxploitation
