About
Anita Sarkeesian is an internet reviewer, and host of Feminist Frequency[1][2], a feminist web series in which Sarkeesian reviews and analyses different media from a feminist viewpoint. The series has garnered an overall negative reception, especially from those within the video game community.
Online History
Sarkeesian posted her first video on 20 May 2009, titled “Dollhouse Renewed? Why not Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles?”. In the video, she discusses Fox Networks decision to renew the show “Dollhouse”, believing fellow show “Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles” would be much more fitting. The video was poorly received, receiving many dislikes, leading Sarkeesian to disable comments and ratings. Despite this, Sarkeesian continued to release videos.
Feminist Frequency grew in popularity upon the release of the series “Tropes vs. Women”, in which Sarkeesian analyses different tropes and how they present women in a negative stereotype. In her first video, Sarkeesian analysed the trope Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
Reputation
Controversy
Sarkeesian has gained strong opposition from web-goers, many criticizing her for her feminist viewpoint, believing it to be extremist. On 23 Octpber 2011, Youtuber TheAmazingAtheist released a video titled “Everyone’s a Crybaby”, in which he discussed how he sees Sarkeesian’s viewpoint as extremist. As well as this, many videos have been created in response to Feminist Frequency, discussing the same topics.
Kickstarter and Harassment
On 4 June 2012, Sarkeesian announced a spin-off series to her original Tropes vs. Women, titled Tropes vs. Women in video games. She also announced a Kickstarter in order to finance her series[3]. The series instantly gained hate from gamers, with Anita receiving death threats and hate mail from angered members of the video game community. On 5 July 2012, Newgrounds user Bendilin Spurr[4] posted a flash game titled “Beat Up Anita Sarkeesian”[5], however the game was taken down the day afterwards. The story was picked up by different news sources, including Destructoid[6], Kotaku[7] and 16×9[8]. Sarkeesian has also been invited to video game studio Bungie[9], as well as TEDxWomen 2012[10] in support of her project. Despite hate, the kickstarter was a success, raising $158,917 over the course of a month.
Search Interest
External References
[1]Youtube – Feminist Frequency’s channel
[3]Kickstarter – Tropes vs. Women in Video Games
[4]Newgrounds – Bendilin’s Profile
[5]Newgrounds – Beat Up Anita Sarkeesian
[6]Destructoid – Interview: Anita Sarkeesian, games, and Tropes vs. Women
[7]Kotaku – Feminist Game Critic On Her Online Attackers: They Cast Me ‘in the Role of the Villain’
[8]Youtube – 16×9 : Dangerous Game: Tropes vs Women bullying
[9]Gamespot – An Interview With Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency
[10]Youtube – Anita Sarkeesian at TEDxWomen 2012