Criticizing Character Design as a Matter of Taste—Why Hide Behind the Banner of “Political Correctness”?
In games and visual media, character design and casting frequently spark heated discussions. When a character’s appearance, background, gender, race, or sexual orientation doesn’t align with certain audience preferences, criticism often intensifies. Notably, much of this criticism isn’t simply about personal taste but accuses the work of being driven by “political correctness,” supposedly lowering its quality and artistic value.
This phenomenon raises important questions: Why do critics avoid openly expressing their personal preferences and instead frame their critiques as opposition to “political correctness”? Does this reflect an underlying fear of acknowledging their own biases?
When “Political Correctness” Shifts from Advocacy to a Tool for Criticism
Originally, “political correctness” aimed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), advocating for respect and sensitivity toward marginalized groups. However, in recent cultural debates, this term has taken on a negative connotation and is often used as a weapon to criticize creative works.
When stories feature diverse characters or challenge traditional values, critics frequently bypass discussing narrative or artistic choices and instead claim these decisions are made to pander to “political correctness.”
For instance, The Last of Us faced massive backlash over Ellie’s sexuality and Abby’s character design. Some players were uncomfortable with Ellie being a lesbian or felt Abby’s muscular build defied traditional standards of female beauty. Rather than admitting their discomfort, these critics framed the game as being “forced” into political correctness.
This criticism pattern suggests a reluctance to directly confront personal biases, using “political correctness” as a cover for deeper prejudices.
A Psychological Perspective: Why Critics Avoid Honest Opinions
From a psychological standpoint, several factors may explain why critics hide behind the political correctness argument:
- Avoiding Self-Exposure:
Openly stating, “I dislike this character because of her sexuality or race,” risks being labeled as prejudiced. Blaming “political correctness” allows critics to voice discontent without exposing values that may clash with modern inclusive norms. - Seeking Group Validation:
Targeting “political correctness” helps critics find like-minded communities. Blaming an “external force” is easier and more socially acceptable than admitting to personal biases, fostering a sense of belonging. - Lack of Artistic Critique Skills:
Constructive critics analyze narrative, character development, and performance. Those who casually dismiss works as “politically correct” often lack the ability—or willingness—to engage in thoughtful critique and instead vent frustration without depth.
The Real Impact, Controversy, and Balance of Political Correctness
Admittedly, some works do overemphasize political correctness at the expense of storytelling. For example, the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, featuring an all-female lead cast, was marketed heavily on gender but lacked strong storytelling and character depth, leading viewers to feel the gender swap was more about political messaging than narrative purpose. In such cases, questioning whether diversity overshadowed artistic quality can be valid.
However, reducing all casting controversies to “political correctness” oversimplifies the issue. Often, diverse casting reflects a creator’s desire to mirror real-world diversity. Arcane, for instance, introduces more female heroes and characters from diverse backgrounds—not merely for political correctness but to offer fresh story perspectives and role models.
Critics’ discomfort may stem more from resistance to societal change than from actual flaws in the work.
Our Perspective: Criticism Should Focus on the Work Itself—Honesty Is the Key to Dialogue
Meaningful criticism should focus on the work itself rather than masking prejudice as ideological protest. When disliking a character, critics could express their views candidly, such as, “I dislike this character because she doesn’t align with my expectations for the game/film.” This fosters more constructive dialogue. Hiding behind “political correctness” leads to shallow criticism and undermines meaningful conversations about social progress.
While political correctness must be balanced, using it as a blanket excuse for all criticism is irresponsible and stalls cultural discourse. Everyone has personal tastes, but expressing them honestly—without hiding behind ideological shields—allows for genuine discussion. Only then can creators and critics alike thrive in a diverse cultural landscape and elevate both creative works and meaningful critique.
