Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Dominic C
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| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Dominic C |
| Interviewer: | Kelly M |
| Interviewee: | Dominic C |
| Date(s): | June 9, 2014 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Tomb Raider |
| External Links: | In the Spotlight: Dominic C – The Archaeology of Tomb Raider, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Archaeology of Tomb Raider: In the Spotlight: Dominic C was conducted in 2014.
Some Excerpts
When and how did you learn about the Tomb Raider series?
Growing up in the 90s, it was inevitable that I’d come across Lara. It first started by watching my friends play, and watching other people play games was my introduction into the pixel land. It was a great bonding experience, one that I feel online multiplayer has detracted from. Despite never having oodles of pocket money, I managed to get the first three Tomb Raider games pretty cheap for my PC. I found the controls fiddly, but they were, and remain, very rewarding games. As an obsessional child (and adult, for that matter) I grew attached to Lara and really related to her, especially in those early games.
How has Tomb Raider changed your life?
Aside from being a writer, archaeology is what most grabbed me as a kid. This was inspired and nurtured by Indiana Jones, of course, and Stargate, but Lara most of all. Lara was a complex character, one that felt real. She proved that you didn’t have to choose between intelligence and sexuality, that you could look good, kick ass, and be highly educated. During my formative years, that was really powerful. It was also wonderful to have such a popular English character, one that didn’t poke fun of Blighty, but instead celebrated it and probably went some way to making the English accent seem that much sexier.
What are your thoughts on Lara’s image? Is she simply the product of a sexist gaming industry or can she be seen as a positive role model?
This is a debate that’s probably never going to go away, nor should it. The portrayal of women in games is an important subject, one that is becoming increasingly imperative. There are plenty of progressive female game characters out there; Beyond Good and Evil is one of my favourite games, and Jade is a wonderful character, but Lara is also a progressive character. While the accidental and infamous enlargement of her breasts is male titillation, she is so much more than that. Lara is always in control of her sexuality, she doesn’t pander to men; she isn’t submissive or passive. I found that powerful and affecting, even as a man, and I think that women who perhaps feel insecure or pressured to be only one thing because of their bodies would find something very comforting about Lara. I think she is a positive role model, as mentioned above, she proves that you can be a beautiful woman as well as highly educated and, let’s face it, a history geek.