DA:I Adresses Racism Relates to Real Life Problems

That is an interesting article. As with Iddy, I'm not entirely convinced by some of the arguments.

I've mentioned in other threads about the problem I have with Sera and her rejection of everything "elfy". Is it really just interalised racism? It certainly isn't just the Dalish she disapproves of and she thinks the vhenadahl tree is "stupid", although to be fair I seem to recall that Zevran feels the same way and he isn't anti-elf. In fact, he seems to have the very pragmatic approach to the Dalish in that he felt their life wasn't for him but does not denigrate them as a result. The thing is that in Thedas it doesn't really matter if you are "elfy" or not when it comes to the prejudice against elves. So, just because Sera rejects elven culture isn't going to protect her from oppression. She also seems to reject a fair bit of human society too, so I get the sense that it is more a general rebellion against being pigeonholed by other people. As for the religious aspect, she was very disturbed by the appearance of Corypheus because he contradicted Chantry teaching concerning the Black City and said there was no Maker there when he arrived. It is just easier for her to totally reject the Temple of Mythal revelations than it is those of Corypheus, although I dare say that Mother Giselle probably helped her with the latter, arguing against his statements in much the same way that she does to the Inquisitor.

As a Dalish I always do reveal the truth even though I know it probably wouldn't do much good. Let's face it, he is also a mage, which would also be something of a shock to people. Would it be any more inspiring for city elves to know about Ameridan than it would about Shartan? The latter wasn't just the friend of the Emperor Drakon but of the prophet Andraste. He was wiped from history as well following the Exalted March on the Dales. The late Justinia and then Leliana, if made Divine, intended restoring Shartan to the Chant and, to be honest, that would likely inspire elves more than Ameridan, who they might regard more as a traitor for allying with the Emperor and bringing the original Inquisition under his control. It is a pity we could never ask Sera her opinion on Shartan and what the Chantry did to his memory.


I think the only difference here is that they have people react to the former revelations in game but not the latter. Instead, most devout Andrastrian go into denial about Corypheus and the Evanuris, as evidenced by Sera. This is understandable because otherwise they are going to experience an extreme crisis in faith. The Dalish may be wrong about their gods as benign overlords but they were entirely correct that they existed. By contrast, everything we learn in the Temple of Mythal, the Descent and Trespasser completely contradicts what is contained in the Chant concerning the Maker and the creation of the world. If Solas is responsible for the Veil, where does that fit in with Chantry teaching? What about the titans and their relationship to lyrium? So, the idea that the writers were defending monotheism doesn't really stack up. As an outsider looking in, I find it hard to conclude that they support anything other than atheism.

Unfortunately I agree. After all they’ve also done this to all the religions in Mass Effect.

I don't know I mean Spirits "do" exist, in some form or another so do the gods, magic exists etc.....and so on.

Even if it's not directly the same as to what their myths and dogma might believe, that would pretty squarely go against the conceit of atheism.

If anything its' the ol' "all Religions are True" bit thrown in with "All Religions are Wrong" as well.



As for the article's points:

Sera and Internalized Racism-Yeah quite possibly, though as to her hatred of traditional elves......that rejection seems to be, from her perspective at least, to fall under the general rejection of being how others believe her to be.  Just like how she rejected her adopted mother's culture and believe that she was destined for greater things and social climbing.  That societies as a whole expected her to get married and have kids but she's a lesbian, that people like Solas expect her to over throw the ruling class and create a revolution but she's not into that either.  Or the bard who I imagine expected her to appreciate a song being made about her but she just found it creepy.  They expect her to be a specific way and since she isn't they reject her, so she rejects them back.

Honestly if anything it just falls under Sera's generally contrarian nature.  If "you" want her to be some way, she's going to be the opposite, just because.  

Elven God's being wrong and colonist sympathy-Well; Solas doesn't seem to think of them as being "gods" per say but they are still ridiculously powerful beings who on some level did "something" like what is attributed to them.  So I don't know if "wrong" is quite the right word, more along the lines of how Flemeth says The Dalish bend their knees too easily, just because something's powerful doesn't mean it needs to be worshipped.  By comparison people worship dragon's who are way less powerful as a general deal I would imagine.  

The Maker maybe more ambiguous but as pointed out, the chantry is the only part of it that is humanized, the church and they seem to be wrong often as not or even more so.

Considering how hardcore about their doctrine they tend to be an argument could be made that when they are wrong it's a much greater thing.


Looking at how the article ends, referring to Solas and the Qunari as "villains" more or less......they seem to be looking at things in a "black and white" concrete point of view.  And that's not how things work in the world of Thedas.  Its' often a murkier, more grey area where individual have "some" kind of reasoning for what they do and not just the ol' tie a damsel in distress to the train tracks kind of evil.

Since when?

Never thought of it before, but maybe that part of Sera's backstory is a comment of rich celebrities who adopt kids from impoverished nations, and sometimes it doesn't work out the way any of them expected?