I've been noticing this double standard ever since people started making threads about Tali being "too human."
Let's get a few things straight: Tali being
essentially a human is one's opinion, not fact. It's an opinion that is based on one's own set of criteria on what it means for a humanoid organism to be "alien". It's subjective, and most certainly depends on personal preferences. You cannot deny that one's headcanon of Tali is shaped on said preferences; this is much more complicated than simply liking or disliking "aliens."
So, here's my opinion about all this.
If you look at the photo and conclude that Tali is nothing but a human with white eyes and "sharpie markings" on her body, this is an opinion based on your own perception. I find this perception to be distorted.
Tali's final design is a combination of several preliminary face designs that can be seen in the Mass Effect concept art. She has a human face for a foundation, an "omega" shaped birthmark on her forehead, white irises with gray sclera, and additional birthmarks on her neck and chest (or possible cybernetic augmentation). Her eyes are set wide apart and angled, and she has a unique nose that is not characteristic of humans. Then, of course, we have her elongated earlobes. As my criteria for what makes a human "human" are obviously different, I cannot conclude that Tali's design is as simple as you describe.
Would I say that Tali looks similar to a human? Yes, and I expected this. However, to argue that Tali looks "too human," and needs a better face that is more "alien"... I'm noticing contradictions.
Tali's features: unique eye and nose structure, ears, long neck, swept-back shoulders, narrow waist, curved shins, less digits, etc. You cannot dismiss these features in your claim that Tali is essentially a human while simultaneously posting an image of a
human female face with glowing eyes, interesting complexion, and tendrils for hair as your headcanon. Unless there is more to your headcanon that you haven't already told us (what was it again, silver irises, blue sclera, toned body on the level of a fitness model, and sharp incisors), I fail to see how Kerrigan Tali is a significant improvement over what we have.
Same goes for Tali in that little "Tali Deserves a Better Face" signature. Once again,
human female face for a foundation, white irises and sclera, cybernetic augmentation on cheeks, and purple skin. So if Tali needs a better face because she's "too human," how are these designs any better?
No, Tali does not need a better face in my opinion. What Miss vas Normandy could use is a 3D render, in-game, of the face she already has. Good can come from that design if you allow yourself to imagine it from an entirely new,
positive perspective. Certainly not a perspective of deception and laziness that one tends to associate with the photoshop.
As for Tali needing to be more alien. Well, again, back to those criteria. I find the subtleties in the canon design (particularly the nose and eye structure) to be sufficiently alien and in-tune with what we already know of Tali. Tali doesn't
need frills, ridges, flanges, flaps, starfishes, Ross Perot ears, etc. to be "more alien." A design of Tali with more of these features does not necessarily make it "better." I've noticed plenty of artists that tend to go overboard with these features in reaction to the photo, ultimately producing an alien that is wearing Tali's suit, and not producing Tali. What the real challenge would be is not to mindlessly add such features just for the sake of doing so. The challenge would be add features that are not characteristic of humans with
subtlety, while simultaneously adhering to Tali's essence. I can think of several artists (Revan, in particular) that can do just that.
Not like anyone read this far anyway, but I felt the need to get some things off my chest.
tl;dr: I respect your opinion if you want to say that Tali is "too human," and claim that her face needs a redesign. However, don't contradict yourselves by stating this opinion while supporting the use of another Tali which is just as human as the original. Unless you just happen to dislike anything that resembles canon Tali, perhaps you guys need to rethink what you truly want.
Personally, I don't think Tali needs a new face. While I'm disappointed in the poor depiction of her anatomy in the photoshop, I'm happy with the canon design and would rather see that face on a 3D model in-game. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this, as my criteria for what constitutes a human and alien are different from yours. I don't see the need in adding "alien" features to Tali with no thought or purpose other than to fulfill some requirement to make Tali different from what we have, especially when the final product is no longer a representation of Tali. Again, all in my opinion.
Good day.
Modifié par Messier87, 02 juin 2012 - 10:59 .
Retour en haut
![=]](https://lvlt.forum.bioware.com/public/style_emoticons/default/sideways.png)
