I appreciate when a work of art can show depth and subtlety. Small details that combine to make a detailed and tasteful whole.
What I appreciate even more is when a work of art has A BUNCH OF BIG THINGS EXPLODING AND FIGHTING to make the whole. When it's done right, it's a vibrant display of colorful aesthetic.
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance has Cyborg Ninjas fighting Robot Wolves to rock music, and the final boss (spoilers) is a buff dude who debates economics with the cyborg ninja protagonist.
Conan the Barbarian has a big buff dude who fucks hot chick's and kills huge monsters.
Shadow the Hedgehog has a Hedgehog named Shadow who weilds a gun, rides a motorcycle into an alien onslaught, while some edgy twenty something guy sings about evil, and the sirens of the police are heard in the background. On top of it all he fucking kills the main character of the previous games in the intro.
These all convey perfectly that idea of taking it as far as it can go. Guns, Explosions, Swords, Muscles, Blood, Guitars, Black, Rock and Roll.
We see this used to effect in movies of Quentin Tarantino. Where this aesthetic is used to convey a satisfying revenge. Turning the act of killing one's fellow man into a satisfying conclusion. Because FUCK YEAH! KILL THOSE RACIST BASTARDS!!!!
It's a release without the drawbacks.
An escape from post climax depression, where you realize what you just did. You betrayed your values for pleasure. The logic sets in, and you see your act as horrific and ugly. You gain perspective. You think.
Instead, this offers you a chair, and let's you watch someone else commit those acts which would ruin you with guilt. Its fictional. Your values aren't really being betrayed. So you can let yourself be entertained. It's okay.
The style shown in these creations is one of excess. They have too much. They packed the closet so full of stuff that it all comes crashing out. But it's not real. They don't have to clean it up after. Mom is nowhere to be found, and you have all day to play with your toys.
I intentionally imply that it's somewhat childish. People use the phrase "Child-like Wonder" often in criticism. And I never really got it until now. To me it seems to be trying to put a finger on that innocent idea of combining two good things to make an extra good thing. "I want Superman and Sonic to fight Goku!" But not only the idea of the thing. Anyone could do that, right? It's also the belief that it could happen. No knowledge of copyright or international politics. It's cool, so why not?
Because of that Childlike Idealism, it's easy to look at this style and scoff. But by scoffing, and leaving it unexplored, you miss out on what potential it has. With that excessive use of violence and edge you create a unified character out of a franchise. The personality is appearant to anyone who watches.
I leave you with this poem by Nael, age 6.
"The tiger
He destroyed his cage
Yes
YES
The tiger is out"
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