The Truth Behind Kurtis Trent's Toxic Masculinity in Tomb Raider AoD

[Shirley_Manson]

But isn't Lara also very agressive, emotionaly aloof and stoic in all her games up to that date?

I think Kurtis is only really problematic in that Louvre cutscene where he gropes Lara (while pointing a gun to her head, ew).

[PedroTheGamer]

Originally Posted by AngryElephant

In the intricate narrative of "Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness," the character of Kurtis Trent materializes as a veritable embodiment of toxic masculinity, a reflection of the Core Design development team's own insecurities. Kurtis, a sort of masculine doppelgänger to the indomitable Lara Croft, is presented as a paragon of rugged stoicism, a trope that harks back to the archetypal male hero. His character, replete with hyper-masculine traits such as aggression and emotional aloofness, is a manifestation of toxic masculinity, a societal construct that perpetuates harmful male behaviors and attitudes. This character, a reactionary counterpoint to Lara's empowering femininity, suggests an underlying insecurity within the development team. It's as if they felt compelled to counterbalance Lara's strong female presence with a traditionally masculine figure, revealing their discomfort with a solely female-led narrative. Thus, Kurtis Trent serves as a symbol of the team's struggle with gender norms and their own insecurities. The closure of the studio and the departure of Tony Gard, therefore, are not just historical events, but a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in the gaming industry two decades ago.

sorry you made me laugh,i don't agree with that,kurtis is a cool character.

[dg1995]

If Kurtis represents "toxic masculinity" then Lara represents "Toxic femininity".

[HarleyCroft]

Okay so.. after Kurtis and Lara were knocked out at the Louvre and Bouchard (Karel? Whoever found her sent the Cleaner after her but I thought Karel didn't want her dead yet.. but it must have been Karel because he shapshifted wut) wakes her up..

What did Kurtis do when he woke up? Did he just stumble away, leaving the Periapt Shard on the ground? Why didn't he help Lara up? Why didn't whoever knocked them out finish the job and kill him? Who put sunglasses on unconscious Lara?

[Sir Launcelot]

Duke Nukem is toxic masculinity. Kurtis is beta male grunge ****.

He was even whupped by a female at the end.

[Princess Pixel]

Originally Posted by HarleyCroft

Okay so.. after Kurtis and Lara were knocked out at the Louvre and Bouchard (Karel? Whoever found her sent the Cleaner after her but I thought Karel didn't want her dead yet.. but it must have been Karel because he shapshifted wut) wakes her up..

What did Kurtis do when he woke up? Did he just stumble away, leaving the Periapt Shard on the ground? Why didn't he help Lara up? Why didn't whoever knocked them out finish the job and kill him? Who put sunglasses on unconscious Lara?

LOL, I totally remember that scene! After Kurtis and Lara got knocked out at the Louvre, it was Bouchard who woke Lara up, and yeah, he was a shapeshifter, so that added some crazy twists to the story. As for what Kurtis did when he woke up, it seemed like he stumbled away, leaving the Periapt Shard behind. I guess he had his own agenda and maybe felt that leaving the shard was necessary for some reason.

As for why he didn't help Lara up, hmm, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it was a narrative choice to create some tension or to show that Kurtis had his own priorities. Sometimes characters in games do things that leave us scratching our heads a bit, right?

And as for why the person who knocked them out didn't finish the job and kill Kurtis, well, maybe they were in a hurry or didn't consider him as much of a threat compared to Lara. Or perhaps they had their own reasons for wanting him alive. The world of "Tomb Raider" can be full of surprises!

Now, who put sunglasses on unconscious Lara? That's a hilarious question! I don't think it was ever explicitly explained in the game, so it might remain one of those quirky mysteries. Maybe someone just thought it would be a fun little touch, or perhaps it was a nod to the stylish Lara Croft we all know and love.

Ah, the mysteries and quirks of video games! They keep us guessing and talking about them for years. 🎮

[xavecroft]

Originally Posted by Princess Pixel

LOL, I totally remember that scene! After Kurtis and Lara got knocked out at the Louvre, it was Bouchard who woke Lara up, and yeah, he was a shapeshifter, so that added some crazy twists to the story. As for what Kurtis did when he woke up, it seemed like he stumbled away, leaving the Periapt Shard behind. I guess he had his own agenda and maybe felt that leaving the shard was necessary for some reason.

As for why he didn't help Lara up, hmm, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it was a narrative choice to create some tension or to show that Kurtis had his own priorities. Sometimes characters in games do things that leave us scratching our heads a bit, right?

And as for why the person who knocked them out didn't finish the job and kill Kurtis, well, maybe they were in a hurry or didn't consider him as much of a threat compared to Lara. Or perhaps they had their own reasons for wanting him alive. The world of "Tomb Raider" can be full of surprises!

Now, who put sunglasses on unconscious Lara? That's a hilarious question! I don't think it was ever explicitly explained in the game, so it might remain one of those quirky mysteries. Maybe someone just thought it would be a fun little touch, or perhaps it was a nod to the stylish Lara Croft we all know and love.

Ah, the mysteries and quirks of video games! They keep us guessing and talking about them for years. 🎮

It was Karel who knocked them out so he didn't wanted them dead
Kurtis left the periapt for Lara that's interesting I never thought deep about it

[Princess Pixel]

Originally Posted by xavecroft

It was Karel who knocked them out so he didn't wanted them dead
Kurtis left the periapt for Lara that's interesting I never thought deep about it

Ah, got it! Thanks for clarifying that it was Karel who knocked them out. It seems like he had his own agenda and didn't want to kill them at that moment. Those unexpected twists in the story definitely make things interesting!

And yeah, it is intriguing to think about Kurtis leaving the periapt for Lara. Maybe he saw its importance or felt that it was something she needed to handle. It's fascinating how small details like that can add depth to the narrative.

"Tomb Raider" has always had its fair share of mysteries and thought-provoking moments. It's great to dive deeper into the story and discuss different interpretations. It keeps the game alive even years after its release.

[Chamayoo]

Originally Posted by Shirley_Manson

But isn't Lara also very agressive, emotionaly aloof and stoic in all her games up to that date?

I think Kurtis is only really problematic in that Louvre cutscene where he gropes Lara (while pointing a gun to her head, ew).

Yeah same. Kurtis gave me this vibe "must do my job don't care about everything else". He's really distant and not really concerned, by Lara and everything.

[Joe Derivative]

Originally Posted by AngryElephant

In the intricate narrative of "Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness," the character of Kurtis Trent materializes as a veritable embodiment of toxic masculinity, a reflection of the Core Design development team's own insecurities. Kurtis, a sort of masculine doppelgänger to the indomitable Lara Croft, is presented as a paragon of rugged stoicism, a trope that harks back to the archetypal male hero. His character, replete with hyper-masculine traits such as aggression and emotional aloofness, is a manifestation of toxic masculinity, a societal construct that perpetuates harmful male behaviors and attitudes. This character, a reactionary counterpoint to Lara's empowering femininity, suggests an underlying insecurity within the development team. It's as if they felt compelled to counterbalance Lara's strong female presence with a traditionally masculine figure, revealing their discomfort with a solely female-led narrative. Thus, Kurtis Trent serves as a symbol of the team's struggle with gender norms and their own insecurities. The closure of the studio and the departure of Tony Gard, therefore, are not just historical events, but a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in the gaming industry two decades ago.

I played TRAOD once and didn't like Kurtis, nor the implied attraction between him and Lara, which feels unnecessary and out of place. (Like a lot of other things in the game, let's face it...)

That said, you sound like ChatGPT after swallowing the entire encyclopaedia of third-wave feminism.

By the way, it's "Toby" Gard.

PS: You were being sarcastic, right? It was a joke post, right? I'd much rather swallow my pride and say "lol, got me there!" than believe otherwise.