"intent is something most people over look these days" Authors intent is actually how i measure how "good" art is given its subjective nature. Its never "Did i like it?" but always "How well did they do what they were trying to do/say?" Its why ive always been of 2 minds about you not giving your own interpretation. Besides Aether, your games are surreal and it can be hard to read what your trying to say for certain. is it that you value arts power to make people think over authors intent?

i wasnt really using the word intent to apply it to the art piece as much as the perception of the artist and direction of the work… its hard to word but ill just put an example.

in spelunky derek and andy added the ability to change the damsel to a dog or man. the obvious intent was to make it so people could change who they save in reference to some complaining about them using a damsel trope in the game maker version of the game. 

so for the 1st game, i feel like the use of the damsel as an expendable item was made with the intent to be satirical, referencing the damsel trope in games/movies that we grew up with in the same way we use bandage girl in smb… but a lot of people didnt see that as their intent.

in the remake they went in addressing this directly by giving you the ability to not use a damsel.. i felt the the intent of this should have been extremely obvious to everyone.. but a lot still felt that the ability to “switch out a woman with a dog” was insulting/offensive.   

it should be extremely logical to anyone that plays spelunky that it wasnt ever their goal to say “women are objects to be abused and owned!” there is no intent behind this message at all.. but this one is pretty specific.

the internet doenst like intent, they like sensationalized black and white arguments so everyone can take a side so their simple little lives can become easier to organize. we live in a weird day and age where you need to start a sentence declaring your stance on every aspect of every issue before you speak because people will simply assume by how you might word something you are GOOD or EVIL.

again this is a bit of me rambling about issues that bother me.

ill also go by my own logic and state my stance.

i believe in equality for ALL, i believe in the liberation of any oppressed race, gender, religion, sexual identity. i believe in freedom of speech and the right to choose… does that cover it? 

i should copy and past this into every statement i make from now on, on the internet so people know right away if they should love me or hate me.