Bechdel Test Thread

[TrilllianAstra]

I thought having a thread for "I just watched this and it passed/failed and I thought..." would be good to encourage me to think of the Bechdel test when watching TV/films or reading books. I wonbe watching/reading anything on purpose for the thread, just thought I would apply it to whatever I happened to be watching or reading.

The test doesn't necessarily say that a film is feminist/antifeminist, but it is interesting.

Rules reminder:
Are there at least two women (some versions say "two women with names")
Who have a conversation
About something other than a man?

Feel free to join in :)

[Thistledew]

Do animations count?

I think many of the Studio Ghibli (sp?) films pass with flying colours. I'm thinking in particular of Spirited Away in which many of the main characters are great, strong females. It works well for adults as well as children.

[DontCallMePeanut]

Thistledew, I think animations are some of the most important, in terms of the Bechdels test and feminism. Animations are so prominent in childhood, and subsequently helps to shape our DC's imaginations.

But I think it's important to remember that passing the Bechdel test does not make a film pro-feminist. Cinderella, for example, passes the Bechdel test, yet fails miserably as a feminist text (film)

[TrillianAstra]

Passing doesn't make the film pro-feminist, failing doesn't make it anti-feminist. It's just interesting to see how many fail, and the general trend indicates that something is wrong in the world.

[TrillianAstra]

The Event finally had an episode that passed: two women had a conversation about how one was going to shoot the other, without any "my boyfriend will come and find me".

[Thistledew]

I think Spirited Away would pass as a 'feminist' film. It doesn't push a feminist message per se, but the story of the film is definitely feminist in its approach.

The main character of the film is a girl who ends up in a magical land with her parents, who get turned into pigs. Fearing herself an orphan, she finds work in a bath house, from where her adventures are based. Many of the other characters are female, and indeed the society seems to be led by strong matriarchs. The girl conquers her fears to help the people and creatures she encounters. The characters are mainly helpful an kind, and even the ones that initially appear scary for the main part turn out to be that way because they are trying to overcome their own problems. There is none of the 'scary monster - kill it' machismo that you get in a lot of films.

Yes, the girl does get a very innocent love interest- but she has to, well not slay, but cure a dragon to rescue the prince. And instead of living happily ever after with him she eventually returns to her parents- transformed back into humans- and to her normal life.

The only problem with the film is that it is not suitable for young (British) children as it is in Japanese with subtitles.

[steamedtreaclesponge]

Thistledew there is an English dubbed version of Spirited Away that would be good for children.

[DontCallMePeanut]

*Makes a note to search out Spirited Away

I'm contemplating using feminism in my dissertation next year, but want to do something about measuring feminism in film and literature. I think the Bechdel Test will come under some scrutiny, there

[TrillianAstra]

Harry Potter 1 was on yesterday.

I forgot to pay proper attention but I think Hermione and Prof McGonagall may have spoken in class, but I might be remembering that from the book rather than the film.

I think it gets better when we spend more time at the Weasleys and once Ginny and Luna are introduced as characters.

[HerBeX]

I went to see the new Harry Potter yesterday.

Great big fail.

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Indeed.

When do I get to see the version with She Who Must Not Be Named and The Girl Who Lived?

Bridesmaids passed, with a lot of whatever-the-female-equivalent-of-bromance is about the place.

Muppets Christmas Carol passed :o - if only for the bit where Emily Cratchit (Miss Piggy) is found groffling chestnuts by her daughters, and the bit later where they ask her to stop crying.

Does Labyrinth fail? Oh no hang on - it should pass because of the bit where she talks to the lady with all the piles of stuff, shouldn't it?

[HandDivedScallopsrgreat]

Australia passes. And Nicole Kidman's character was quite a positive female role too. Bonus!

[TrillianAstra]

Unknown (with Liam Neeson) fails. Only two female characters, and I don't think they talk at all. It's qnot bad though, if you're looking for a thriller-type film.

[TrillianAstra]

I spent a good amount of time at the beginning of the film going to IMDB and spluttering that the actress playing his wife was 26 years younger than him! As it turns out you get to see Liam Neeson's character's passport and the character is only 14 years older than January Jones.

[TrillianAstra]

Harry Potter (very last film) only passes if you think this counts as a conversation:

Not my daughter you bitch

mwah haha tee hee

[sockpoppet]

Ashes to ashes passes but life on mars fails. What about spooks?

[TrillianAstra]

Ashes to Ashes passes - the series as a whole or on a per-episode basis?

[sockpoppet]

Oh no! I think Amelie is a fail despite a female lead.

[TrillianAstra]

Really? I don't remember it too well but doesn't Amelie have chats with the lady who runs the cafe? Or does she mostly talk to herself in her head?

[sockpoppet]

I think they talk about men though.

[TrillianAstra]

Wow, I found a very serious website Amelie apparently gets taught to read by her mother.

[TrillianAstra]

Iron Man is on right now. No chance at all, I imagine.

[AliceTwirled]

I watched the Banksy film last night. There were only 2 women in it, fleetingly, let alone time for speaking to one another

[sockpoppet]

Watership down is a big test fail.