What are you watching & reading? Will you do the Beshdel Test on it?

[Seabright]

I have been trying to apply the Beshdel Test to what I've been watching lately.

The wiki entry in the link above explains more, but basically to pass the Beshdel Test a work of fiction must have:

A) At least two female characters
B) Who Talk to each other
C) About something other than a man

This evening I have watched:

1. Rizzoli & Isles - pass, just
2. The Good Wife - pass

And I'm reading an Ian Rankin novel at the moment (yes, my choice of tv and books is pretty limited - crime & murder!) which so far fails, but I'm only part way through.

I am watching Keeping up with the Kardashians. It does pass - they are discussing mother's business empire at the moment.

oh the bloody beshdel test, only on mn is this hauled out every month or so.

if you know where to look for good intelligent films, the items set out in the op aren't relevant at all, as there are tons of films released that tick all the boxes all the time!

I'm reading The Night Circus. So far about a quarter of the way through, and it doesn't pass. Will read on with interest.

I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer last week. Don't think that passes either.

Dr Dolittle - so far (and we've nearly finished watching it), one female main role and a couple of minor parts. Unless things like "Won't you come in?" count it definitely fails.

Reading one of the Wallander books. It fails. But I'm still enjoying it.

Watched Master and Commander last night. Complete fail. Barely a woman in it, and those few didn't have speaking parts at all. I love the film though.

Really Disco? Because I struggle to find them, at least mainstream films, anyway. It's still an interesting way of looking at films and books.

Bring Up The Bodies.

ok it fails but I can't really blame Mantel for that given the subject matter.

That's not the point, though, discorabbit - it's that most mainstream culture, the stuff that makes the money and lots of people see and that has the studios thinking "Hey, let's churn out another dozen films like that" doesn't tick the boxes. Very very few commercial movies ever have a lack of male characters talking to each other about a range of subjects, but it's perfectly routine where female characters are concerned, to the extent that you only really notice it if you're specifically looking for it (as per the bloody Bechdel Test). The default is for any given character to be male unless there's a particular reason it has to be female.

Just read 'The Casual Vacancy' by JK Rowling- it passes but only just tbh, I had to rack my brains to rember a conversation between 2 women that wasn't about a man, despite the fact there are a lot of female characters.

Very lightweight addition to the thread. I watched Brave on DVD with DS and DDs. We loved it and I was happy for DDs that they can see girl characters who are self directed, and powerful in their own right.

I think I am right in saying it passes.

I'm reading The Talented Mr. Ripley, which fails. There's really only one female character (Marge.) However, the main character is a misogynist who resents Marge and is obsessed with a man so it's not a problem to me.

Watched Despicable Me earlier (watched in the loosest sense of the word!) and that passed I think.

Still reading Villette which although passes the Bechdel test is a feminist fail. Especially with one very scary abusive male character. In fact all the men are pretty bad in it.

The Hobbit, which I love, obviously fails like all Tolkien stuff. People like to excuse him because the books were written in the earlier parts of the 1900's but him appearing to most of the time seriously forget that women exists at all is just weird. Even the most sexist of old male authors knew women existed and would have some in their books.

I'm watching the Sherlock series. So far it is failing. Not too many females and they don't seem to talk to each other; fun nevertheless!

Pretzeltime I agree it is very weird about Tolkien and the dearth of females in his books. I think the most normal females are Rosie and Tom Bombadil's wife. Otherwise his strong women (and Eowin was a very tough gal!) are sort of stiff, overly formal figures. For a guy who captured male camaraderie and epic storytelling it's odd he had zero grasp of strong women.

Ever since I found out about it I apply it to everything! Wish I wouldn't; I spoil things for myself - especially films - by being all cross about its androcentricity.

I'm not reading any fiction. Have watched East Enders, which passed as usual, and Midsomer Murders, which contained a scene that seemed to pass but turned out to be about a man between the lines.

Funny thing about soaps: you'd think they'd all pass, given the target audience and whatnot, but very few do. Corrie hardly ever does! Lots of women talking - about men.

Will read thread tomorrow :) Guaranteed Bechdel pass

Some good ideas here - Just remembered I listened to a bit of Tales Of The City today; think it was the first episode. Nothing but women talking about things other than men :) Very witty stories, iirc - I should see if the library has it - and written by a man, shock horror!

Is Tales of the City by Amistad Maupin? It helps to pass if there is a gay writer.

That should read Armistead Maupin.

This week 'Clare in the Community' on R4 passed again, it helps pass the test because the majority of the characters are women and the one man that works in the office is gay.

Watching - The Big Bang Theory - most episodes seem to pass.
Just read - The Waitress - The main character and her best friend/mum/sister discuss her career quite a lot as well as various love interests.

Letters Between Six Sisters - Pass, Some of it at least. Some of the mitcords did rather lead their lives around their men.

Not so sure about BBT series 1-3 (only Penny and occasional other females, who invariably talk about Sheldon). More females in 4-6, though.

Penny is the only main character on the show who doesn't have a last name!

I watched terminator two a couple of weeks ago and I don't think it passes.

The only 'conversation' between two women is Sarah Connor telling Tarissa Dyson to lie down, and Dyson's reply is a whimper. Is that a conversation?

Just finished the last season of Star Trek: Voyager. It passes with flying colours in every episode I think