The Bechdel Test

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Wed, 2010-07-14 11:22

Catchfire

The Bechdel Test

The Bechdel Test for Women in Film

To pass the test, a film must answer the following three questions affirmatively:

1. Are there at least two women in the film (with names)?

2. Do they talk to each other?

3. Do they talk to each other about anything other than a man?

It's astonishing how few films pass this simple test--which, incidentally, doesn't indicate if a film is feminist, or good, or even watchable. It only indicates whether or not the movie has female presence at all.

Originaly from the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel.

Issues Pages:

Arts & Culture

Feminism

Thu, 2010-10-28 02:18

Sky Captain Sky Captain's picture

This test is made for those people who are too lazy to write their own movies, or who are just like those who have ADD /ADHD and can stand movies that aren't reccent or don't have a lot of SFX in them. More's the pity for them.

Thu, 2010-10-28 09:12

Maysie

Sky Captain, you revived a thread that is 3+ months old to grant us this insightful comment?

Really?

If I didn't constantly suspend the rules of the Bechdel Test (which rocks, by the way) I'd never engage in any mainstream corporate media offerings.

And if you don't care about the presence of women in films and television that's certainly your prerogative. Being that babble is progressive and feminist, however, means you don't get to spew insults like "lazy' or "ADD/ADHD" at those of us who do, actually, think it's important.

Stay out of this thread. Not that it was a hotbed anyways.

Thu, 2010-10-28 12:00

Catchfire

Film's I've seen lately which fail the Bechdel test:

Frozen (2010)
The Killer Inside Me (2010)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Hidden Agenda (1990)
Ip Man (2008)
The Wild Bunch (1969)

Films I've seen lately which passed it:

Kalifornia (1993) [one of the women gets murdered and the other gets kidnapped and assaulted]

Thu, 2010-10-28 13:01

Unionist

I'm pleased to report that my home passes the Bechdel test, every day.

Thu, 2010-10-28 13:16

ygtbk

Powerpuff Girls nails it.

Thu, 2010-10-28 13:17

6079_Smith_W

Unionist wrote:

I'm pleased to report that my home passes the Bechdel test, every day.

I don't mind being ignored at all so long as it means I don't get hit up to do the laundry or dishes.

(kidding of course. Washing and hanging are my job. Folding and matching socks falls to those with a greater attention to detail and colour coordination)

And outside of kids movies I have probably only seen a handful of new releases on the big screen in the past seven years. And unfortunately some of those kids shows fall far short of the standard, and then some. Part of the reason why it's nice to have a DVD, and the opportunity to distract and change the program if things get too weird.

Thu, 2010-10-28 13:18

6079_Smith_W

ygtbk wrote:

Powerpuff Girls nails it.

Actually so do the Backyardigans, at least when Tasha and Uniqua are both in the episode.

Thu, 2010-10-28 15:09

ebodyknows ebodyknows's picture

so aside from just watching childrens programming what can we do about it?

Thu, 2010-10-28 15:14

#10

6079_Smith_W

ebodyknows wrote:

so aside from just watching childrens programming what can we do about it?

What I meant is that children's shows include some of the worst material there is.

Thu, 2010-10-28 15:46

#11

ebodyknows ebodyknows's picture

So what can a body do?

Maybe I've had enough movies. Think I'm gonna go outside for a walk.

Thu, 2010-10-28 16:31

#12

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Actually, there are some great movies that are geared for the younger set that pass the test - Coraline, if you like animation; just about anything by Hiyao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky - Dola the mother/pirate captain is my fave character), Whale Rider...

Then there was The Hours. That worked, I think.

Most of the movie projects I'm working on more or less pass the tes, but I'm not a purist. I care about the story. If it's male dominated but a good story, I'm in. Just watched Frost/Nixon the other night and thought it was brilliant.

Thu, 2010-10-28 17:31

#13

ebodyknows ebodyknows's picture

Thanks Timebandit for trying to light some candles rather than just curse the dark!

Fri, 2010-10-29 13:25

#14

Weltschmerz

Best one I can think of that passes the test: Whip It. Great fun.

Fri, 2010-10-29 13:51

#15

Cytizen H

Machete passes the test! And actually, for an uber violent grindhouse film, has impressive immigration and race politics. See this film if you don't mind violence!

Fri, 2010-10-29 14:18

#16

al-Qa'bong

Weltschmerz wrote:

Best one I can think of that passes the test: Whip It. Great fun.

I haven't seen that one, but I've caught bits and pieces of A League of Their Own on TV.

Say, are there any good women's volleyball movies out there?

Fri, 2010-10-29 16:15

#17

remind

Thank goodness my 2 favourite movies pass, Continuum and Ark of Truth. :D

Fri, 2010-10-29 16:46

#18

Bacchus

6079_Smith_W wrote:

ygtbk wrote:

Powerpuff Girls nails it.

Actually so do the Backyardigans, at least when Tasha and Uniqua are both in the episode.

Uniqua is the only one who has been in every episode. Pablo has been in all but one