What is the bechdelwallace test and why does it matter. The bechdel test is named after its creator, cartoonist alison bechdel, who debuted the idea for this simple rule in her strip dykes to watch out for in 1985. The book of heroes by miyuki miyabe, life of pi by yann martel, miss peregrines home for peculiar children by. Works of fiction that pass the bechdel test are often lauded for doing just that. Roger and amy are the only two characters that feature prominently in this book, so the bechdel test might seem slightly unfair. We screen events throughout the year in and around london and guest curate for film festivals nationwide. The test is named after the american cartoonist alison bechdel. Popsugar 2020 a book that passes the bechdel test 250.
Amy and rogers epic detour so before we dive in here, i will acknowledge that picking a roadtrip book is going to make this a tough one. Its been a few years since ive checked in with the bechdel test for women in movies so i thought it would be a good time to look in on hollywood and see if theres been any substantial. The bechdel test relates to the representation of women in usually films. W hen i discovered the bechdel test created by graphic novelist alison bechdel in her 1985 comic dykes to watch out for i found it a revelation. The racial bechdel test has the same simple rules as the bechdel test, applied to people of color. The bechdel test, and other media representation tests, explained. Sep, 2010 the bechdel test always struck me as more useful as a systemic critique than as a way to judge individual works. A little late to the game, i found out this week about the bechdel test, and i planned to make a list of 10 or so movies that made the cut.
Books that pass the bechdel test popsugar entertainment. The bechdel test was created by alison bechdel in her 1985 comic, dykes to watch out for. It was entered by grace lambertsmith on 20150924 21. The bechdel test always struck me as more useful as a systemic critique than as a way to judge individual works. Bechdels rich language and precise images combine to create a lush piece of work a memoir where concision and detail are melded for maximum, obsessive density. But certainly a work that passes may be crap aesthetically and on womens issues. Bechdel credits the idea to her friend liz wallace, and says it was. Familius 6 books with strong female characters that pass. Out of 41 movies, 23 pass the bechdel test although 9 of those are very dubious passes, the total points that disney earned is 18. If you can replace your female character with a sexy lamp and the story still. In order to pass a movie must have 1 at least two named female characters who 2 talk to each other about 3 something other than a man its meant to point out how women arent really seen a central points to the action, and even in scenes between two or more women the object of their discussion is usually the male character at the center of the film. Dec 17, 2014 most are familiar with the bechdel test, named after alison bechdel. What the bechdel test doesnt tell us about women on film.
The martian is predominately composed of men but there are a few six to be exact women in the film. Watney does a log and reports that he is very much alive. The bechdel test is by no means an extensive, conclusive measure of how feminist a movie is. Nov 11, 20 the bechdel test, if youre not familiar with it, is a benchmark for movies developed by alison bechdel in 1985. But just as a replicant can pass the voightkampff, blade runner can fail the bechdel test spectacularly and still be feminist by virtue of the quality and context of that very flunkage. Bechdels rich language and precise images combine to create a lush piece of work a memoir where concision. Bechdel, then a student at oberlin college, had just come out to her parents as a lesbian and learned her father was a deeply closeted gay man. However, since everyones conversations in the movie revolve around mark watneys rescue, this test is moot. Most are familiar with the bechdel test, named after alison bechdel. Comic book writer kelly sue deconnick proposed a sexy lamp test. Passing the bechdel test does not ensure that a book has strong female characters, nor does it mark it as a feminist or female empowerment piece of literature. However, the test illuminates the matter of representation in mainstream films and raises questions about women specifically. I felt i got a sample size big enough to draw some conclusions. The bechdel test first suggested by alison bechdel as a bit of a joke is for a book generally a novel to have two named female characters have at least one conversation with each other that is not about a man.
This test soon became the benchmark for equalitycentric critics to judge films, television shows, books. At least two of them must have a conversation thats not about a white person. Jun 09, 2016 now, as a result of reading and learning about the bechdel test and the myriad problems it exposes, i cant watch anything without my experience being affected by it. The bechdel test, and other media representation tests. Feb 15, 2012 its been a few years since ive checked in with the bechdel test for women in movies so i thought it would be a good time to look in on hollywood and see if theres been any substantial. Apr 11, 2017 to pass the bechdel test a work must feature at least two women, these women must talk to each other, and their conversation must concern something other than a man. Films women characters surpass the book s comments. I decided to go see the martian by myself one night after a long day at a conference. Books that pass the bechdel test november 30, 2014 by karyn silverman 7 comments for years in my teens and early twenties, i read chicklit like it was going out of style.
The bechdel bill is working to put the bechdel test into action by emily gagne sep 19th alison bechdel would like you to call it the bechdelwallace test, thankyouverymuch. The martian passes the bechdel and race test but does not pass the russo test. In the case of the martian, yes, i got into the book fairly early on enough to impress my betterread friends who hadnt heard of it yet but nowhere near as early as others. Rather, the test is simply an interesting way to look at the world. With the tests growing prominence has come criticism about whether it works and, if so, to what extent. The test has become popular because its easy to understand and sets the bar pretty low in terms of female representation, making it especially egregious that so many films fail. To pass the test, popularized by american cartoonist alison bechdel, a work of fiction needs to 1. The test was named after alison bechdel, the american cartoonist and creator of the tony awardwinning musical fun home. This blog applies the bechdel test to every movie featured on mystery science theater 3000. Alison bechdel came up with the bechdel test in the panels of her comic dykes to watch out for in 1985, and it was just in the form of one woman explaining her rule about movies to another.
Sometimes, in order to pass the bechdel test, a work of fiction must name the two women. Meet the 9 films that have passed the bechdel test in 2014 so far. A movie is said to satisfy the bechdel test if it satisfies the following three criteria. To pass the bechdel test a work must feature at least two women, these women must talk to. The test was popularized by alison bechdel s comic dykes to watch out for, in a 1985 strip called the rule. The bechdel test is a way of evaluating whether or not a film or other work of fiction portrays women in a way that is sexist or characterized by gender stereotyping. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. The women must talk about something other than a man. Feb 15, 2016 and for a test that seems so simple, weve all enjoyed films that fail it. And for a test that seems so simple, weve all enjoyed films that fail it. The bechdel test is not perfect even the creator of said test, prolific. The bechdel test is not perfect even the creator of said test, prolific author and cartoonist alison bechdel agrees, and when i spoke to her in. Only in recent years more attention has come to female portrayal in mainstream comics. A work passes the test if it features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than men.
That being said, the bechdel test has been, for me, a gateway to thinking critically about how women are portrayed and treated in the media we consume all the time without even batting and eye, as. Take our free the martian quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. The bechdel test was inspired by cartoonist alison bechdels 1985 tongueincheek comic strip the rule. The fact that so many movies fail the test is striking i havent seen a list of major books that fail, might be interesting. Several swedish arthouse cinemas use the bechdel test to give an indication of the level of gender bias in films, similar to warnings about films containing violence, sex, language etc. The test was popularized by alison bechdels comic dykes to watch out for, in a 1985 strip called the rule. The bechdel test also known as the bechdelwallace test, is a measure of the representation. Rees davies the rees davies test looks to see if there are at least two women in every department. The percentage that passed the reverse bechdel test is 95. The male gender has always dominated the comic book scene with a.
Why the bechdel test doesnt always work life and style. However, as a love story, much of the book centers on hazel discussing a boy. Dec 29, 2017 the bechdel test is not perfect even the creator of said test, prolific author and cartoonist alison bechdel agrees, and when i spoke to her in 2014 on the occasion of her winning a macarthur. Oct 19, 2015 in the case of the martian, yes, i got into the book fairly early on enough to impress my betterread friends who hadnt heard of it yet but nowhere near as early as others. The bechdel test, sometimes called the mo movie measure or bechdel rule is a simple test which names the following three criteria. Science fiction often wins the bechdel test by breaking it. It includes show recommendations, interviews and discussions about gender and representation on stage. Here are 12 outstanding books that pass the bechdel test. Apr 16, 2015 broadway passes the bechdel test with fun home alison bechdel s bestselling graphic novel memoir about growing up gay with a closeted father doesnt seem like an obvious choice for a musical. Because he is a master of photography and he was going to be in indiana university to visit his brother, he offered to take some photographs of read hall for me. The narrator, ruthie, and her sister, lucille, were born into a curiously rootless family. The bechdel test fest is an ongoing screening collective who present films with a positive representation for women in film.
Marilynne robinson opens a window into an intensely feminine, intensely unconventional world in this elegant, eerie novel. The bechdel test demonstrates just how far we have to go. Bechdel the bechdel test uphold the uphold test looks at the onset crew directing, sound, camera and lighting. Some brief thoughts on the martian feminist frequency. Veronica roth goodreads author shelved 3 times as bechdeltest passed avg rating 4. Oct 10, 2017 but just as a replicant can pass the voightkampff, blade runner can fail the bechdel test spectacularly and still be feminist by virtue of the quality and context of that very flunkage. The bechdel test, if youre not familiar with it, is a benchmark for movies developed by alison bechdel in 1985. Dec 21, 2017 bechdel the bechdel test uphold the uphold test looks at the onset crew directing, sound, camera and lighting. The bechdel test figure is far lower for marvel than for dc with a difference of a whopping 22. Bechdel theatre podcast is hosted by beth watson and pippa sa. The bechdel test doesnt speak to a question of film form like this one, and so by following it to the letter, we would miss a good deal of cinemas political significance. The following parameters are relatively easy to meet, yet so few songs actually do. Sep 02, 2008 the bechdel rule, defining popculture character two decades ago, cartoonist alison bechdel spelled out a test for whether a movie was worth her time.
Dec 12, 2017 a movie is said to satisfy the bechdel test if it satisfies the following three criteria. The movie has at least two named female characters. The test is named for alison bechdel, creator of the comic strip dykes to watch out for, who made it known to the world with this strip. For a movie to pass the bechdel test, it must contain just one thing a scene. If you need a quick refresher, in order to pass the bechdel test, a film must have. The requirement that the two women must be named is sometimes added. Aug 20, 2016 w hen i discovered the bechdel test created by graphic novelist alison bechdel in her 1985 comic dykes to watch out for i found it a revelation. This adaptation of alison bechdels graphic novel is a beautifully performed mix of memoryplay and stripcartoon published. In order to pass, the film or show must meet the following criteria. Why the bechdel test is more important than you realize. And after i actually read the book, and connected with the strength of the voices, and the complicated emotions, i realized how wrong i was, but it sure is hard to go in objectively when you make that kind of prejudgment. Dont get too bogged down in the requirements of the bechdel test test though because even if youre not sure what it means, every film on this list is a great movie in its own right, so you won.
Minajs anaconda doesnt pass this bechdel test but starships, featured here, does. Slightly more than 50% of the films passed the test. One of the most popular ways of talking about female representation is the bechdel testa tool that started as a tongueincheek comic drawn by alison bechdel but has now become a cultural touchstone for talking about feminism and film. The reverse bechdel test figure is far higher for marvel than dc with an even larger gap of 33. I dont know if wildlife is a top contender for me, but its. They dont pass the bechdel test, which determines women representation in films, books, and more. All conversations between the female characters are regarding mark watney, so the movie doesnt pass the bechdel test. The bechdel test note is a litmus test for female presence in fictional media. White the white test is a tiered system for measuring departmental gender parity. Of the six women in the film, only two ever speak to each other lewis. The bechdel test measures the presence of female characters in films and tv and just how well rounded and complete those roles are. The bechdel rule, defining popculture character two decades ago, cartoonist alison bechdel spelled out a test for whether a movie was worth her time. It asks whether a work features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. Books that pass the bechdel test someday my printz.
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