The Bechdel Test

Feminist Theory can get pretty serious. But for that matter, working against untold centuries of repression isn’t going to all be fun and games.

Luckily, there is a game which draws attention to questions about the portrayals of women in the wider media. In particular we are discussing film. And men can play it too. Which The Inquisition finds particularly convenient.

The game is the Bechdel Test.

It is a simple game and one which has a surprisingly low number of matches. Films are rated on the basis of three simple questions:

1. Are there more than 2 women in the movie in question?
2. Do they talk to each other at some point?
3. Do they discuss something other than a man?

That’s it.

Bibliography
The Bechdel Test site
TV Tropes on the Bechdel Test
A list of films that fail (supposed to be surprising)
Bithch Magazine
Slash Film

This article was posted by Ronan McDonnell on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 21:09.
It is archived in Short Post and tagged feminist, film, women.

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