The original test comic strip, from dykes to watch out for by alison bechdel. Alison bechdelcourtesy firebrand books alison bechdels the rule strip, from a 1985 installment of her comic dykes to watch out for. The particular comic that features the measurement is titled the. The bechdel test was inspired by cartoonist alison bechdels 1985 tongueincheek comic strip the rule. For the sake of practicality, ive taken the liberty to read the first criterion as only named. Alison bechdel american cartoonist and graphic novelist. One of these theaters bio rio noted that many fanfavorite movies, such as the star wars trilogies, the lord of the rings films, as well as.
Alison bechdel is one of the few cartoonists who appears twice on our list of 100 favorite comics and graphic novels but many readers overlooked her beloved cult strip dykes to watch out for. A movie that fails the bechdel test is not necessarily problematic andor sexist for having failed it, and vice versa. Maybe thats supposed to be sad, because talking about the monster is so. The bechdel test, sometimes called the mo movie measure or bechdel rule is a simple test which names the following three criteria. The bechdel rule, defining popculture character two decades ago, cartoonist alison bechdel spelled out a test for whether a movie. In the strip, one woman explains to another that she. The test originated in the comic strip dykes to watch out for, by alison. Nov 21, 20 classic novels arent known to be the most womanfriendly spaces. The bechdel test was designed purposefully to be a low bar to illustrate how terrible the problem in the industry was and is that so few movies could even meet it. The bechdel test note is a litmus test for female presence in fictional media. Nov 14, 20 bechdels original comic strip ends on an interesting note. Her first strip can be found halfway through more dtwof. In a strip titled the rule, two women, who resemble the future characters mo and ginger, discuss seeing a film and one woman explains that she only goes to a movie if it satisfies the following requirements.
It was recently revealed that the bechdel test, the feminist benchmark for movies that first originated in a comic strip by alison bechdel in 1985, was indirectly inspired by virginia woolfs book a room of ones own, according to an article in the week magazine. Nov 11, 20 the bechdel test, if youre not familiar with it, is a benchmark for movies developed by alison bechdel in 1985. The test is named after the american cartoonist alison bechdel in whose comic strip dykes to watch out for the test first appeared in 1985. The bechdel test is not meant to be an indicator of a films quality, plenty of good movies fail it and there are bad movies that pass it. It asks whether a work features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. May 27, 2019 the feminist litmus test first appeared in namesake allison bechdels, feminist comic called dykes to watch out for, back in 1985. For the cartoon character speaking, the last movie that passed the test circa 1985 was ridley scotts alien. What the bechdel test doesnt tell us about women on film. Alison bechdel, american cartoonist and graphic novelist who was perhaps best known for the comic strip dykes to watch out for 19832008, which introduced the socalled bechdel test.
We were excited to hear that someone still remembers this 20yearold chestnut. In the original strip, a couple discusses whether they want to go to a movie and get some popcorn. The bechdel test also known as the bechdelwallace test, is a measure of the representation. Bechdels original comic strip ends on an interesting note.
The feminist litmus test first appeared in namesake allison bechdels, feminist comic called dykes to watch out for, back in 1985. Lots of blockbusters with beloved female characters fail the bechdel test, including the original star wars trilogy, avatar, all of the lord of the rings films, and most of the harry potter movies. The punchline of bechdels original comic is that alien passes the test because two women in it talk about the monster. Its actually harder to think of anime and manga that doesnt pass this test. Jul 24, 20 for those of you unaware, the bechdel test was concocted by alison bechdel in her 1985 comic strip the rule, in which an ironically unnamed female character tells her other unnamed friend that. Mar 18, 2014 rebecca beatrice brooks march 18, 2014 july 1, 2018 comments off on how virginia woolf inspired the bechdel test it was recently revealed that the bechdel test, the feminist benchmark for movies that first originated in a comic strip by alison bechdel in 1985, was indirectly inspired by virginia woolfs book a room of ones own, according. Scary films like rosemarys baby and the exorcist pass the test while classics like the original star wars trilogy all fail. Theres a lot of interesting data on the bechdel test and general film between 2010 and 20, the geena davis institute on gender estimated that only 31% of named film characters were female, but i was curious how movies within science fiction and fantasy genres stand up, and, more specifically, whether theres a difference when comparing.
Of course, and books that are terrible will pass the bechdel test with flying colors. The comic strip that accidentally created a branch of feminist. 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. This is cathy writing, not alison, despite what the author tag says. For those of you unaware, the bechdel test was concocted by alison bechdel in her 1985 comic strip the rule, in which an ironically unnamed female character tells her other unnamed friend that. I was in the mood for cartoon books, picked up hers, and noticed that her characters had four fingers to go with their thumbs, were mostly female, had women of all races and shapes, and they were drawn in a reasonably anatomically correct manner. Most are familiar with the bechdel test, named after alison bechdel. Minajs anaconda doesnt pass this bechdel test but starships, featured here, does. The actual test, a variation of virginia woolfs observations of the literature of her time and quoted from the long out of print dykes to watch out for 1985 comic as the rule with thanks to liz wallace.
Originally developed by liz wallace, its named after alison bechdel, who made it widely known through her comic dykes to watch out for to. I only go to a movie if it satisfies three basic requirements. The bechdel test asks three key questions about a movies female characters. Jul 14, 2017 alison bechdel is one of the few cartoonists who appears twice on our list of 100 favorite comics and graphic novels but many readers overlooked her beloved cult strip dykes to watch out for. Do the 2018 best picture oscar nominees pass the bechdel test. The test, outlined by cartoonist alison bechdel in a 1985 dykes to watch out for comic strip bechdel credits her friend liz wallace for the original. But precisely because of that, its popularity has to some degree erased its origins. The rules now known as the bechdel test first appeared in 1985 in alison bechdels comic strip dykes to watch out for. Dec 08, 2015 scary films like rosemarys baby and the exorcist pass the test while classics like the original star wars trilogy all fail. Movies that pass this test tend to be automatically better, because they automatically have more developed characters. Divergent by veronica roth, catching fire by suzanne collins, mockingjay by suzanne collins, the hunger games by su. For a movie to pass the bechdel test, it must contain just one thing a scene. To pass the test, popularized by american cartoonist alison bechdel, a work of fiction needs to 1 have two women with names who 2 talk to each other about 3 something other than a man. The test is named after the american cartoonist alison bechdel.
In order to pass, the film or show must meet the following criteria. Maybe thats supposed to be sad, because talking about the monster is so limiting and unreal but you know, if youre on a spaceship being attacked by a monster. The test originates from a strip in dykes to watch out for named the rule, where two characters are talking to each other at a movie theater. A work passes the test if it features at least two women who talk to each other about something other than men. Originally best known for the longrunning comic strip dykes to watch out for, she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her graphic memoir fun home, which was subsequently adapted as a musical and won a tony award for best musical in 2015. The test was popularized by alison bechdels comic dykes to watch out for, in a 1985 strip called the rule. Wonderful as the classics can be, reading weak, uninspired female characters gets old pretty fast. Mar 03, 2018 the test is named for alison bechdel, an illustrator who, in 1985, presented the rule in an installment of her dykes to watch out for comic strip. The termconcept comes from a 1985 edition of alison bechdels comic strip dykes to watch out for entitled the rule. It takes its name from a comic strip created by alison bechdel in 1985, in her comic strip dykes to watch out for.
The bechdel test suggests a lack of female representation in. As for transformers i dont think one remark constitutes talking about something a meaningful upgrade might just be to require two female characters have a substantive. Many were written by men before women could vote or own property, at a time when women were generally treated as secondclass citizens. We, as women and really, humans, exist in a world that is complicated and full of lots of interesting people, challenges and subjects. Bechdels work in, of all places, a science fiction bookstore. The test was popularized by alison bechdels comic dykes to watch out for, in a 1985 strip. Sometimes called the bechdelwallace test, the bechdel test is a relatively easy lens through which we can look at the depiction of women in media. The bechdel test fest is an ongoing screening collective who present films with a positive representation for women in film. 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. Books that pass the bechdel test popsugar entertainment. In case youre not quite up to speed, the bechdel test started as a tongueincheek commentary by alison bechdel on the state of mainstream media in her comic. Popsugar 2020 a book that passes the bechdel test 251. Try the bechdel test, which gauges how womanfriendly a work is by whether it 1 features at least two female characters, 2 whether those characters talk to each other, 3 and whether they talk about something other than a man. 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.
Its come to be known as the bechdel test, and it goes like so. No one is saying that vertigo is a shitty andor unimportant movie because it doesnt pass. The resulting network has around 66,000 comic titles, 10,000 characters, and a total of nearly 300,000 links between the two sides. A comic and a character are linked if a character appeared in a comic. Her first comic was published in 1983, in the feminist newspaper womannews. Given that the bechdel test requires reading each comic thoroughly, i have had to limit this test to my own big publisher reading list along with some borrowed from generous friends 8 dc titles, 8 marvel titles, alongside walking dead, chew and buffy the vampire slayer. Recently, the swedish film institute began sponsoring a movement spearheaded by a number of theaters who are now making use of the bechdel test to evaluate their films in order to determine the extent of gender bias in movies.
Bechdel s work in, of all places, a science fiction bookstore. The bechdel test, if youre not familiar with it, is a benchmark for movies developed by alison bechdel in 1985. Dec 17, 2014 most are familiar with the bechdel test, named after alison bechdel. Sep 20, 2019 theres a lot of interesting data on the bechdel test and general film between 2010 and 20, the geena davis institute on gender estimated that only 31% of named film characters were female, but i was curious how movies within science fiction and fantasy genres stand up, and, more specifically, whether theres a difference when comparing. Its so simple that it cant really include all of the factors that indicate whether or not a piece of work has an accurate depiction and representation of women. What is the bechdelwallace test and why does it matter. 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. The 10 best books about women culture the guardian. The bechdel test was created in 1985 by lesbian cartoonist alison bechdel, creator of the lesbian comic strip dykes to watch out for and author of the comic memoir fun home.
Do the 2018 best picture oscar nominees pass the bechdel. So please consider this a bechdel test on a sample that this woman in. Works of fiction that pass the bechdel test are often lauded for doing just that. The test points out the systemic problem with a lack of female presence. Its important to note that the bechdel test is aimed at movies and not tv series or long standing comic books and manga. Why the bechdel test is more important than you realize. The test is named for alison bechdel, an illustrator who, in 1985, presented the rule in an installment of her dykes to watch out for comic strip. The test was popularized by alison bechdel s comic dykes to watch out for, in a 1985 strip called the rule. Julie from portland, or, kindly emailed us to let us know that lefty blogs like pandagon have been discussing the mo movie measure a filmgoing concept that originated in an early dtwof strip, circa 1985. The bechdel test fest is an ongoing screening collective who present films with a. Alison bechdel, who, in a 1985 strip from her comic dykes to watch out for.
The 1985 alison bechdel comic that spawned the bechdel test for genderequity in film. From this, i built a bipartite network comic books on one side and comic book characters on the other. Gender representation in comic books sarah shugars. The bechdel test is a very simple litmus test to measure the presence of female characters in media. 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. The test, outlined by cartoonist alison bechdel in a 1985 dykes to watch out for comic strip bechdel credits her friend liz wallace for the original idea, asks three simple questions. We screen events throughout the year in and around london and guest curate for film festivals nationwide. Star wars passes the bechdel test but would the rules.
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