You've heard of the Bechdel Test and the Sexy Lamp Test, now there's the...
You've probably heard of the Bechdel test, the simple question of whether a movie or piece of media has,
a) at least two female characters;
b) who have at least one conversation;
c) about something other than a male character.
Which has some issues, something can pass and still have significant problems with portrayal of women, something can not pass but still be good, especially if it has a small cast.
Then there's the Mako Mori test (name after the co-lead of Pacific Rim),
a) at least one female character;
b) who gets her own narrative arc;
c) that is not about supporting a man’s story.
Which catches films like Gravity with women leads, although again it's not perfect.
There's also the 'sexy lamp' test, to test for a low bar.
a) Could the female character be replaced by a sexy lamp without the work falling apart?
I.e. if a female character's role is to die and then a male character seeks revenge, it could be replaced with a sexy lamp breaking. If they're kidnapped and take no active role in events other than being rescued, etc..
Now there's...
The Fleshlight with a postit note test!
a) at least two female characters;
b) who have at least one conversation;
c) about something other than a male character.
Which has some issues, something can pass and still have significant problems with portrayal of women, something can not pass but still be good, especially if it has a small cast.
Then there's the Mako Mori test (name after the co-lead of Pacific Rim),
a) at least one female character;
b) who gets her own narrative arc;
c) that is not about supporting a man’s story.
Which catches films like Gravity with women leads, although again it's not perfect.
There's also the 'sexy lamp' test, to test for a low bar.
a) Could the female character be replaced by a sexy lamp without the work falling apart?
I.e. if a female character's role is to die and then a male character seeks revenge, it could be replaced with a sexy lamp breaking. If they're kidnapped and take no active role in events other than being rescued, etc..
Now there's...
The Fleshlight with a postit note test!