Yeah, I think it's mainly useful to illustrate trends when applied to lots of different movies and books... It doesn't tell you much about a story if it passes the Bechdel test, but if you look at, say, movies released this year, or all animated movies made by Pixar, and only one in ten passes (number pulled out of thin air, no idea how inaccurate it is exactly), it tells you something about trends.
Yep. And for what it's worth, Pixar movies generally don't fare well on the test either (like 2 out of 11 or something?). I think Bug's Life (which I did not like, personally) technically passes, but at the same time its plot includes the trope of "schlub hero gets the girl". Also, I thought worker ants were all supposed to be girls anyway... >_>
I think the only other Pixar movie that passes the test is The Incredibles - and that's mainly because it's about a family.
Now, most of Pixar's stories are great, and they manage to break some stereotypes while using others. It's not that they are bad movies or teach bad lessons otherwise.
some of my favorite Anime like Urusei Yatsura(OVA or TV, not necessarily the movies), Tenchi Muyo, Negima, Chobits, Ah! My! Goddess! all seems to run afoul of the test. (Yes, I like that kind of Anime... I also have a few Mecha stories... I may try to pick up a DVD with Azumanga Daioh, too, just for variety. )
On the other hand, I have a feeling that Sailor Moon also fails, if not the letter so at least the spirit of the test... (Not that I've ever watched an entire episode of it)
To me, it looks like a lot of writers only have two female characters; Mary Sue and the hopeless bimbo in need of rescue. And watching those two over and over again can get a bit boring sometimes, even for us guys...
I really can't say whether Sailor Moon would fail either since I don't have much first-hand experience with it. It actually seems like it SHOULD pass, to me, even though it does have romance.
It doesn't even always suffer from "girls can only fight girl villains" - at least not in the episodes I have seen?
You should definitely check out Azumanga, though, because it's so funny. The manga is actually a bit funnier, but they are both great and also a bit educational because you are forced to learn a thing or two about the Japanese language and culture while watching it (yes, watch it with subtitles) because of all the cultural references and puns. XD
Doesn't everyone use the Japanese soundtrack and English subtitles? Anything else is sacrilege. (That, and some english voice-actors are plain horrible)
Sailor moon fails because of the loooooong 'transformation' sequences with loads of 'fan service', which is really creepy if you consider the supposed age of the main character...
For cultural references, you just HAVE TO HAVE the early Urusei Yatsura TV episodes. The DVDs comes with reference cards explaining all the cultural in-jokes, puns and goofs.
The whole Bechdel deal is kinda hit-and-miss. It certainly helps you think about how women are portrayed, but passing doesn't necessarily make a movie/show/whatever feminist.
I mean. Twilight somehow passes the test (or so I've read), and it just spews misogyny out the wazoo. A few non-male-oriented conversations don't mean much when the other hour or so of the movie is EDWARD EDWARD EDWARD.
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I think the only other Pixar movie that passes the test is The Incredibles - and that's mainly because it's about a family.
Now, most of Pixar's stories are great, and they manage to break some stereotypes while using others. It's not that they are bad movies or teach bad lessons otherwise.
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some of my favorite Anime like Urusei Yatsura(OVA or TV, not necessarily the movies), Tenchi Muyo, Negima, Chobits, Ah! My! Goddess! all seems to run afoul of the test.
(Yes, I like that kind of Anime... I also have a few Mecha stories... I may try to pick up a DVD with Azumanga Daioh, too, just for variety. )
On the other hand, I have a feeling that Sailor Moon also fails, if not the letter so at least the spirit of the test...
(Not that I've ever watched an entire episode of it)
To me, it looks like a lot of writers only have two female characters; Mary Sue and the hopeless bimbo in need of rescue. And watching those two over and over again can get a bit boring sometimes, even for us guys...
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It doesn't even always suffer from "girls can only fight girl villains" - at least not in the episodes I have seen?
You should definitely check out Azumanga, though, because it's so funny. The manga is actually a bit funnier, but they are both great and also a bit educational because you are forced to learn a thing or two about the Japanese language and culture while watching it (yes, watch it with subtitles) because of all the cultural references and puns. XD
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Anything else is sacrilege.
(That, and some english voice-actors are plain horrible)
Sailor moon fails because of the loooooong 'transformation' sequences with loads of 'fan service', which is really creepy if you consider the supposed age of the main character...
For cultural references, you just HAVE TO HAVE the early Urusei Yatsura TV episodes. The DVDs comes with reference cards explaining all the cultural in-jokes, puns and goofs.
Reply
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I mean. Twilight somehow passes the test (or so I've read), and it just spews misogyny out the wazoo. A few non-male-oriented conversations don't mean much when the other hour or so of the movie is EDWARD EDWARD EDWARD.
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