I had big plans, Big Plans, for a couple of great posts over the weekend. Then, well, it was rainy, I was sluggish, the kids weren’t as interested as usual in the weekend baking projects, I didn’t blame them a bit… you get the idea. So, sparkling posts on fun stuff done with kids, eh, not so much. But we did have a totally fine weekend, we were just kind of semi-comatose throughout it. Also I’m reading two adventure books and one detective book plus watching two TV series on Netflix and well, there went the weekend.
So anyway, tonight’s dinner was good but I had my hands in the prep too much to take pics of it, and then once it was made there just simply wasn’t time to snatch a pic before we all inhaled the dinner. Grandma gave us raw shrimp! I thawed it last night and then (following instructions on one of those eHow articles) shelled and deveined it. I was going to be lackadaisical about the deveining until I read it had poop in it, and then I kind of went nuts on the deveining. It was a total pain. But I cooked that cleaned and peeled shrimp in some homemade chicken stock and some butter, and served it over creamy noodles (with a side of sweet chili sauce for my daughter who Has To Have It Spicy). Good goddess that was luxurious. What a Monday night dinner!!! You’ll have to use your imagination. It’s gone. So no pics, yo.
Something else I did tonight was to introduce my children to the Bechdel Test. They’re eight, and I think it’s a perfect age to introduce this test. I’m now going to spend the rest of the post quoting myself from my FaceBook rantings on the subject. Other posters to the conversation shall remain nameless ’cause, well, they shall. Here we go:
My status: I just taught my girls the Bechdel Test! They totally get it and they are rating their favorite movies right now! (Note: Penguins of Madagascar fails miserably from the get-go. But we’re watching it anyway, ’cause it’s damn funny.) My little feminists, happysigh…
Responder: That just made my night. So incredibly much.
Me: I know, mine too!!!!! For those who may not know about the Bechdel Test, here’s a link to some info: The Bechdel Test – Television Tropes and Idioms. Basically, in order for a movie to pass the Bechdel test, the film or show must meet the following criteria: 1. it includes at least two women … 2. who have at least one conversation… 3. about something other than a man or men. (And you go ahead and start testing your fave films or shows and watch ‘em fail, fail, fail. I’m just sayin.)
There followed one of those fun and slightly surreal worlds-colliding Facebook conversations between me and two of my FB friends who have never met each other. Naturally, this being a conversation involving me, we turned sooner rather than later to Star Trek Voyager. Heh. I then added the following:
Me: Here’s a link to an article about reasons why most movies fail the Bechdel Test – from a film student who kept asking until someone told her as much as she was ever gonna hear: Why Film Schools Teach Screenwriters Not To Pass the Bechdel Test.
The end of the conversation included my resolve to return to watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which not only passes the Bechdel Test but SURpasses it wildly). And so, with a new appreciation for Those Who Clean Shrimp; and with a feeling of Feminist Mom Job Well Done for the Night; I sign off here to go watch Buffy do things with pointy wooden sticks.
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February 28, 2012 at 4:58 am
froggy
My question for the test would be – do the women get to wear clothes? So many times heroine woman has scant clothing, looks sweaty and probably has to run in heels. Hero man has, at least, three layers on, looks cool and comfortable and runs in sensible shoes.
February 28, 2012 at 8:24 am
makingspace1
Right. When you start thinking about it, the Bechdel Test sets the bar at pretty much the absolute minimum. One commentator I saw recently suggested the addition that the two named female characters should be required to speak to each other about something other than a man FOR SIXTY CONSECUTIVE SECONDS. The point, I think, is that we can set the bar at Ridiculously Low and still see that most films do not pass. If you start adding in that the woman must dress in such a way as to provide her freedom of movement to advance the plot on her own (without trying to attract a man), dude you’re in esoteric territory. Off to some dimly lit feminist film festival you go!
The other point here is that there may be wonderfully made, truly great films that don’t pass the Bechdel Test, and this fact, in and of itself, ought not trouble us in the least. What IS illuminating, and not in a fun “aha!” way, is how few movies of any quality pass the Bechdel Test.
Also: Runs in Sensible Shoes is my new band name.
February 28, 2012 at 7:44 am
Zanna
I have also taught the 3 qualifications (I never seem to remember the term Bechdel test, though I do remember first reading it in her cartoon) to my 7yo son. And he gets it.
Though right now we are listening (again) to a radio play of the Hobbit (we had previously read the book) and I had to tell him it is one of my favorite stories, even though there are no female characters in it. He commented that it was weird to not have any female characters in the story. Good boy.
February 28, 2012 at 8:29 am
makingspace1
Right – kids get it RIGHT away. My hope is that my girls will grow up putting the test to the media they see/read/interact with – and that they, too, will add new elements (length of conversation, utility of clothes to the advancement of the plot, etc.) to the questions.
I’d also like to note that it’s not only female dissenters who are calling foul on the movie industry for the pervasive erasure of women from movies. Here, Joss Whedon (I’m paraphrasing a bit since I’m at home sick today and too lazy to look up the word-for-word quote – anyone wanna? I’d be honored):
Interviewer: Why do you write such strong female characters?
Joss: Because people like you keep asking me that question.
Slam. Dunk.
February 28, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Zanna
Go Joss!
March 4, 2012 at 7:11 pm
makingspace1
Oh yeah!
February 28, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Em
Yeah, the Bechdel test is excellent. I’m actually thinking about one of my screenplays and wondering if it passes or not. Hmmm.
The books I’ll be writing pass.
March 4, 2012 at 7:11 pm
makingspace1
What did you determine about the screenplay?
It’s fascinating to apply the test to all sorts of media…
March 2, 2012 at 8:51 am
jack
I had never hear of the Bechdel test but I love it. Thanks
March 4, 2012 at 7:12 pm
makingspace1
It’s pretty awesome, yes! And it’s weird how low it sets the bar for independent female thinking/conversation; and how few movies actually pass. Urgh.