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Emma Talkoff

Swedish cinemas take aim at gender bias with Bechdel test rating - 9 views

gender movies

started by Emma Talkoff on 12 Nov 13
  • Emma Talkoff
    #1 Emma Talkoff on 12 Nov 13
     
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/swedish-cinemas-bechdel-test-films-gender-bias
    In light of Bella's most recent column, I found this article interesting. Should the United States take similar steps to inform the public about gender bias in movies and media? Is the Bechdel test a good metric for gender bias?
  • Tandis S
    #2 Tandis S on 21 Nov 13
     
    I found this article very interesting, and the idea of rating movies based on gender bias, in my opinion, is a good one. I was really surprised by the films the author mentioned that had failed the Bechdel Test ("The entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, all Star Wars movies, The Social Network, Pulp Fiction and all but one of the Harry Potter movies). The Bechdel test seems very cool and could promote more gender equality in films, and I really really support the idea, but I feel that the test should make the film meet more/other standards other than: two named female characters talking about something other than a man", because that just does not convey the nature of gender equality in the film fully. Other than that, the idea of rating films by gender bias has long been needed, and I hope this spreads gender equality awareness in more films.
  • emily long
    #3 emily long on 30 Nov 13
     
    we have to start somewhere. the Bechdel system might not be ideal, but it is working towards integrating gender into cinema. real cultural change would take decades but at least this new rating system would start the dialogue in Hollywood.
  • Ariana Agnew
    #4 Ariana Agnew on 03 Dec 13
     
    I've grown quite fond of the Bechdel system since our last issue (I MAY have been employing it to every book and film I come within ten feet of). However, I do not think that it has any thing to do with gender equality- sometimes it's just that these conversations would be completely irrelevant, or that the protagonist (maybe because he is a dude) wouldn't be in a situation where he would easily overhear them. On the other hand, I think that gender equality in films is a very important thing, though it may have nothing to do with the Bechdel system. To me, it's more about the way woman are dealt with by the film's creators than their conversation topics.
  • James Finn
    #5 James Finn on 03 Dec 13
     
    I think that it's appalling that so few popular movies are able to pass the Bechdel Test. When I think back on the last three movies I've watched ("Dallas Buyers' Club", "All is Lost" and "The Hurt Locker"), I quickly realize that none of these films pass the aforementioned test; it's kind of baffling. Even with a movie such as "The Hurt Locker", which was directed by a woman, fails the test.
  • Sarah Asch
    #6 Sarah Asch on 04 Dec 13
     
    I think this article is very thought provoking. I think that the media's bias towards women is at the root of many problems in our country and therefor needs to be addressed. I think that what Sweden is doing is a good first step and I am interested to see how if it changes anything. Obviously the Bechdel Test is not a perfect measurement of a film's gender balance and there are ways for a film that passes it to portray gender stereotypes. Then again, passing the Bechdel Test doesn't seem like it should be that hard, but a shocking number of movies don't. I think it's important for us to remember as this test becomes more popular that gender bias isn't black and white and the test isn't the end-all be-all that determines whether a movie should be watched or not. Acknowledge and appreciate the Bechdel Test for what it is: an excellent, easy way to become more aware of the media you are consuming and the media that is out there so you can make informed opinions and choices about what you let influence you.
  • Isaac Cohen
    #7 Isaac Cohen on 10 Dec 13
     
    I think the Bachdel test often can provide an interesting statistic in analyzing films, however I do not think it should be used to grade movies for public consumption. While it is interesting for example that so many films fail to pass that test and are probably exerting a subconscious gender bias that should be fought however I can easily imagine making a film that passes that test simply by having two women talk about a stereotypical thing such as shopping. Grading films on their gender bias requires a much more complicated test than the Bachdel test as fascinating as its results may be.
  • Declan Katz
    #8 Declan Katz on 16 Dec 13
     
    This an accurate way to rate films because if kids are as easily impressionable as I was then these ideas are going to resinate with a 12 year girl that she has to be attached to a man at a young age. Its almost propaganda to brainwash girls that they have to cling to men or think that they are meaningless without on. While it is entirely up to the film maker about what message he or she wants to portray in their films they need to be able to understand that there rating will reflect it as it would in a violent movie. I feel that this needs to be a standard in the American film ratings.

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