Something to think about: Bechdel

[kangeiko]

I'm thinking of doing some on-going meta, and wondered if people wanted to join in. We all talk about the Bechdel test, and whether so-and-so show passes it, but that test is easiest to apply to movies, less so to TV shows. So I'm going to be perverse and apply it.

Over the next however long, I'm going to be doing a re-watch of TV shows, sometimes the entire show, sometimes just a season or two, and applying the test to each episode. Then each season will have a percentage score of how many episodes pass the test. Anyone want to join in on this? I think it would be a really interesting experiment.

Another thing that I found fascinating is - does a similar test exist for characters of colour? Because I'm not sure the same shows would pass that particular test...

Something to think about.

Comments

[executrix.livejournal.com]

This week's B7 Friday prompt *is* fics that pass the Bechdel Test. But I think context matters a lot--is it "O woe is me, he does not lurv me and I must live a meaningless life as a spoinster" or "Hmmm, I wonder how I can assassinate him and take his place on the Council?" or "I think his operas are amazing, but his sonatas are too conventional for my taste."

[kangeiko]

I'm being v. generous in my assessment, especially as ST:TNG is the first show I'm running this on. As most of the dialogue is instrumental - "gosh, isn't it interesting that this planet exhibits the precise technobabble we need, Data?" "It is indeed, Geordi." - I've had to guess as to whether or not it would be considered a conversation and, hence a pass. I've therefore decided that where I'm uncertain, I'm going to mark them as 'marginal pass', and include details of the relevant dialogue so people can discuss it.

[rheanna27.livejournal.com]

I know that dsudis has recently been doing an exercise exactly like this with Stargate SG1 here (http://dsudis.livejournal.com/tag/bechdel+test).

[kangeiko]

Awesome, thanks!

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

I really LOVE this idea!!

[kangeiko]

Come play! Maybe for Bones, or SGA, or even Alias??

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Okay! Will join when you found it!

[kangeiko]

Done! As it turns out, this idea is already live and kicking over at DW (and one of these days I will work out how to link to s DW community...) so I'm keeping my own table, and I'll link it to the community in a little bit.

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is fantastic. I was just pondering the Bechdel test last week watching Ashes to Ashes - because despite having two female characters that routinely pass the Bechdel test (as well as some important female supporting characters - though there's really no equivalent to Caroline Price this season, which is unfortunate), 2x04, with a high-profile female guest star, does NOT pass the Bechdel test. And that totally saddens me, because Jackie Queen and Alex Drake should be having girls' nights all over the place, and while Gene Hunt is a lovely topic of conversation, I could have done with a little more of the motherhood/raising kids/working women line of conversation.

Assuming I clear up my computer issues, I'd love to join in.

[kangeiko]

I'm having the same issues with West Wing - there are so many awesome women, but I don't offhand recall them really interacting all that much!

If you can join in, that would be so fabulous! And maybe for Carnivale, too? *makes big eyes*