On the Bechdel Test.

[obsession_inc]

I'm currently contemplating the discussion of epic fantasy and the Bechdel Test on kateelliott's LJ. Particularly this thread:

Does a story (book, movie, whatever) *have* to pass the Bechdel Test in order to be a valid story? I see an implication of passing/failing being a vital grade. A story that doesn't pass the test fails as a *story*.Okay. I don't

Comments

[amonitrate]

There's a nervous patriarchy at work there, weirded out by the idea that women could discuss something, or plan something, or work something out between (or amongst!) themselves, and never need a man to be involved.

YESS.

[jood]

The perception problem - for both women and people of color - is really distressing. It does help me understand a little bit better, though, the mind-set of people who truly believe they're not bigots, while insisting that they're being marginalized by minorities. Hrm, crunchy.

Back to women: I saw a promo this morning for a new TV show today that featured a white teen boy in the foreground and a black teen girl in the background. All I kept wondering was how hard could it have been to do it the other way around?