Photo from: http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/the-rule
Warning: The
following contains spoilers from the film Jurassic World and (in case
you missed the 90's) Jurassic Park.
I'm an avid
film geek. Give me the science fiction, the fantasy, the action thrillers, the
rom-coms, and the timeless classics. Some of my top five favorite films of all
time right off the bat: Whale Rider, Metropolis, Amélie, Spirited Away, and Princess
Bride. All of which have their smattering of strong women who challenge
society, save the last one—where our heroine Buttercup is pretty much useless.
However, I
cannot deny that one of my favorite movies of all time is Jurassic Park.
I have fond memories as a 11 year old reading the book aloud with my Mother in
the evenings after dinner. When I was finally allowed to watch the movie, it
wasn't long before I had the movie memorized. The next year was a time when all
the paintbrushes and shovels in the house and garage went missing as I scoured
the backyard for dinosaur bones. By 8th grade I began talking to my
parents and teachers about the morality of genetic research and what it would
mean to bring an extinct species to life. By 9th
grade I was taking advanced courses in science and had devoured all of Michel
Crichton's novels at the time. And to prove I am in fact a card carrying
geek, I still have this movie memorized—and have indeed proved it while hiking
with friends in Northern California: music, foley, and other related ambiance
included (although no doubt my rendition leaves much to be desired).
My favorite
character was of course, Ellie, both in the book and the movie. What is only a
passing mention in the movie, the expert paleobotonist foreshadows the failure
of the system by noting that the beautiful plant in her room (a previously
extent species reproduced by Jurassic scientists) is actually quite
poisonous(dun dun dunnnn!)! An expert in her field, she was active in her
choices throughout the movie, called out chauvinism when she encountered it,
bravely tackled a number of problem-solving situations, was unabashed in her
desire for children, and was damn sexy while wearing the right boots for the
job.
Now enter
“Claire” played by Bryce Dallas Howard in the film Jurassic World. To sum up Claire, the up-and-coming young professional
director, is taking directions left and right in order to promote profits for
the park. She makes bad decision after bad decision until she is forced
to call in reinforcements who turn out to be the bad guys. Much to my irk, she
wears high heels and a white outfit which is slowly worn down throughout the
film until she resembles more and more like Fay Wray from the old 1933 King Kong movie. The movie reaches its peak when Claire runs full
speed in high heels from a T-rex to save the day and concludes with her and
Owen (Chris Pratt) walking romantically to a sunrise through a room full of
wounded and dying people, presumably to begin a courtship lasting a few months
before she is sued by these injured folks and convicted of various crimes for
her part in the whole dino-debachle.
Now, whether
you take an opposite perspective than me, and believe Claire to be a fully
rounded human being, or Ellie as arm-candy to Allan Grant is second to this
first overall question: Do these movies pass the Bechdal test?
The Bechdel
test, as originally proposed in the cartoon above by Alison Bechdel in 1985, is
as follows:
1) Does the movie have more than one named
woman in the cast?
2) Do these women talk to each other?
3) Do these women have a conversation about
something other than a male?
The answer is Jurassic
Park does NOT pass the Bechdel Test while (and I begrudgingly say this due
to the over sexual objectification of our high heeled heroine) Jurassic
World actually does pass. In other words, our competent young hiking boot
clad paleobotanist actually has no direct conversation with the other female in the movie (only off
screen). Claire, has multiple conversations with other women in the film including
the nanny for the boys, her sister, and a chief security surveillance team
member.
“But Rosanna,”
I hear you say, “this is what's known as a first world problem! Movies in movie
theaters are something that only privileged people with money have access to
and really, I'd much rather talk about the glass ceiling, or the lack of legal
protection in domestic violence cases, or sexual assault statistics. Besides,
who cares if I see a non-Bechdel test movie?”
To
which I would say, if you are a privileged member of our society and
occasionally consume media I would say
you are in a key place to use your unearned power to CHANGE society for the
betterment of all humanity by supporting influential and positive MEDIA. If you
are privileged to have more money leftover after the basics in your life have
found stability, and you find yourself indulging in a visit the movies, I would say BE A STATISTIC!
“Be a
statistic?” I hear you ask. Yes! Be a statistic. You are the consumer Hollywood
is catering to. Think of your movie ticket as a vote for future films.
Hollywood is sitting on the edge of it's proverbial seat waiting to see what
that weekend box office (to which the film industry will gain 100% of the
profits that weekend) will show. For our high heeling special of Jurassic
World we have the third highest grossing box office report in history!
Second only to Avatar and Titanic (Quick: see if you can name one conversation
between two females in those films). When you choose to see a movie on opening
weekend you are voting for more movies that do or do not pass the Bechdel Test.
And if so, by how much--so go and see movies like Hunger Games, Pitch
Perfect, or Brides Maids especially on opening weekends!
Movie
|
Release Date
|
Worldwide Box Office
|
Estimated Budget
|
1. "Avatar" (Fox)
|
12/18/2009
|
$2.78
billion
|
n/a
|
2. "Titanic" (Paramount)
|
12/19/1997
|
$2.18
billion
|
$200
million
|
3. "Jurassic World" (Universal)
|
6/12/2015
|
$1.52
billion
|
n/a
|
4. "The Avengers" (Disney)
|
5/4/2012
|
$1.519
billion
|
$220 million
|
5. "Furious 7" (Universal)
|
4/3/2015
|
$1.511
billion
|
$190
million
|
(Table from http://www.businessinsider.com/jurassic-world-is-third-highest-grossing-movie-ever-2015-7)
Life imitates
art. Girls and boys are imitating movie stars in the schoolyards and bedrooms.
Teenagers are literally reenacting the social scripts in relationships which
they have internalized from these forms of entertainments. Expectations in
society are built on these internalizations and set patriarchal and racist
unwritten rules, create glass ceilings, and weave webs of micro-aggressions,
and make the way for privileged individuals. Movies can fuel a negative fire,
or inspire a generation for action (See an Inconvenient Truth, or Birth of a Nation)
We have
millions of people across the globe who are somewhat financially privileged to
make a difference in their choice of entertainment. The audience is hungry for
something new. I have one word: Frozen. A whole movie about women as
friends then enemies, making mistakes, learning from them, and finding love for
one another! And the audience voted with their money. And now we have millions
of little girls who want to learn to love their fellow sisters, have
super-powers, be princesses, and expect men to either be lovable dorks or smart
jerks.
Ok, so we've
made a small step forward. (Huzzah to Tangled and Brave as well!)
However, I am a
bit weary that we are still only this far. While film industry can and does
make millions more if their movies pass the Bechdel test, it is still a minimum
requirement. I'm talking to you miss
Jurassic Claire! While you technically met all the requirements of said rule, I
am still concerned about the effects of your character on the 11 year olds
today. If I had met you at age 10, I would have foregone the science entirely
and probably have started on shoes and learning how to be liked by men... So to
change Hollywood, let's go to the movies that support a well rounded cast and
depth of characters.
I would like to
ask those of you who indulge in media, of any kind, to consider what you are
voting for when you spend your money on a movie ticket. And when you want to go
to that new super-hero movie make it a point to talk to people after about ways
in which women were poorly portrayed. And, if only for me, don't go opening
weekend. Keep non-bechdel movies from the top of the weekend box offices (I'm
talking to you James Cameron and your Avatar).
And if you're
like me, and love to indulge occasionally non-bechdel-test home movies such as
the latest Marvel movie, or Lord of the Rings fantasy marathon,
or cry through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II for the
fiftieth time, or snuggle on the couch with friends for an evening of that
classic Princess Bride, make space to have conversations with children,
teenagers, friends, and family members about the women in these movies and how
they differ from actual three-dimensional characters who are in contact with
other females of different ages, families of origin, sexual orientations,
races, body-types, and religions.
We do this for
all people, so everyone will learn that women are people who deserve to
collaborate with cisgendered, transgender, genderqueer individuals who care
equally as much in saving the world. Much as we are striving today in reality.
And so, in
honor of Alison Bechdel and her friend Liz Wallace co-contributor, I have
thought of a few of my own rules for some things that I try to avoid, and when
possible support the exact opposite. It's my little way of trying to send my
vote to future 10 year olds who may one day be inspired:
1)
Smurf
Society: The usual means to prove your lead male is heterosexual and virile, by
having only one woman in the movie, or as a part of a “team,” who is inevitably
sexually inclined to the lead. How about having many different genders as a
part of the team, or at least more than one. And what if this gender minority
is not romantically attracted to anyone—or to one-another! (Well played Dodgeball
and Big Hero 6)
2)
Tokenism:
The “we're not racist/sexist/ablest—we have hired a (name of minority here)
person.” The world is full of people who
live more deeply than your stereotypical characterizations could ever dream.
(Sorry Independence Day, you failed; Well done Serenity)
3)
Body-ism: The “I see you've managed to get your shirt
off” fan-service scene. Wait. What if Hollywood would hire women and men of
different shapes and sizes and found ways to celebrate their sexuality? (Yea
for Pitch Perfect 2; Direct quote from Galaxy Quest 1999)
For a
tremendous Ted Talk on how the Bechdel Test can influence a positive manhood,
see here:
For more
information on movie theater economics and the percentage of you movie ticket
which goes to film industry profits, check out this blog: http://themovieblog.com/2007/economics-of-the-movie-theater-where-the-money-goes-and-why-it-costs-us-so-much/
A website which
advocates for more women in film, and on screen: http://www.thegeenadavisinstitute.org/
The University
of SoCal and their Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative
http://annenberg.usc.edu/pages/DrStacyLSmithMDSCI
and their influential article “Inequality in 700 popular Films: Examining
portrayals of Gender, Race, and LGBT status from 2007-2014” http://annenberg.usc.edu/pages/~/media/MDSCI/Inequality%20in%20700%20Popular%20Films%2081415.ashx
And check out
the APA task force on Women: Specifically about the detrimental effects of
sexualization of girls: http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
For tips and
tricks on speaking about gender stereotypes here is a helpful resource
(including a one page cheat sheet of tips and tricks): http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/media-issues/gender-representation
Explore here
for an enjoyable rant about “Claire” in Jurassic World vs. “Ellie” in Jurassic
Park: http://fusion.net/story/150874/jurassic-park-is-100-times-more-feminist-than-jurassic-world/
And here is
another viewpoint who identifies “Claire” as a character of cliché, not a
product of sexism: http://www.inquisitr.com/2208980/dont-be-so-quick-to-call-jurassic-world-sexist-a-feminists-perspective/
And see here if
the other top grossing films Avatar and Titanic pass the Bechdel Test http://bechdeltest.com/view/582/avatar/
and http://bechdeltest.com/view/345/titanic/
“Smurfs” are the copyright of NBC and of Hanna-Barbera Productions,
created by Pierre "Peyo" Culliford.
Written by Rosanna Shoup
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