The Bechdel Test: A Companion Piece (Part 2)

Continuing from part one, I explore some of the underlying problems that surround the fact that many movies fail the Bechdel Test.

Getting Away With It

Another problem I notice is that the people who inject sexism into their screenplays are not punished for it, and often they are rewarded for it. One example is Aaron Sorkin, who has a history of lacing his scripts with a misogynistic viewpoint.

This is also evident with an interview he had with a reporter from the Globe and Mail. It’s clear he doesn’t think highly of women.

So, what consequences has Sorkin received? Well, an Oscar for one. BAFTA for another. The ire that he receives from any news outlet or Internet forum doesn’t seem to matter at all. He’s obviously got work coming in, and he’ll probably get work for a long time.

The folks at my screenwriter’s club look upon him very highly. Am I the only one who thinks that there’s something wrong with this picture?

In My Field

Animation’s history is chock-full of racism and sexism. This was because it was a more accepted practice back then. I remember taking History of Animation and watching all sorts of cartoons that were racist and sexist. Even those from Disney.

You can watch a whole bunch of classic cartoons at this location. They showcase the values of that era.

Could you get this produced today? Possibly, but not without enormous controversy. Therein lies the reality: If people receive no consequences for bad behavior, they will continue their bad behavior.

Hard and Fast Rule?

Now, I am going to admit fully and strongly, that you can’t make this a black and white situation. There are ambiguities and uncertainties. What if you’re trying to criticize the practice of racism or sexism? You’re going to have to include it in the screenplay.

In BioShock Infinite, the citizens of the floating city of Columbia are unbelievably racist. This is there to remind the player that our country’s history has more dark spots than we tend to believe.

However, this is executed in a way that we can recognize that it isn’t the writer’s personal belief. Indeed, if anything, BioShock Infinite is critical of many different elements in modern American culture. Religious fundamentalism, dominionism, and our idolizing of the Founding Fathers (often with the forgetting of their human traits and disagreeing viewpoints as a consequence)

A screenshot from BioShock Infinite. The player is given a baseball to throw at an interracial couple. The game lets the player decide whether to throw the ball at the couple, the announcer, or not at all. In the end, the ball is never thrown, and the mark on his hand gives away his identity to the Columbian people.

Indeed, I wish BioShock Infinite had explored these views a little intensely, as we never get a deep exploration of these individual subjects and their importance dwindles near the end of the game.

Similarly, I can’t make a statement with absolute conviction such as “usage of any sexy women is forbidden.” or “you can’t make a woman a villain.”

However, I do believe that we should be careful when we handle things like this, and most importantly try not to be mean-spirited or shameless. Right now, we get away with an awful lot, especially when it comes to sexual objectification and cheap pandering.

Why I Care

I see a lot of overlap between women’s issues and my own situation. Although I am male, the fact that I am on the autism spectrum has caused similar troubles. I have had my agency curtailed, my voice silenced, and my condition has been used as a means of insult and humiliation.

So the onus falls to us as writers to represent women fairly. Fairly meaning that they are not all lumped into stereotypes or reduced to being eye candy for men. They have their own lives, motives, and ideas, and that’s important to recognize.