Listened to a fascinating piece about the application of the Bechdel test as a film rating system. This test, originally tongue in cheek, rates movies based on their portrayal of women. The rating system is based on three simple questions: Are there two or more named women characters? Do they speak to one another? Do they speak about something other than men?
The piece appeared on CBC radio's Q with Jian Ghomeshi and you can listen here:
http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2013/11/12/bechdel-test-womens-representation-in-film/As I listened, I started to wonder about a Bechdel test for trans portrayals in movies (or tv shows, books, etc...). Of course the results would likely be even more horrific than those realized by the Bechdel questions. Still, however, it might be interesting. What kinds of questions might the asked? Staying with the template of three:
1. Are there two or more trans named characters in the movie?
2. Are these character's given 'normal' lives?
3. Do these character's speak with one another?
Food for thought.
