CrossCuT Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) I enjoyed this article so I thought Id share. Full article here. So here’s a quick questionnaire for filmmakers who’ve created a female character who isn’t a dishrag, a harpy, a McGuffin to be passed around, or a sex toy. Congratulations, you have a Strong Female Character. That’s a great start! But now what? Screenwriters, producers, directors, consider this: 1) After being introduced, does your Strong Female Character then fail to do anything fundamentally significant to the outcome of the plot? Anything at all? 2) If she does accomplish something plot-significant, is it primarily getting raped, beaten, or killed to motivate a male hero? Or deciding to have sex with/not have sex with/agreeing to date/deciding to break up with a male hero? Or nagging a male hero into growing up, or nagging him to stop being so heroic? Basically, does she only exist to service the male hero’s needs, development, or motivations? 3) Could your Strong Female Character be seamlessly replaced with a floor lamp with some useful information written on it to help a male hero? 4) Is a fundamental point of your plot that your Strong Female Character is the strongest, smartest, meanest, toughest, or most experienced character in the story—until the protagonist arrives? 5) …or worse, does he enter the story as a bumbling floop-up, but spend the whole movie rapidly evolving past her, while she stays entirely static, and even cheers him on? Does your Strong Female Character exist primarily so the protagonist can impress her? 6) It’s nice if she’s hyper-cool, but does she only start off that way so a male hero will look even cooler by comparison when he rescues or surpasses her? 7) Is she so strong and capable that she’s never needed rescuing before now, but once the plot kicks into gear, she’s suddenly captured or threatened by the villain, and needs the hero’s intervention? Is breaking down her pride a fundamental part of the story? 8) Does she disappear entirely for the second half/third act of the film, for any reason other than because she’s doing something significant to the plot (besides being a hostage, or dying)? If you can honestly answer “no†to every one of these questions, you might actually have a Strong Female Character worthy of the name. Congratulations! Edited July 8, 2014 by CrossCuT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 No Nihil. Not even close. Dont get me started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Men inherently want to be knights in shining armor saving their princess. It makes sense that this would show in plots written by men. Watching these has never made me think that women are weak, scatter-brained, helpless victims who rely on men to swoop in and save them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysostom Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 One of the biggest disappointments I had watching the movie version of Pride and Prejudice was seeing a certain loss in Elizabeth Bennett's strength of wit and character. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Black Widow Edited July 8, 2014 by Perigrina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 And she speaks Latin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Also in the Marvel Universe = Melinda May Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Really the only place you might see some strong women in movies/games etc are in Scifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Really the only place you might see some strong women in movies/games etc are in Scifi Frozen was an excellent example, and I don't see why you disagree with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Juliet from Lost was a very strong character that didn't rely on men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Men inherently want to be knights in shining armor saving their princess. It makes sense that this would show in plots written by men. Watching these has never made me think that women are weak, scatter-brained, helpless victims who rely on men to swoop in and save them. Do you support classic gender roles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfink Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Miyazaki. ;) Just sayin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Ive heard many sing the praises of this movie where female empowerment is concerned; have hailed it as this breakthrough film that finally gives us some women who exemplify the strong archetype that men have dominated for forever...but I just dont see it. What part of this film makes it original in that sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Do you support classic gender roles? If by "support', do you mean I have no issue with them and have a tendency towards them? Yes. Does this mean I don't approve of modern gender roles? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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