We’re Losing All Our Strong Female Characters To Trinity Syndrome

[CrossCuT]

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

[Nihil Obstat]

[CrossCuT]

No Nihil. Not even close. Dont get me started.

[PhuturePriest]

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.

[chrysostom]

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.

[Perigrina]

Black Widow

Edited July 8, 2014 by Perigrina

[Perigrina]

And she speaks Latin.

[Perigrina]

Also in the Marvel Universe = Melinda May

 

[CrossCuT]

Really the only place you might see some strong women in movies/games etc are in Scifi

[PhuturePriest]

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.

[PhuturePriest]

Juliet from Lost was a very strong character that didn't rely on men.

[CrossCuT]

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?

[arfink]

Miyazaki. ;) Just sayin'.

[CrossCuT]

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?

[PhuturePriest]

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.

[KnightofChrist]

No Nihil. Not even close. Dont get me started.

 

Yeah, just 'let it go'. 

[PhuturePriest]

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?

 

In the movie, the girl who was dying was only able to be saved by another girl, not a man. Secondly, the man who was supposed to save her turned out to be evil and didn't. There was no knight in shining armor in this movie. Women were the central characters, and did all of the important things in the show.

[CrossCuT]

Miyazaki. ;) Just sayin'.

 

Mmm, quite so! Id stand behind any of those films for female empowerment before the Frozen poo. 

[arfink]

Mmm, quite so! Id stand behind any of those films for female empowerment before the Frozen poo. 

 

Even Porco Rosso?

[CrossCuT]

In the movie, the girl who was dying was only able to be saved by another girl, not a man. Secondly, the man who was supposed to save her turned out to be evil and didn't. There was no knight in shining armor in this movie. Women were the central characters, and did all of the important things in the show.

 

Yawn.

 

I dont think running towards eachother in a fit of passion on a frozen lake but then deciding to save your sisters life is much evidence. Besides, she didnt make a "Im a strong female" choice; she made an "Oh crap my sister is gonna die" logical choice. I dont think that reflects on anything being discussed here. 

 

But you have successfully pointed out the one and only thing people are able to use as this all determining factor in the Frozen discussion. And the dude  being evil part is meh...there is another dude to take his place. Yeah he is quirky and silly and has a pet deer thing, but he is the same as all the other males.