In which I badmouth Pixar a bit
Jun. 1st, 2009 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soc_puppetThis is something I've been sitting on a bit, especially since there's so many avid Pixar fans on my f'list, and criticism in general is not always taken well.
However. I just read a good percentage of a particular spoiler-tastic Up review, and now it's not going to stay behind locked teeth any longer.
Therefore, if you cannot hear a single bad word against Pixar, please do not click the cut.
Dear Pixar,
Your graphics are fantastic. Amazing, even! Your stories are often touching and funny. I love how you're bringing back the pre-film short cartoon, and, generally, what you're doing with them. As of Up, you're even getting better at including diversity in your films*!
However. You are absolutely horrible at passing the Bechdel Test**.
If I recall correctly, The Incredibles and A Bug's Life pass. If I recall correctly.
So, Pixar, I love you, but seriously. Please to be getting to work on writing more female main characters. In fact, a film that stars a female character wouldn't be remiss! Princess Atta and Helen Parr*** are the only ones I can think of# that come close, and they'd be co-starring. With male counterparts.
You've already got plenty of films that star or co-star male characters exclusively. As a young woman, I would definitely like to see myself better reflected in your work.
Yours,
Me
* Former examples of diversity: Frozone in The Incredibles, supporting character; that one chef in Ratatouille, bit character (although - possibly Colette? I saw her as generic Mediterranean, but my therapist saw her as Asian, so IDK/YMMV); those two cars in Cars (god, one of them is Flo, I think, the one with the diner? And the other one is the guy who paints and I feel horrible for not remembering his name, but considering Flo's is one of three names I remember from Radiator Springs, I'm giving myself a bit of a pass), supporting characters(?). I for one could only tell by the clear dialect that they were intended to be non-white - which actually almost makes it worse for me. See, specifically casting for dialect use in those two cases points out that you didn't cast anyone using stereotypical non-white dialect in pretty much any other movie of yours that I know of to date. Which means you recognized it was an issue. Which means that pretty much any character in any previous movie defaults to "white". And, before Up, those are the only instances I can think of. See where I'm going at all?
** For movies that pass the Bechdel Test, see this blog.
*** Just for you, I'm temporarily skipping the housewife tangent.
# Asinarticulate has pointed out to me, I forgot Dory from Finding Nemo. I feel incredibly foolish now. And I could probably also add Eve from Wall-E in there, with a possible side-order of what's-her-face that's on the BNL ship and stuff. I'm also willing to give points to Jessie from Toy Story 2 and Sally from Cars, but I really don't know how much you could count Boo from Monsters, Inc. Rassa frassa memory failure... I'll show you how to remember something...!
...Upon a brief look around Wikipedia, it seems as if someone has already written this letter. And while the subject of a female protagonist is apparently going to be addressed, there's still a nice gaping hole for a non-princess role.
Edit: Now with less memory fail!
Edit 2: Review mentioned in the comments is here, for the sake of. Is transparency the word I'm looking for here? Well, whatever. If you're insanely curious, there's where it is. Be warned, it is not a nice review.
However. I just read a good percentage of a particular spoiler-tastic Up review, and now it's not going to stay behind locked teeth any longer.
Therefore, if you cannot hear a single bad word against Pixar, please do not click the cut.
Dear Pixar,
Your graphics are fantastic. Amazing, even! Your stories are often touching and funny. I love how you're bringing back the pre-film short cartoon, and, generally, what you're doing with them. As of Up, you're even getting better at including diversity in your films*!
However. You are absolutely horrible at passing the Bechdel Test**.
If I recall correctly, The Incredibles and A Bug's Life pass. If I recall correctly.
So, Pixar, I love you, but seriously. Please to be getting to work on writing more female main characters. In fact, a film that stars a female character wouldn't be remiss! Princess Atta and Helen Parr*** are the only ones I can think of# that come close, and they'd be co-starring. With male counterparts.
You've already got plenty of films that star or co-star male characters exclusively. As a young woman, I would definitely like to see myself better reflected in your work.
Yours,
Me
* Former examples of diversity: Frozone in The Incredibles, supporting character; that one chef in Ratatouille, bit character (although - possibly Colette? I saw her as generic Mediterranean, but my therapist saw her as Asian, so IDK/YMMV); those two cars in Cars (god, one of them is Flo, I think, the one with the diner? And the other one is the guy who paints and I feel horrible for not remembering his name, but considering Flo's is one of three names I remember from Radiator Springs, I'm giving myself a bit of a pass), supporting characters(?). I for one could only tell by the clear dialect that they were intended to be non-white - which actually almost makes it worse for me. See, specifically casting for dialect use in those two cases points out that you didn't cast anyone using stereotypical non-white dialect in pretty much any other movie of yours that I know of to date. Which means you recognized it was an issue. Which means that pretty much any character in any previous movie defaults to "white". And, before Up, those are the only instances I can think of. See where I'm going at all?
** For movies that pass the Bechdel Test, see this blog.
*** Just for you, I'm temporarily skipping the housewife tangent.
# As
inarticulate has pointed out to me, I forgot Dory from Finding Nemo. I feel incredibly foolish now. And I could probably also add Eve from Wall-E in there, with a possible side-order of what's-her-face that's on the BNL ship and stuff. I'm also willing to give points to Jessie from Toy Story 2 and Sally from Cars, but I really don't know how much you could count Boo from Monsters, Inc. Rassa frassa memory failure... I'll show you how to remember something...!...Upon a brief look around Wikipedia, it seems as if someone has already written this letter. And while the subject of a female protagonist is apparently going to be addressed, there's still a nice gaping hole for a non-princess role.
Edit: Now with less memory fail!
Edit 2: Review mentioned in the comments is here, for the sake of. Is transparency the word I'm looking for here? Well, whatever. If you're insanely curious, there's where it is. Be warned, it is not a nice review.
