I just have to note that every time I scan the thread title, I see “Failing the Bechamel test…”
StG
I haven’t read 50 Shades of Grey, but I’d be very surprised if the male love interest didn’t have any dialogue.
The man does appear onscreen briefly, but I can’t remember if he has a line or now. However, I’m certain the women do have conversations that aren’t about him (or another man) as the topic of attraction/love between women comes up a couple of times.
Slate on reevaluating the Bechdel Test: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/01/07/the_bechdel_test_needs_an_update_we_ve_set_the_bar_for_female_representation.html
The play “A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking”
The Bechdel test is a good test in that it very clearly indicates that something needs to change in Hollywood. It’s only inadequate for the purpose of showing exactly what it is that needs to change. I get the impression that a lot of producers have become aware of the test, and that’s good… But some (note, not all, but some) of them seem to have decided that all they need to do is include a single token conversation to meet the test conditions, and then they’re done. Far better for then to instead make an actual effort at strong and relevant female characters, which will almost always end up passing the Bechdel test as an incidental side effect (and in the rare cases it doesn’t, like Gravity, it’s not actually a problem).
But aside from lead roles, there are no strong and relevant roles for either gender.
No, it isn’t. It’s more of a thought experiment to get audiences to consider gender issues and the role of women in popular works. As I believe your link points out, it is not, and was never intended to be, a “feminism test” for fictional works.