So...
I think it's pretty obvious it was made to objectify Jane Fonda - after all, she was married to the film director at the time.
As a film - it's bad. The special effects are hilarious, the filming is... er... it really doesn't have much qualities.
But - what about the film from a feminist point of view?
X Bechdel test
yes
X Mako Mori Test
Actually, it does pass the Mako Mori test.
X Sexy Lamp Test
Yes
V The Crystal Gems Test
No. simply because there are only two major females, and 4 males.
V F-Rating
Is Barbarella a "complex character"? It could be discussed.
It is not written or directed by a woman, so it doesn't get an F-rating.
X Sphinx Test
Actually, I think this movie passes.
A woman has the primary role.
She is driving the action. Sure, most of the people helping her to get what she wants are men, but they are helping HER to get what SHE wants.
I think she is active. She is very goal driven and doesn't give up until she gets what she wants.
Is she stereotypical? No.We have this female adventurer, all alone with her ship in the space, and she gets a mission from the President, because she is the only one who can do it. She sets up doing it and when her ship breaks up, she gets a mechanic and moves on. She isn't anyone's arm candy or girlfriend.
I think the character is compelling, complex and multidimensional, even though she is very simple. Those things aren't necessary opposites.
If the story is essential and has an impact? In a way it did. Never before had female sexuality been described in such a manner, and, frankly, never after either. We don't have heroines who are OK with their sexuality, dress as they like and have sex as they wish.
X The Feldman Score
Of course there were no females in the crew as long as eye can see. (Except the editor was a female... >:->) (so there's no point in going through the crew equality tests. This movie fails every and each one of them.)
Now... "2 points if no female characters were victimized, stereotyped or sexualized"
That could be discussed. Jane Fonda was sexualized. Obviously. But Barbarella was not.
Now - the sex scene doesn't show foreplay, but it doesn't show there isn't foreplay either. Barbarella is obviously satisfied. She initiates sex and reciprocates sexual advances. So...
Barbarella passes Feldman test with score of 5
Now - as all this is highly subjective, it's possible it doesn't pass for other reviewers.
Furiosa Test
I don't know enough of the reception of this movie to know. Now it's considered anti-feminist.
X The Roxane Gay Test
I think it passes.
The Maisy Test for sexism in kids' shows
X Gender Balance - Gender Representation:
I think it passes
X Gender Freedom:
Yes, I think so.
Gender Safety:
Well...
Social Justice and Equality:
Everyone was white and slender/athletic.
But the message of the movie was to fight fascism.
This movie passes
X The Peirce Test
X The Villarreal Test
X The Landau TestThe Tauriel Test
X The Willis Test
I don't think Barbarella is a traditional gender role.
People comment a lot of her "clumsiness" - she falls a lot.
Not really. It's totally normal to pass out when someone throws a rock on your head. It's totally normal to trip on a bough when looking somewhere else. Nothing especially clumsy about her.
People comment of her clothing.
So she likes tight revealing clothes. So does a lot of women. Everyone in this movie wear something similar, except the hunter and children, so I don't think it's especially misogynist objectifying.
People comment on her "needing to be saved by men" all the time. I don't agree.
She saves someone just as often as she is saved, and she is saved by a woman as often as by a man.
People say she pays for being helped and rescued with sex. I don't agree.
The first time she had sex, he asked and she said "ok". consensual.
The second time it's not clear, but I would say she asked and the man said "ok".
Then she is about to get raped, and she says "no way", and is saved by a woman.
The third time she has sex is also consensual.
The fourth time is not consensual.
People say there's always someone to help her when she needs help.
Yeah. Duh.
But - her spaceship malfunctions. Yes, a man fixes it. It's not any different from a male protagonist getting his vehicle fixed by another male. Not everyone knows how to fix spaceships, and she at least knows what's wrong with it. She drives, she understands how it works, she solves problems as they arise. She shoots and shoots well even when she comes from a pacifist society where only guns are in a museum.
The red thread through the whole movie is that she has to find Durant Durant and she finds him. Every time she gets stuck, she asks someone and determined goes on, never forgetting her mission, solving the hinders and problems as they arise.
She isn't romantic, frail or concerned about her appearance.
She is independent, make decisions, solve problems, achieve goals, AND EAT.
No, she isn't a traditional, stereotypical female. Yes, she is beautiful and sexy, but so is Black Widow, and I doubt there's anyone who says SHE isn't a good feminist role model.
Also, I would say the angel is the main male role and he is very much a supporting character. He doesn't do anything independent, just what he is told to do.
The other main male is the villain, and he is a woman's concierge.
Throughout the movie males are depicted the same as women. There are slaves, independent citizens and soldiers of both genders. When Barbarella is arrested, there is a female and a male soldier.
The angel is very non-typical male, sensitive, pacifist, romantic, "angels are love, angels don't remember". He doesn't defend himself, he is meek and soft and obedient and doesn't talk much. A lot like a dog.
Now, we do have the professor Ping,we have the local underground leader Dildano and the villain, who is a concierge/doctor, all three male and pretty stereotypical. But - this movie was made 1968. One can't get everything :-D
So, how could it be made even better?
More women in staff, crew, cast, of course. A LOT more.
More diversity in cast, a LOT more - people of color, disability, GLBT...
I'd love to see Barbarella get into action more - no, not more sex, more fighting. I would love her to kick butt. I would love her to deal with the thugs in a Black Widow way.
We would need more active females, like the professor in the maze could be a woman. Or the underground resistance boss.
The pleasure torture organ machine thingy needs to go.
We need more background for all characters. Like, what's with the one-eyed girl/Tyrant?
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