Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Rolling Test: Updated from The Dave Test

The Rolling Test:

So many of you had such great suggestions, I've tried to incorporate them into one test, thus, the name change as this is now a very collaborative process. Here's what I got ...

1) There a major named character with a disability in the movie who exists and takes action under personal motivation without needing approval from others.

2) And who comments on disability as a real experience - not an ennobling one, not one of pity, or one as comic relief.

3) And who isn't smothered with a pillow or done away for their own good.

Any other changes, I'd love to get this just right! Thanks so much for the suggestions, this IS fun!

Today's post follows.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is 99% brilliant. But as we both know, the little wheelchair stick figure is not what most disabled people look like.

I'd like to attach a name to this test -- someone who's insightful and funny and can speak for themselves (in whatever way that happens).

Which would bring it round to the Hingsburger test again, but I can understand why that might not appeal.

Other PWDs whose names and lives fit:
Hawking
Jewell
Hall
Maitlin

Ruti said...

And who isn't miraculously healed through the power of positive thinking.

Maggie said...

and who is allowed by the scriptwriter to behave in ways TAB adults behave -- having adult relationships, or using adult language, or exercising adult freedoms, or performing adult work in exchange for mainstream-level pay.

Mary said...

I'd change the third point to "whose story arc does not culminate in being cured or killed as the only possible positive outcomes."

I'd also wonder about the disabled bad guy issue. From the Phantom of the Opera to Captain Hook to Bond villains, this whole issue where disability causes one to ignore social mores, lose all compassion, and become motivated by revenge, is one I see frequently in films and rarely in real life.

Anonymous said...

I just want to say that my favorite disabled person portrayed on film is actually Macualy Culkin in the movie Saved. If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest it.

Anonymous said...

Agreed with Mary re, the third point

Are we not incorporating "played by an actor with the same disability" as part of the test? At least as a "bonus"?

Cheers,
Andrea S.

Dave Hingsburger said...

Yes Andrea, I forgot to add that in, I'll make revisions maybe tomorrow, or maybe the weekend I'm swamped with stuff today.

CapriUni said...

I think the power of the Bechdel test comes through in its simplicity:

3 parts, and 15 words, total. I think that's what gives it its punch. The rules should be so easy to follow, so why do so many films (and TV shows) fail?

The thing is, that everyone knows, or think they know, what "woman" means -- everyone acknowledges that they know someone who openly identifies as a woman.

The same is not true for Disability, unfortunately. And so the "Rolling Test" (named because it's being written by all the readers of this blog ??) must use a lot more words to help define even the most basic terms.

:-/

...Not sure there's a way around that.

Nancy said...

Hi Dave, I am in a debate tomorrow for class and we would love to know your thoughts on extrinsic motivators? our debate question is going for this comment: Be it resolved that traditional and current behaviour management strategies provide the best tools for supporting adults with developmental disabilities to make positive changes to their conduct or social behaviours" please help me Dave! we would love to hear your opinion

CapriUni said...

Coming back into this after many months, 'cause this is what popped into my head in the shower this morning:

1. A named disabled character
2. Who Desires Something other than "cure."
3. And goes after that Something without being the Object of the Able-Normal Gaze.