Analysis Of The Bechdel Test: A Social History Approach

The aesthetic approach, also known as the masterpiece approach, involves solely looking at movies as a whole. This approach coincides the movie to its own director. For example, the Auteur theory explains how the director is also the author of the film. Film as a social history approach includes issues such as, gender, racial, political, and environmental. For example, the feminist film theory conveys a negative approach toward women. As shown in movies, women are considered eye-candy, sexual, dumb, and have no authority. Laura Mulvey even coined the term that women are the “male gaze” of cinema. In result, the Bechdel Test was created; if a movie did not have at least two major female characters that interacted besides talking about men,

I believe this film has a social history approach because it combines gender, racial and historical issues that support this particular approach. Although this film is considered a masterpiece, the social history approach is much more suitable for the context of the movie. The greatest accomplishment from this movie from a historical perspective is the way women are portrayed. Nurse Ratchet, who is the head of the main ward at the mental institution, is displayed with some authority, but in a negative way. Although she has control over most of the men in the ward, the way she treats them is in an unkindly, demanding, and ruthless attitude. Like most movies, the women authority is being mocked in a negative way because during the time the movie was released, gender equality was a lingering issue in the world. Also, many movies portray women with low intelligence, but in this film, Nurse Ratchet is quiet smart because she figured out right away that McMurphy was mentally stable. In conclusion, the movie touches on many approaches, which is why the film became so successful over its

In my opinion, there are three specific criteria’s, which make a movie great. First, a great film always has great actors. For example, in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Jack Nicholson, and Danny DeVito are well known actors who played a great role in this film, and wouldn’t have been the same without them. Next, a great movie always has a powerful opening that conveys presents crucial patterns to foreshadow later events in the film. I felt One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest lacked this aspect in its’ opening scene. All that is shown is a beautiful landscape with a mountain in the background, as the viewer sees a car drive by. This scene does not really convey significant patterns that follow throughout the movie. Lastly, a great movie always has a hero with a moral problem. These types of films reveal a unique and significant side to the heroes that give them the strength to prevail at the end of the film. In addition, these films have a hero that tries to override one master problem or goal that help drive the story of the movie. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fit this criterion excellently. McMurphy, the so-called hero of this film wanted to make the people of the mental institution feel like they were normal. McMurphy constantly helped the group feel like they were men again by doing manly things with them, such as, playing cards, drinking alcohol, going fishing, and playing