It seems to me that a new female stereotype is infiltrating pop culture.
Recent films and this new “hipster” generation have spawned an ideal woman that is spritely and full of life, but is ultimately vapid and shallow upon further inspection.
From glittery roadies and smiley blonde flight attendants to girls in vintage garb who listen to The Smiths, these “manic pixie dream girls” are taking over the average movie loving hipster male’s fantasies at an alarming rate.
The term “manic pixie dream girl” was first coined by The Onion’s A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin in a piece about the movie “Elizabethtown.” He writes about Kirsten Dunst’s role as an upbeat flight attendent a typical example of the MPDG.
In his words, her kind of character is “that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.”
After seeing this movie, I’d have to agree with Rabin’s labeling. Dunst smiles and crinkles her cute nose through this film in a manner not Kosher to anyone who likes properly developed female characters.
Since his story the MPDG has been talked about all over the A.V. nerd and feminist blogosphere, and being discussed by everything from N.P.R. to feminist pop culture blog Jezebel.com.
The most recent and best example of the MPDG is from the film “(500) Days of Summer” written by Scott Neustadter and starring the beautiful Zoey Deschanel.
Deschanel’s “Summer” is a no strings attached, vivacious vintage frock-wearing hipster who captures the heart of the protagonist through her love of a good 80’s band and her delightful impulsivity.
This movie is both good and bad for the MPDG, because Neustadter simultaneously praises and condemns this girl in the movie.
Summer is fun and sweet to look at, but she turns out to be unsympathetic and uncaring of others’ feelings.
In the opening credits Neustadter calls his ex-girlfriend the B word, and upon the UK release of the film he writes a verbose blog about how his ex-girlfriend broke his heart and inspired the film.
So, this man falls right into the stereotype of a delusional writer whose muse broke his heart.
While one can argue that these movies are just superficial silver screen fun, I think that writing such simple silly ladies is promoting an negative image of an ideal female to women and girls.
To these men who write this stuff, female characters are just as capable of being the brooding and tortured protagonist with a good heart. Female roles don’t have to inherently be the foil in a good coming of age or mid-life crisis film.
To the girls seeing these images: While the cute quirky clothes and bright attitude are good to rock, you’re also allowed to be angry, smart and opinionated.
