Most are likely familiar with the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl as it is a term and trope that has infiltrated media and minds since the term's conception in the early 00s.
The Araki mention is great because in all my life I have never experienced such compelling characters in that specific format (colourful, interesting, eccentric)- that which I am drawn to. His films are some of the most relatable and incredible pieces of flim- although there are aliens and talking severed heads- somehow he manages to create pieces with such realistic emotion. Anyways! Haha the reference excited me.... Great critique on the manic pixie dreamgirl! You said it so well.
Yes! You should watch the teenage apocalypse trilogy if you haven’t already. Totally fucked up is the most meaningful piece of queer media I’ve ever consumed tbh
So glad you mentioned the manic pixie dream girl in relation to neurodivergent women! I think many autistic women, including me, have embodied something of a manic pixie dream girl persona because it makes our neurodivergence 'acceptable' and desirable.
Did you ever see the movie Forces of Nature? Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. She's the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, he is the man about to get married but not sure if he should because he fears the mundane and boredom of adulthood he finds himself in. She may or may not be 100% an MPDG, but I think it is so borderline because it gives her more substance for why or how she is. There is a moment towards the end of the movie where you can actually see him thinking their relationship will 'fix' her, and while she does (to a degree) resolve his issues for him, she does not remain unresolved or unexplored and we understand her a bit better for having had him in her life too. The movie ends with this concept that we can't heal other people, we can only do the work for ourselves, and what is good for us is not always what we think it is but without exploring what we desire, we might not understand this about ourselves. And maybe that is what the boy needs to understand as well: every man wants a MPDG (previously the young exciting new love of the 80s and 90s), but they also want someone who is a mother to their children and a good partner, someone they can build a life with; but (without even touching on neuro-divergence or mental health) everyone changes in a relationship and at some point everyone craves stability, but stability can also feel stale if you feel stuck in a rut. Maybe the MPDG is just the old dudes making movies about how women change when they get older and have kids, how the young girls they once loved were all actually a little crazy. Maybe most girls are a little bit off-beat, fun and free, but growing up looks different no matter how resilient and freeloving you are. And men get upset because the women the married aren't the same anymore. Maybe these movies that always have young girls and boys in them are not about young boys and girls at all...
Came here because of your video essay on Poor Things :)
As someone, who spent her teenagehood looking like a dollar store ramona flowers, who always leaned heavy into this aesthetic to give 'reason' to her quirkiness (late diagnosed neurodivergent woman here), I'm really glad that you wrote this!
Super well-written analysis, especially putting such an emphasis on the male perception of these women (leave my boy charlie out of this tho, he did nothing wrong)
This piece has been on my mind for a MINUTE. I wanted to let you know that I just wrote a bit of a response to it on my substack here, if you're curious: https://read.filmflavor.com/p/cinema-archetypes-manic-pixie-dream-girl -- I hope it sends a few people over to this piece!
The Araki mention is great because in all my life I have never experienced such compelling characters in that specific format (colourful, interesting, eccentric)- that which I am drawn to. His films are some of the most relatable and incredible pieces of flim- although there are aliens and talking severed heads- somehow he manages to create pieces with such realistic emotion. Anyways! Haha the reference excited me.... Great critique on the manic pixie dreamgirl! You said it so well.
Yess! I only got into his films last year and still have many to consume but I was immediately so captivated by his voice.
Yes! You should watch the teenage apocalypse trilogy if you haven’t already. Totally fucked up is the most meaningful piece of queer media I’ve ever consumed tbh
So glad you mentioned the manic pixie dream girl in relation to neurodivergent women! I think many autistic women, including me, have embodied something of a manic pixie dream girl persona because it makes our neurodivergence 'acceptable' and desirable.
This is soo good
Did you ever see the movie Forces of Nature? Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. She's the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, he is the man about to get married but not sure if he should because he fears the mundane and boredom of adulthood he finds himself in. She may or may not be 100% an MPDG, but I think it is so borderline because it gives her more substance for why or how she is. There is a moment towards the end of the movie where you can actually see him thinking their relationship will 'fix' her, and while she does (to a degree) resolve his issues for him, she does not remain unresolved or unexplored and we understand her a bit better for having had him in her life too. The movie ends with this concept that we can't heal other people, we can only do the work for ourselves, and what is good for us is not always what we think it is but without exploring what we desire, we might not understand this about ourselves. And maybe that is what the boy needs to understand as well: every man wants a MPDG (previously the young exciting new love of the 80s and 90s), but they also want someone who is a mother to their children and a good partner, someone they can build a life with; but (without even touching on neuro-divergence or mental health) everyone changes in a relationship and at some point everyone craves stability, but stability can also feel stale if you feel stuck in a rut. Maybe the MPDG is just the old dudes making movies about how women change when they get older and have kids, how the young girls they once loved were all actually a little crazy. Maybe most girls are a little bit off-beat, fun and free, but growing up looks different no matter how resilient and freeloving you are. And men get upset because the women the married aren't the same anymore. Maybe these movies that always have young girls and boys in them are not about young boys and girls at all...
Came here because of your video essay on Poor Things :)
As someone, who spent her teenagehood looking like a dollar store ramona flowers, who always leaned heavy into this aesthetic to give 'reason' to her quirkiness (late diagnosed neurodivergent woman here), I'm really glad that you wrote this!
Super well-written analysis, especially putting such an emphasis on the male perception of these women (leave my boy charlie out of this tho, he did nothing wrong)