Who

15 to 20 people

Source et inspiration

This workshop is inspired by the work of the group Cirque et Genre (Circus and Gender) on the Bechdel-Wallace Test (https://cccirque.hypotheses.org/1140)

Where

Any space which allows for work in small groups

DURATION

1h-1h30

EXERCISE DESCRIPTION

The Sexy Lamp Test was created by comics writer Kelly Sue DeConnick. This test offers a simple way to assess the depth and usefulness of a female character in a work of fiction. The idea is that “If you can replace a female character with a sexy lamp without affecting the plot, then that character is too weak or decorative.” In other words, if a female character has no real impact on the story or plays no active role, she could be replaced by an object (like a “sexy lamp”) without affecting the story. This test highlights how certain performances or works of fiction feature female characters lacking depth or agency, present merely to “decorate” the scene or serve as a foil to a male protagonist.

Here is a proposed exercise using the Sexy Lamp Test in a circus arts research workshop aimed at exploring the representation and agency of female characters in circus creations:

• Briefly present the Sexy Lamp Test and its origin. Explain that the goal is to see whether the female characters in a circus production play an essential and active role, or whether they could be reduced to mere “decorations.”
• Make small groups and invite each group to choose a circus production or a scene. Ask them to identify the female characters present and describe their roles, their impact, and their importance in the piece or the staging.
• Invite each group to apply the Sexy Lamp Test: could the female characters be replaced by a sexy lamp without changing the plot or meaning of the performance? If a female character could be replaced, participants should note in what ways this character is limited and explore why their role lacks depth or agency.
• End with a collective debrief on what the exercise revealed about the representation of women in circus arts. Encourage participants to reflect on how this exercise might influence their approach in creating future performances.