I hadn't heard of it until you posted the links -- thank you for doing so! -- and I'm still not sure what to think. I suppose the MPDG is just another one of those 2D Hollywood stock characters...and I'm having a difficult time with accepting the criticism because I love Natalie Portman in "Garden State" (and in general!).

However, perhaps that MPDG is just another one of those stereotypes perpetuated by the media, movies specifically, that other women find themselves needing to live up to. That's sprightly, quirky female is something that brings out the best in "brooding, depressed" men, and so, more men would want the women they find to be that portrayal.

ARGH circular obstacles!

Message to Hollywood: come up with more (quantity!) diverse types of women in film. Let's not just find them on the Indie Sundance channel...

This was kind of touched on in the comments of one of your links, but... what do you do if you think you are a Manic Pixie Dream Girl yourself?

I mean, obviously not all of the sunshiney happy qualities apply, but I do own a lot of scarves. I touched on this in my own blog a few months ago (now deleted in a fit of Internet closet cleaning or I would post the link), about how all of the people I have dated/date have looked to me to renew their optimism and creativity, and when I break up with them later, they're onto the next bookworm-y girl with scarves and dirty hair and a passion for crafty things. I've been dating for six years (I'm only 22, mind you), and I feel like I'm not a person to these guys, I'm a type. I went a a party recently and ran into my ex's current girlfriend... it was like looking into a mirror. It's frustrating.

I do not think that the basic idea of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (a girl who may be quirky, a little flawed, but optimistic) is terrible (for obvious reasons). The trouble comes when you reduce someone to a list of characteristics and don't let them break out from that. Because the MPDGs of the movies are by men for men, the MPDGs of real life are a disappointment to brooding hipster guys looking for their Natalie Portman, not a girl with real feelings and depth. Hollywood can reduce anything to a stereotype, and this is no different.

This got kind of long, sorry. Back to sketching my feelings with pastels, listening to Bjork, and being ohsoquirky for me, this internet stuff gets, like, way too serious sometimes.

This was kind of touched on in the comments of one of your links, but... what do you do if you think you are a Manic Pixie Dream Girl yourself?

I mean, obviously not all of the sunshiney happy qualities apply, but I do own a lot of scarves. I touched on this in my own blog a few months ago (now deleted in a fit of Internet closet cleaning or I would post the link), about how all of the people I have dated/date have looked to me to renew their optimism and creativity, and when I break up with them later, they're onto the next bookworm-y girl with scarves and dirty hair and a passion for crafty things. I've been dating for six years (I'm only 22, mind you), and I feel like I'm not a person to these guys, I'm a type. I went a a party recently and ran into my ex's current girlfriend... it was like looking into a mirror. It's frustrating.

I do not think that the basic idea of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (a girl who may be quirky, a little flawed, but optimistic) is terrible (for obvious reasons). The trouble comes when you reduce someone to a list of characteristics and don't let them break out from that. Because the MPDGs of the movies are by men for men, the MPDGs of real life are a disappointment to brooding hipster guys looking for their Natalie Portman, not a girl with real feelings and depth. Hollywood can reduce anything to a stereotype, and this is no different.

This got kind of long, sorry. Back to sketching my feelings with pastels, listening to Bjork, and being ohsoquirky for me, this internet stuff gets, like, way too serious sometimes.

Though I liked Garden State I really hated Natalie Portman's character in it. I kind of wanted to slap her. I don't know, I like my female characters to be more complex, demanding at times, difficult at others and busy figuring out the best way to live. I have a friend who all the moody arty guys go for because they see her as one of these unobtainable characters who flits through life and often gives the illusion of being highly original, deep in some obscure way, up for anything and always in a good mood. (The perfect muse) Once they do obtain her and find out that she is a little more difficult, flawed and a lot more human than they guessed problems arise. Of course, this is a problem for any couple to deal with who start dating before they have a true, realistic and concrete understanding of who the other person is. I have run into this problem myself. To people I don't know well, especially guys, I appear to be cute, shy, non-threatening, laid back and seem sweet. Well, to a certain extent I am, but I am also stubborn, dirty mouthed, non-conventional, cynical, witty, critical and a tad demanding. Sometimes I know what the guys think I am and are attracted to and also know that it is not a good picture of who I actually am and that they are going to be shocked when they actually get to know me.