Manic pixie dream girl meaning



Added: 25 December 2024 / Edit: 27 December 2024


The term 'manic pixie dream girl' (MPDG) refers to a stock character in fiction, typically a young woman, who is depicted as quirkily and energetically free-spirited, and who is used to inspire and transform the life of a typically brooding and introspective male protagonist. The MPDG is often portrayed as being unusually attractive, independent, and mysterious, and is used as a plot device to help the male protagonist break out of his shell and embrace a more carefree and adventurous way of life.
The term 'manic pixie dream girl' was coined by film critic Nathan Rabin in a review of the movie 'Elizabethtown' (2005), in which he described the character played by Kirsten Dunst as a 'bubbleheaded bundle of energy.' The term has since become widely used to describe similar characters in films, television shows, and literature.
Critics have argued that the MPDG trope is problematic because it reduces women to a one-dimensional, magical, and ultimately disposable plot device, and because it reinforces negative stereotypes about women being overly emotional and irrational.