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Ben and Me

Name: Ben and Me
Director: Hamilton Luske
Released: 1953
Duration: 25 min

Representation Score

0.9/10

Minimal

1953

Director

Hamilton Luske

Runtime

25 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Ben and Me offers a whimsical, revisionist take on American history, attributing Benjamin Franklin's achievements to a group of mice. While the shift in ability to act from a single man to a collective is intriguing, the film remains rooted in mid-century traditions. The production emphasizes slapstick comedy and the celebration of historical milestones, reinforcing rather than challenging traditional gender roles and historical narratives.

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Category Breakdown

Does Ben and Me have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on Benjamin Franklin and a group of mice, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does Ben and Me portray gender?

Limited

Benjamin Franklin is shown as a stable, intellectual leader, while the mice provide comic relief but do not challenge traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Ben and Me?

Minimal

The story centers on a historically white figure using anthropomorphic animals, avoiding racial depictions and reinforcing a homogeneous historical perspective.

How does Ben and Me represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative celebrates Western foundational myths through a whimsical lens, emphasizing the stability of American ideals without critiquing institutions.

Does Ben and Me include disability representation?

Minimal

Neither Franklin nor the mice have any visible or invisible disabilities, and both are depicted as physically capable within their roles.

Present on Screen

The narrative provides a unique, revisionist perspective by shifting historical ability to act to a collective of mice.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing on a homogeneous historical viewpoint.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters.
The story reinforces traditional patriarchal structures rather than challenging them.

Official Synopsis

A revisionist version of American history as a small mouse comes to live with Benjamin Franklin and turns out to be responsible for many of his ideas; including the beginning of the Declaration of Independance!

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