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What, Who, How

Name: What, Who, How
Director: Stan VanDerBeek
Released: 1957
Duration: 8 min

Representation Score

1.3/10

Minimal

1957

Director

Stan VanDerBeek

Runtime

8 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Stan VanDerBeek’s experimental approach emphasizes formalist innovation and technical abstraction over traditional character-driven narratives. This focus on movement and color over human subjects limits the visibility of specific identities. While the film disrupts conventional storytelling through its avant-garde structure, it lacks the documented ability to act or multi-layered character development necessary for a higher diversity rating. It remains a product of mid-century aesthetic experimentation. Ultimately, the work reflects the homogeneous media norms of its era, favoring abstract exploration over the intentional representation of underrepresented groups.

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Category Breakdown

Does What, Who, How have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with LGBTQ+ identities or challenge assumptions about straight relationships. There is no specific character data to confirm such representation.

How does What, Who, How portray gender?

Limited

The film likely follows typical 1957 gender roles. There is no evidence of challenging traditional gender hierarchies or non-traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What, Who, How?

Limited

The work focuses on abstract forms rather than human characters. It lacks evidence of diverse casting or non-white protagonists.

How does What, Who, How represent religion and culture?

Fair

The avant-garde focus on abstraction avoids the rigid moralistic storytelling common in 1950s mainstream animation. It does not include traditional religious narratives.

Does What, Who, How include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no verifiable evidence regarding the depiction of neurodivergence or physical disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

The film's avant-garde nature offers a departure from the rigid, moralistic storytelling found in mainstream 1950s animation.

Limited or Absent

The focus on abstraction over character studies results in a lack of visible racial, gender, or LGBTQ+ representation.
The work lacks documented narrative ability to act or multi-layered character development.

Official Synopsis

An animated short film from Stan Vanderbeek.

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