Peyton S
Dr. Downey
ENG 111
December 7, 2016
More than a disability.
            Movies can only impact an audience so much; more movies than not impact the perception of how something is. Movies like Breaking the Waves (1996), Oasis (2002) and Gattaca (1997) are examples of films which shed light on the misrepresentation of disabled people. These movies put characters from several different disabilities and haunt the audiences and perspectives of what they deal with. These movies explicitly exploit, exaggerate and heavily leech upon these ideas of false realities of each disability featured. Breaking the Waves (1996) tells a tragic love story gone wrong after an accident leaves a young woman’s (Bess) lover paralyzed however the disability is taking over the movies storyline and is over dramatic and ironic when at the end her lover (Jan) gets to walk at Bess’s funeral. Presenting this idea that a tragedy can make someone’s disability empower them at a time in need not because they were wanting to change. (Victims and Victors: Representation of Physical Disability on the Silver Screen page 70) Another example Gattaca (1997) while being a science fiction movie presents a disability that did not happen because of an accident but presents the main character as disabled from birth. While as the supporting lead being disabled from a genetic accident, both are categorized as being “invalid” and “valid” one being “able bodied” and the other not. This thus showing the audience which “disability” is better and that “physical perfection is not only expected but manufactured.” (Victims and Victors: Representation of Physical Disability on the Silver Screen page 71) Much like those movies, Oasis (2002) is similar in the way it portrays the main character’s disabilities and how it falsifies true conditions. The misrepresentation of disabilities in films are often the case for real life people being discriminated against, and therefore educating those who don’t understand by accurately portraying those disabled might solve these issues.
There are many problems to solve when it comes to talking about disabilities. Because there are is such a large range of disabilities, often people associate them with wrong behavior and are depicted as one way but are realistically the opposite. This is what the motion picture industry is doing, they are creating a problem where disabilities are being misrepresented. There are real life people who deal with various disabilities whether it’s being physically disabled, mentally, hearing or seeing impaired and a various amount of other disabilities within those categories.  There is a lack of knowledge involved to make these movies as realistic as possible because the real-life people who deal with these aren’t always actors. Another issue of misrepresentation that movies often get wrong is encouraging untruthful and exaggerated stereotypes of disabled people. These stereotypes are depicted incorrect to the actual condition one might have in real life versus how the movie interprets it. Another problem that is fed to an audience after seeing a movie about a disabled person is that they know the actor or actress really isn’t disabled therefore must really be acting like a disabled person. The reason why this is a big issue in the disabled community is that not only are they misrepresented, stereotyped but are depicted by actors who get paid to act like a disabled person. There are not a lot of actual actors who deal with that disability, there are no acclaimed actors in Hollywood that have disabilities and act in movies. The fact that there has ever been one academy award winner that has been “visibly” disabled is a problem. (The First Century of Disability Portrayal in Film: An Analysis of The Literature page 468)
            A solution to fix the misrepresentation of disabilities in films theoretically and on paper have been proven successful in lowering the controversy. Research studies by professionals in the field of a variety of different disabilities should be conducted to further prevent inaccurate stereotypes of inaccurate disabilities presented on films. Studies that have already been done has found the common 7 stereotypes in regards to these presented in films. Because of previous study, “Nelson (1994) discussed seven common stereotypes largely based on the work of Biklen and Bogdan (1977).” (Victims and Victors: Representation of Physical Disability on the Silver Screen pages 67 and 77) The reason why this solution might prove to be so important in the disabled community because it gets the word out there just how many disabilities are presented in films without the accurate representation. Research studies are the reason why most of these issues are talked about, scientists and journalists frequently work together on this to shed light on what is really going on and who it affects when movies are made misrepresenting the struggles a real life disabled person goes through.
 Research studies, however, are often criticized, the researchers that have done these studies were recorded years and years ago, and if trying to prove those now would be almost ineffective. Anyone can come up with numbers, and anyone can come up with participants. A weakness of new studies is a risk of people faking their results or tweaking it to influence opinion or to impact change.  Another example of why this potentially shows faults in the prevention of misrepresentation of disabilities in the future is the fact that literally anyone can do a research case study on this and ask anyone and can focus on one disability. Not to mention but a research study done on such a controversial topic such as misrepresentations of disabilities in a film might stir up a media frenzy if a study is done and considered inaccurate or wrongful and that is always a possibility within the community of suspicious results or where the study might just not add up.
Another solution to fix disability equality and representation are to bring more actors and actresses that suffer from these conditions and to really highlight them and give them the representation that they deserve. It’s easier said than done but there is not enough actors or actresses within the last twenty years or so that have been in movies where disabled people have been represented where the main character was really disabled. It would be so much easier to see someone who is dealing with that on camera, in real life to portray that to an audience for the most accurate portrayal. “Yet, the lasting images that films create for millions of viewers ultimately shape public perceptions. Many individuals, especially children, assimilate as real the images that appear on film.” (Victims and Victors: Representation of Physical Disability on the Silver Screen page 70) It is important that these actors or actresses are even children to better relate and to better represent to audiences of a younger age that regular kids can’t just suddenly be disabled in a movie but aren’t later in life. It gives this perception that everyone is acting, actors that don’t deal with real life disabilities get to go on with their life as they please however actors who do struggle with this might shed hope and light on others who can’t just walk off a movie set, or can hear music etc.
There are a lot of weaknesses in this solution for the fact that not ever disabled person can act, that’s a given and a common-sense issue, however, those who can act shouldn’t be discriminated against and should get equal opportunities to participate in low production films all the way to the higher major budget ones. Another issue where this might be conflicting is that this wouldn’t be easy for a casting director to look for because it might cause a line of discrimination. This would also cause a lot of media controversy regarding crossing the line of who can act and who can’t and what’s fair and what’s not fair. What that means is media might look at a production studio who creates a movie with a cast of all disabled people versus a cast of all regular actors/actresses who act like disabled people this could spark a potential outrage and cause hassles for the directors and film teams.
To end the misrepresentation of disabilities in movies is to take away the ideas presented that a movie might be offensive, incorrect and stereotypical. In a setting where the main role is a disabled person, whether it’s someone who is blind, deaf, mentally disabled or is paralyzed for example it is important to put that in focus. To educate the film’s star, writers, producers, and directors should be creating some sort of plan to take on that role accurately and to pinpoint everything that must do with that disability. As an actor or actress, they take on the life of the character they portray and to do so accurately they get a script, places, costumes however if doing so incorrectly can change the viewpoint of an audience significantly. Educating others what its really like to be blind, deaf, paralyzed through a movie is key to understanding and recognizing that it’s not as simple as someone suddenly standing up one day because some magical force told them too. “By understanding motion pictures, professionals can help inform teachers, students, and parents…while also gauging public knowledge and expectations of persons with disabilities.” (The First Century of Disability Portrayal in Film: An Analysis of the Literature page 476)



In conclusion, the most realistic solution and the one that should help significantly reduce the stereotypes, inaccurate portrayal and misrepresentation of disabled people in films are to educate others. Teaching those who do not have to deal with the issues is key in clarifying all the current stereotypes surrounding disabilities. Asking people questions about how they see disabilities differently because of a movie, asking their thoughts and how they think someone with a specific disability might be because of a movie listed. The importance of sharing accurate information regarding something they thought they knew because a movie told them so is helpful and will present this idea that not all disabilities are easy to deal with, something that is painful to think about etc. “Special educators should become aware that public attitudes toward disability are influenced by motion pictures...” (The First Century of Disability Portrayal in Film: An Analysis of the Literature page 477) Between the other two solutions this is the strongest and most realistic one to do, to make an impact on the way an audience sees a movie is how it affects them on what level does it personally get to them and make them think. This is what any movie should do but in this case, if a character that is disabled who is someone anyone can relate too, gets in an accident is paralyzed, does have a mental disability whatever that condition might be should be accurately portrayed.










Works Cited
    Stump, Julie. "Discriminatory Portrayals of the Mentally Disabled in Popular Films: Some Preliminary Thoughts." Contemporary Justice Review 5.2 (2002): 189-93. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
Black, Rhonda S., and Lori Pretes. "Victims and Victors: Representation of Physical Disability on the Silver Screen." Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities 32.1 (2007): 66-83. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.
    Safran, S. P. "The First Century of Disability Portrayal in Film: An Analysis of the Literature." The Journal of Special Education 31.4 (1998): 467-79. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.