The recent release of the film Tropic Thunder has raised important questions about the the limits of satire and the representation of people with intellectual disabilities in films. Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics, has strongly criticized the film's use of labels and stereotypes and along with a coalition of groups representing people with disabilities, he has urged people to boycott the movie.
In his thorough critique, Shriver references another film that he says took a markedly different approach on this issue. The Ringer was made in consultation and close cooperation with the Special Olympics organization. In a statement, Shriver and colleague Bruce Pasternack called it 'a unique opportunity to harness the power of mainstream mass media to achieve a quantum change in public understanding of, and attitudes toward, individuals with intellectual disabilities.'
Have you seen either of these two films? Do you plan to? Do you agree with Tim Shriver about the important differences between the two? Have you seen any other films that changed perceptions or reinforced negative labels? Let us know what you think!
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Here is another perspective on the subject by a Disaboom blogger who discusses the representation of physical disability in the film Million Dollar Baby. Click here to read this post.
I have to admit that I've seen Million Dollar Baby and the important point that this blogger raises never even occurred to me. I think this is a big part of the problem: when you are engrossed in a film's dramatic or comedic intensity, things that would normally offend or challenge your beliefs tend to slip under the radar. This is especially problematic with younger viewers if they are as influenced by movies and popular culture as I and most of my peers were as teenagers. Slowly, the stereotypes and labels that we see famous people representing and using become norms and we perpetuate them in our daily lives. And I think this is precisely why no one can say that the use of these labels is harmless.