Introduction
Stereotypes about individuals with disabilities are reinforced through popular cultural portrayals. There are also certain typical portrayals of individuals with cognitive disabilities present in the media: many popular works tell the stories of people who have some cognitive disability. These portrayals differ in terms of how the disabled character is presented.
This paper will analyze several popular portrayals, including characters who succeed in life despite their disability, such as Forrest Gump, and the portrayal of victims, as seen in the movie “Radio”. It will also examine the portrayal of a character fighting for independence and the portrayal of a disabled individual as a savant. The paper will then discuss how these portrayals match with the scholar’s perspective on the topic and who they can benefit and damage.
Succeeding Against All Odds
One of the classic examples of popular portrayals of individuals with cognitive disabilities is the award-winning movie Forrest Gump. Throughout the movie, the viewer can observe how the main character grows up, deals with his disability, and struggles with being different from others in his adult life. The overt message that the movie conveys to the public is somewhat optimistic, suggesting that it is possible to achieve great things and lead a fulfilling life despite having an intellectual disability (Zemeckis, 1994). The covert message, however, is less optimistic: the movie portrays disability as something that needs to be overcome (Zemeckis, 1994).
The disability in this movie is portrayed as an obstacle to success. He is also seen as an exception to the norm, which implies that individuals with cognitive disabilities are only valuable if they possess some extraordinary qualities. This message supports the socially constructed view that individuals with cognitive disabilities cannot be fully independent adults and make their own decisions. The movie also portrays how individuals with cognitive disabilities are treated in the school system. In childhood, Forrest Gump is placed in a specialized class separated from the rest of the students who do not have cognitive disabilities.
The Role of the Victim
The movie “Radio” portrays a young man who struggles with his cognitive disability at school. He faces challenges in communication and social interaction alongside the mistreatment he receives from the community (Tollin, 2003). Overall, he ends up being a victim in the narrative.
On the one hand, the overt message highlights the importance of having compassion towards those dealing with cognitive disabilities. However, the covert message is similar to that hidden in Forrest Gump, that is, the inherent innocence and child-like character of cognitively disabled individuals. This also reinforces the socially constructed view of such individuals as lacking autonomy and agency, and often ending up as victims.
Fighting for Independence
Another movie that portrays an individual with cognitive disability is “The Peanut Butter Falcon”. In this work, a character with Down syndrome is depicted through themes of housing and daycare. The movie highlights the limitations and restrictions put on people with cognitive disabilities within institutional settings. The main character desires to escape the limitations of a nursing home where he resides and find his own home (Nilson & Schwartz, 2019).
On the one hand, there is an overt message that emphasizes the importance of inclusive housing options and the possibility for individuals with cognitive disabilities to live autonomously. The movie revolves around the idea that such individuals can live independently and be free. There is, however, a covert message that even though such individuals can be independent, they still need a non-disabled person to guide them. The main character, Zak, was guided and mentored by Tyler, a non-disabled character (Nilson & Schwartz, 2019). This might reinforce the socially constructed idea that the success of disabled people depends on the guidance of non-disabled people.
The Savant
“Rain Man” presents an individual with cognitive disabilities through the theme of work. Initially, the main character, an autistic man, is seen as incapable of functioning in a typical job. His brother, however, later discovers that he is a savant whose talents can be monetized (Levinson, 1988). This movie conveys a specific, overt, and positive message that claims disabled individuals have their own unique value and can contribute to society in the same way as non-disabled people do. On the other hand, the covert message is somewhat similar to that of “Forrest Gump” and “The Peanut Butter Falcon”.
First, it highlights that disabled individuals can prosper only with the guidance of non-disabled individuals, as the main character’s talent was discovered and developed with his brother’s help (Levinson, 1988). Secondly, it implies that disabled individuals have a high value only if they have some extraordinary abilities. The messages also perpetuate the social view of autistic people as geniuses, which is damaging to autistic people who do not have these kinds of talents.
Role of Essentialism, Bias, and Power in Portrayals
Essentialism in the portrayals is connected to the idea that all cognitively disabled individuals have specific inherent characteristics. Some of the portrayals, for example, reinforce the essentialist idea that such individuals are innocent and lack independence. Similarly, “Rain Man” serves as an example of an essentialist idea that autistic people are savants.
Biases also often contribute to an unrealistic, idealized portrayal of disabled individuals. The power imbalance is reflected in the fact that the stories are created by people without cognitive disabilities; thus, the portrayal will inevitably reflect the viewpoint of those who do not thoroughly understand the topic. Overall, the representations lack the authenticity and the perspective of honest individuals and realistic stories, which can be harmful to people with disabilities.
Scholars’ Analysis
One of the articles chosen for this paper examines the housing shortage for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Nolin (2023) explains that the current housing landscape does not adequately meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The same theme is examined in the movie “The Peanut Butter Falcon”, where the main character struggles to find an opportunity to live independently. In the movie, Zak was unhappy with his life at the nursing home and wanted to escape its limitations (Nilson & Schwartz, 2019).
Nolin (2023) points out that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities violates the Americans with Disabilities Act”. The movie’s portrayal of the issue can significantly raise awareness among people with disabilities. This can be beneficial for all people with disabilities in the long run if there are more representations like that and the policy is revised.
In terms of typical portrayals of people with disabilities, scholars distinguish several types. One of the types of portrayal of a disabled individual as the victim in society is receiving mistreatment from peers at school, members of the community, family members, and others (Common portrayals of persons with disabilities, n.d.). This portrayal matches how the main character was depicted in the movie “Radio”. Radio was a target of bullying and discrimination; he was isolated from the rest of the community and not accepted by them.
Such portrayals help, on the one hand, to raise awareness of the importance of being compassionate and accepting of all people, and can benefit disabled persons in their fight against being excluded. On the other hand, constantly presenting people with intellectual disabilities as victims perpetuates stereotypes that they are helpless and dependent and cannot survive in the world of non-disabled people. This can also be damaging in terms of the pity that some non-disabled people express towards disabled individuals.
These individuals do not wish to be pitied; they wish to be respected. In the long run, this representation can also impact the self-perception of people with disabilities. Witnessing so much victimization may lead them to perceive themselves as victims, which can harm the quality of their lives.
Another type of portrayal of people with disabilities is the hero portrayal. This is defined as the representation of people with disabilities as those who overcome their limitations against all odds and prove their worth to society (Common portrayals of persons with disabilities, n.d.). Although on the one hand, this type of trope seems less damaging than the victim trope, it still focuses on individuals who are “extraordinary” instead of giving visibility to regular disabled people (Common portrayals of persons with disabilities, n.d.).
This kind of portrayal is evident in Forrest Gump, where the main character succeeds due to his unique talents. The disability is also presented as a challenge that needs to be overcome. This damages the represented individuals in multiple ways. On the one hand, the disability is presented as an inherently bad thing that hinders success. Disabled people feel that they can only be successful if they somehow beat their disability. This prevents them from accepting their disability and leading a fulfilling life, coexisting peacefully with their disability and not despite it.
Conclusion
Several portrayals of individuals with cognitive disabilities have been identified in the paper. On the one hand, there is a person who proves their worth by defying their condition. Forrest Gump is a classic representation of that. He is treated as less of a person in the school system and only manages to achieve things through “beating” his disability. On the other hand, there is the victim trope, which perpetuates the idea that individuals with cognitive disabilities are helpless and are to be pitied.
There is also a portrayal of a person fighting for their independence, trying to surpass the limitations of the daycare setting, and struggling to find housing to live an autonomous life. Finally, there is a savant portrayal that presents autistic people as geniuses and reinforces the idea that disabled individuals can be helpful in the workplace and contribute to society only if they have extraordinary abilities. When analyzing the scholars’ opinions, it was found that some of these representations can help raise awareness about specific issues. However, they can also reinforce harmful stereotypes and prevent disabled individuals from leading a fulfilling life.
References
Common portrayals of persons with disabilities. (n.d.). Media Smarts.
Levinson, B. (1988). Rain man. United Artists, The Guber-Peters Company.
Nilson, T. & Schwartz, M. (2019). The peanut butter falcon. Armory Films, Lucky Treehouse, Bona Fide Productions, Endeavor Content.
Nolin, J. (2023). Struggle to provide Georgians with developmental disabilities remains, study says. Georgia Recorder.
Tollin, M. (2003). Radio. Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, Tollin/Robins Productions.
Zemeckis, R. (1994). Forrest Gump. The TischCompany.