Professor X is Jewish and intentionally embodies the trope that Jews are clever but physically weak. Nonetheless, he is a leader, his powers aren’t connected to his wheelchair, and he has hope that humans will change despite history.
X-Men: Using disabilities as a source of pride and power Read More »
The X-Men first appeared in 1963, during the time of the American Civil Rights movement. Real-life events heavily influenced the fictional storylines. The X-Men can be interpreted to represent almost any minority, the fear and discrimination against people who are seen as different and othered in society are universal.
X-Men Allegory: Disabilities and Dehumanization Read More »
Science Fiction storylines often parallel current political or social issues through superheroes. Having disabled superheroes helps to provide role models for the disability community, and also exposes “normal” people to disabled protagonists like Matt Murdock/Daredevil, who’s blind, or Professor Charles Xavier, who’s a wheelchair user.
History of Disabled Superheroes Origins Read More »
Halloween is, of course, the holiday to pretend. But I have also had experiences where friends have assumed something wrong if I chose my wheelchair over crutches.
What Halloween costumes are there for minorities? Read More »
In the surface-level plot, the main characters compete in a triathlon for prize money that Luca and Alberto want to use to buy a Vespa and see the world. It seems simple, and once on land, Luca and Alberto stay on land.
This is like saying that being sea monsters isn’t part of the plot. And that’s part of the problem. Many people who are part of the LGBT+ community feel pressure to “pass” as cisgender straight people because of bigotry.
Pixar catches & releases Luca fans Read More »
For almost the entire film, Luca and Alberto hide the fact they are sea monsters. Whether being a sea monster represents something else is not made clear by the director Enrico Casarosa.
Sea Monster! Pixar’s LGBTQ Characters! Read More »
Captain Hook’s and Ursula’s implied sexual orientation is based on gender and sexuality stereotypes. The implied meanings are called Queer coding.
Disney still has queer codes today. Frozen subverted tropes of “true love’s kiss” by making Prince Hans the villain and family bonds more critical.
Disney’s LGBTQ+ Representation is Starting to Crawl Read More »
Who’s the target audience for The Little Mermaid? Little girls, of course. The arc of the film involves rebellious romance.
I cannot deny The Little Mermaid’s impact on my life. It was the first film that explored and validated my subconscious desire to be “normal.”
Target audiences connect to films in unpredictable ways Read More »
I don’t believe my disability is inherently “special” or otherwise not “normal.” As a child, people always asked, “Do you wish you were born without your disability?”
I would say, “I never thought about that.” So “I guess no, this is my normal.” I don’t know how it feels to have an injury that causes a disability later in life.
Choosing to be disabled Read More »
