Representation

[Joey Stark]

I was really impressed to learn recently about Eddie Redmayne playing Newt Scamander as likely having 'Asperger's'. He got some things really right: the preoccupation with a special interest (magical beasts), some general awkwardness, lack of eye contact, poor social awareness (Crimes of Grindelwald spoilers below):

Newt: "her eyes look like a Salamanders"
Jacob: "don't say that!"

*after Tina storms out and Newt stands confused*
Jacob: "you're supposed to go after her!

Then of course there was some LGBTQ representation of Dumbledore and Grindelwald. "We were closer than brothers" and Albus seeing Gellert in (what I assumed is) the mirror of erised. Although I know some people wanted this to be more overt, I thought it was a good start.

What other films, TV shows and books have you seen some really good representation in? Maybe it's a character with a disability that isn't usually portrayed on film. Did you thing their representation was done well? Do you prefer overt clearly stated representation or for it to be more subtle and non-defining?

Appease an ex-film and TV studies student and let me know your opinions!

**please be respectful!**

[Prof. Sky Alton]

Great topic, Joey!

I'm very hard to please with representation: I complain when it's not there and I'm never satisfied when it is. As a blind person and also a survivor of a very high profile illness, I don't think I've ever found a book, TV show or film that has come close to speaking to my experiences. That's not necessarily the fault of the books or films: everyones experiences of circumstances are highly individualised, after all.

I kind of have two problems in that visual impairment is rarely tackled as anything but an 'issue' in media: there aren't really any shows, films or books I could name where a characters blindness isn't their defining characteristic (if anyone knows any, please let me know! I'm so ready to be proved wrong.). Characters aren't just free to have an eye condition that impacts them on a practical level but has nothing to do with their role in the story, the narrative has to go into massive depth. I think that's because for most people blindness is too terrifying to contemplate or consider normal. Also, it's hard for people to suspend their disbelief: unless they're having it spelled out how a character can even be doing what they're doing, I guess they find it unrealistic. It's deeply frustrating for people for whom visual impairment is just something every day that you work around. I'd really like to see more casual representation where the practicalities are lightly skimmed over enough to set people at ease but where the emotional impact of being VI doesn't come into it where it isn't needed.

I read lots of literature about visual impairment last year for a university project and was astounded at the number of authors who seized upon it as a way to tell stories full of angst, anger and hurt. While of course there are places and purposes for these stories (adapting to a disability and dealing with the world's attitude to it can be deeply traumatic), it bugged me that that was all there was. My life is not a tragedy because I can't see: I do not need to go on a profound journey to heal or discover the beauty in my life. I'd like to read stories about people doing normal or fantastical things who just so happen not to see. (Patricia Briggs has a blind witch character who comes very close to that last one.)

Leading on from that is the problem of having to find supernatural or superhuman ways around blindness. I really enjoy Marvel's Daredevil as a character but he isn't blind as I am. In order to have a functioning hero, they have given him something I will never, ever have. While neither of us can watch a sunset, it's still problematic for me to really enjoy the media when he's only 'blind in name'. (Although, the public perceptions he has to deal with as Matt the lawyer are great and they could do much more with them).

Phew, I'll stop there although I have a lot more to say.

[Prof. Alexander Brighton]

Thank you a lot Joey for making this topic. I like movies and tv shows that I can relate to in some way. I like movies that represent disabilities like autism or deafness, and sometimes blindness. I'm not deaf or blind, but still have disabilities. I watch the Good Doctor every single week and Freddie Highmore does an awesome job with playing someone who has autism. The Good Doctor is one of my favorite shows on tv. And although behind the scenes of Fantastic Beasts don't confirm that Newt Scamander has Aspergers Syndrome (now known as level 1 autism), I agree completely with Joey that he has it. Eddie Redmayne said in an interview that he believes Newt Scamander to have it. But back in the early 1900's, he couldn't be diagnosed with anything because nobody knew about aspergers or autism back then.

A movie I watched a couple of days ago was Elf. it could be the sugar from all the syrup he eats, but I think Buddy from Elf has ADHD. The way he jumps up and down and runs around the revolving door in that store, and then when he turned the mail room into a dance hall. He acts just like a kid. I want him as my brother .

I also like movies that represent sickness in some way. Like Sky, I was also very sick. I have asthma and had Pneumonia 4 times by the time I was 6. When it wasn't pneumonia, it was bronchitis or something else. So when your sick or you were sick, it can be with the flu or with pneumonia and you watch a movie about somebody being sick, it let's you know you're never alone. Sadly, there are a lot of other people just as bad or even worse. And almost all the movies I saw represented it good.

I think in a way (unless it's completely wrong) there is no right or wrong way to represent someone in a movie who is sick or who has a disability. Because nobody is the same. There are a lot of different symptoms or signs, but at different levels. No 2 people will show it the exact same way. Hope that makes sense. They all do an awesome job.

I can't think of any other movies or tv shows where I like the representation.

[Joey Stark]

Thanks so much sky for sharing your thoughts as a blind person! I found your post really interesting.

I can also not think of any examples of blind characters where their blindness wasn't either the 'tragedy' of their situation or a defining feature. I also find that often representation can be very black and white, so characters either don't have a disability, or they have it in the most severe/stereotypical form. Hence, I always seem to see completely blind people in media, there's no sort of range of visual impairment explored. Whilst that's important to represent too, I do wonder how it feeds into the publics perception of XY-ness (blindness, autistic-ness etc). Which can then lead to issues like 'you're not XY enough' or 'you're not really XY. You're nothing like this character I've seen'.

The place I learnt more about blindness is from a Youtuber, Tommy Edison, who is really funny and makes videos and answers the annoying questions others ask him a lot as someone who's been blind since birth.

everyones experiences of circumstances are highly individualised, after all.

I think this is important and also speaks to me in how I also struggle to find people who really fit my experience as someone with ASD (honestly, one of the closest so far is Newt and he's from a whole different realm of reality!). These things are SO individual from person to person and I can't really think of any way to tackle this other than to ramp up casual representation of the different expressions and forms of disability.

Leading on from that is the problem of having to find supernatural or superhuman ways around blindness. I really enjoy Marvel's Daredevil as a character but he isn't blind as I am. In order to have a functioning hero, they have given him something I will never, ever have.

I find this really problematic. I agree that as a viewer you're left with the feeling that Daredevil would be pretty much completely nonfunctional if not for his powers, so it give the impression thats the reality of being a real life blind person. I think your proposition of more focus on the practicalities and navigating the world around having a disability instead of it being this tragic, happiness blocking obstacle would be way more helpful and enjoyable to watch.

You've got some great insights Alex! I've not seen the Good Doctor but I am now interested in seeing it for the Autism representation. I think one great show that was on here in the UK showing autism, from the perspective of a newly diagnosed child's family, is 'The A Word'. I don't know if it's available in other countries but if you're interested in representation of ASD, I would recommend it (if only for the great soundtrack alone).

nobody is the same. There are a lot of different symptoms or signs, but at different levels.

I think this is spot on! I think this is one of the main difficulties underpinning representation that everyone can relate to. Like you say however, when you are sick or struggling, is can be really helpful to see someone in media who's feeling a similar way (even if it's not exactly the same) so you know you're not alone.