The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the MoviesFilmmakers have often encouraged us to regard people with physical disabilities in terms of pity, awe, humor, or fearas "Others" who somehow deserve to be isolated from the rest of society. In this first history of the portrayal of physical disability in the movies, Martin Norden examines hundreds of Hollywood movies (and notable international ones), finds their place within mainstream society, and uncovers the movie industry's practices for maintaining the status quokeeping people with disabilities dependent and "in their place." Norden offers a dazzling array of physically disabled characters who embody or break out of the stereotypes that have both influenced and been symptomatic of societys fluctuating relationship with its physically disabled minority. He shows us "sweet innocents" like Tiny Tim, "obsessive avengers" like Quasimodo, variations on the disabled veteran, and many others. He observes the arrival of a new set of stereotypes tied to the growth of science and technology in the 1970s and 1980s, and underscores movies like My Left Foot and The Waterdance that display a newfound sensitivity. Nordens in-depth knowledge of disability history makes for a particularly intelligent and sensitive approach to this long-overlooked issue in media studies. |
Contents
introduction Politics Movies and Physical | 1 |
Emergence of an Impoverished Image | 14 |
The Misbegotten MultiReelers | 49 |
Man of a Thousand Disabilities and His Brethren | 74 |
GoldenAge Freakshows | 109 |
5 The Road to Rehabilitation | 145 |
6 The Path to Apathy | 184 |
Moving toward the Mainstream | 223 |
HighTech Heroics and Other Concerns | 264 |
conclusion Reel Life after the Americans with | 308 |
notes | 325 |
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The Cinema of Isolation: A History of Physical Disability in the Movies Martin F. Norden Limited preview - 1994 |
Common terms and phrases
able-bodied ableist actor American audience Barrymore began Biograph blind Bright Victory Browning called career Chaney's characterization Cinema of Isolation cited Civilian Superstar comedy created crippled critics D. W. Griffith Dark Angel deaf Despite developed directed director disability issues disability-related disabled characters disabled person disabled veterans Dore Schary early eventually featured film film's filmmakers Frankenstein Freaks girl Goldwyn Hollywood Hunchback images impaired Irving Thalberg John Johnny Belinda later learns Lionel Barrymore lives Lon Chaney mainstream major male Motion Picture movie industry movie's moviemakers named narrative noted novel Obsessive Avenger performance perspective physically disabled play produced qualities Quasimodo rehabilitation Richard Robert role scene Schary screen screenplay screenwriter script sect shot shows star stereotypes story Stratton Story studio suggested Superstar films Sweet Innocent Thalberg theaters tion title character Tod Browning turn Vietnam villainous visual Warner Bros wheelchair wheelchair-using woman World writer wrote York young