Disability and representation in film

Udell 1

Dyllan Udell

English 201

Marion Quirici

May 6th, 2014

Gender and Masculinity Within Action Films

Throughout history the representation of disability in movies has been a common theme for many screen writers. Many of these movies include stories of people with disabilities and their journey to overcome any barriers that stand in their way. However, there’s more to these particular films than meets the eye. Each individual film targets a different underlying meaning that is related to people with disabilities. Some of these themes include norms such as gender roles of people with disability and the roles of masculinity and disability. Generally, the social expectation of gender norms is based on ability. There are different perceptions of a male’s ability to do something compared to females and these films reinforce and deconstruct this concept. These perceptions also lead to the outburst of many stereotypes. In my paper I will be analyzing four modern day action movies that many of you are familiar with.

I first want to apologize due to chance that I might spoil some of these movies for those of you that have not yet seen them. These representations are very crucial to the argument of my paper.

The first film that I’ve analyzed is Zack Snyder’s 300. This movie is based on the Battle of Thermopoly and how Leonidas’ 300 Spartans fought for their country against the ruthless Persian King, Xerxes. Gender roles and masculinity is displayed throughout a large portion of this movie. “Only the hard and strong can call themselves Spartans. Only the hard and strong.” What this quote is really saying is that only the physically and emotionally strong can call themselves Spartans. In this film, Snyder represents the ideal Spartan man as one who is more than physically fit and shows no weaknesses in his character. The contrast between able-bodied Spartans and Spartans with disabilities arises when Ephialtes is introduced. Ephialtes is a deformed hunchback who wants nothing more than to be a Spartan warrior and to carry out his family legacy. King Leonidas explains to Ephialetes that he could never be a Spartan warrior because of his deformities. While it makes logical sense not to send a disabled man to battle, Leonidas is basically telling Ephialtes that he will never be a real man, no matter how hard he tries. This example shows the social expectations of a given culture and the consequences when these expectations aren’t met.

The next movie I will turn my attention to is James Cameron’s Avatar. This film depicts the correlation between disability and masculinity on numerous occasions. Main character Jake Sully is introduced as both an ostracized and emasculated character. He is emasculated in a literal sense because of a physical injury making him a paraplegic. His masculinity is defied as he is given the privilege to cooperate in the Avatar program and through experimentation; his mind is then relocated into a body without any physical disability. With this body, we see Jake’s willingness to leave his old life due to the fact that he stops eating, bathing, and taking care of his human body. This film is related to the medical model in the sense that Jake is willing to accept the treatment that will ultimately cure his disability.

As for my third representation, I will discuss these arising themes in the X-Men films, which we have previously discussed in class. We noted that certain stigmas were present in X-Men films because mutants were perceived on a level of “normalcy.” I tend to elaborate on this argument by analyzing masculinity and disability on a level of power. My prime example is Professor X who is the most deceiving X-Men mutant. Professor Xavier is not represented as physically strong because he is permanently placed in a wheelchair throughout most of these movies. This film questions the meaning of masculinity because masculinity is perceived in various forms. His masculinity is depicted through his intelligence and his ability to influence the minds of mutants who have trouble coping with their mutations. Social expectations in X-Men are generally the same when it comes to masculinity and femininity. I intend to show how both female and male mutants become more masculine because they are granted with power.

Lastly I wish to explore the reverse gender roles and the degree of masculinity in the movie Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood. This film is revolved around female boxer Maggi Fitzgerald. When Maggie is diagnosed with a severe neck injury her representation as a female boxer is evaluated in many different ways. Jay Dolmage, author of the Disability Studies Quarterly, argues that this film uses false imagery to portray Maggie’s masculinity. Initially, Maggie is presented as this invincible athlete; and then transformed into a weak and painful person because of her disability. The medical model comes into effect because there are times where this movie falsely depicts disease and disability and instead shows this idea of helplessness. Maggie’s masculinity is undermined as she fights to get back into the ring. Ultimately, Million Dollar Baby counters the social expectation of gender norms. Boxing is viewed as a man’s sport. This film takes on a feminist viewpoint showing that a woman is just as capable as any male athlete. I wish to incorporate all of these ideas into my essay while generalizing on the fact that each of these crucial themes pertains to disability.