Open Access"Gotta Go Now": Rethinking the Use of the Mighty and Simon Birch
Author(s) -
Katrina Arndt,
Julia M. White,
Andrea Chervenak
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
disability studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2159-8371
pISSN - 1041-5718
DOI - 10.18061/dsq.v30i1.1014
Subject(s) - comics , context (archaeology) , sociology , disability studies , psychology , aesthetics , art , gender studies , literature , history , archaeology
Critical film analysis in the context of disability studies is introduced, and implications of disability portrayals in film are discussed. Two films often used in middle school classrooms, Simon Birch and The Mighty, are introduced and briefly summarized. The films are critiqued using Norden’s conceptualizations of stereotypic roles for characters with disabilities including the "sweet innocent" and "comic misadventurer." Finally, the importance of critical screening is outlined and ways that teachers can use these films in ways that are respectful of people with disabilities based on criteria developed by Safran (2000) are offered.