Star Wars and disability
- 20 May 05, 12:00 AM
goes nationwide this weekend, and it would have been nice if we had a Jedi disability article or something. Sadly we didn't manage it, despite much wracking of brains. At Ouch we often find ourselves desperately trying to come up with a disability angle on current news stories. I have to hold my hands up and say that on occasions we've gone a bit too far, finding highly tenuous disability links on occasions. Though we got loads of positive feedback about it, some emailed us and told us that our recent Doctor Who article, for instance, went too far, seeing disability stuff that perhaps just wasn't really there. Naw. So, I am alerting you to the following web page with a certain amount of sympathy, you understand.
I really couldn't help laughing a little when I read this article from Kathie Snow. Entitled , it really ekes out every tiny weenie link to disability, wringing the subject matter thoroughly dry. Take this passage for example:
"If Spiderman could be compared to a person with 'acquired differences', some Star Wars characters could be thought of as being 'born' with differences. Many don't look 'human' - like the blue creature who gets around by flapping the short wings on his back - but they're still contributing, participating members of the community-at-large."
Now don't get me wrong, I think it is genius and this way of thinking really opens the door wide open to Ouch. Kathie should come and work for us. We've already had two meetings this morning about becoming an all out Pokemon website, occasionally including features about Loony Toons characters. No one can say that Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny are normal, can they? And, folks, in a lot of ways all cartoon and film characters have their own disabilities, don't they? Ouch Toon launches Monday. It doesn't though.
Enjoy all those crippled aliens if you go and see Star Wars this week, won't ya.
Comments
Wow, That's good for the disability world! Animators are starting to realise that we are part of society and should be treated respectfully. I couldn't understand why John Callahan , maker of QUADS came up with the strange character who was a head on a skateboard though! I reckon that they should come up with a cartoon version of all Ouch staff! Now that would be great, but include me too!!
Hang on, there's a great link to disability in Star Wars: Yoda shuffles around with a walking stick. Hurrah! A great example of a disabled person in a position of power, authority and respect; his disability completely irrelevant. A shining example to us all. oh, oh hang on - wasn't there that fight in episode II where he miraculously recovers and has that great fight scene with some evil jedi? I just hope he isn't claiming DLA or Incapacity Benefit. Maybe I should call the benefits fraud helpline?
No disability in Star Wars? Darth Vader is a limbless burns victim in the original trilogy, having first lost a hand in Episode 2 (with Luke suffering the same fate in the Empire Strikes Back). They then get to carry on as normal due to advanced technology.
Darth Vader a burns victim? I never knew that. Is all that heavy breathing a ventilator system then? And didn't Luke get his hand cut off by Vader's light sabre too at some point?
Hey Sparkhouse - I guess that comment was a joke, but have you seen the news today? Apparently, two Star Wars fans were hurt in a . Mind you, it's difficult to have much sympathy when you read that they filled their pretend light sabres WITH PETROL!!!
It's no joke. Watch the new film and you'll see Vader's fate. Sorry if it's a spoiler for anyone (stop reading now if you haven't watched Revenge Of The Sith), but here's a brief summary of what happens to Vader. In Episode 2: His right hand is cut off by Count Dooku, Episode 3: His other three limbs are cut off by Obi-Wan, and as he lands (next to a lava pool) his clothes catch fire - which spreads rapidly, burning his entire body. He nearly dies, and only survives by being put into his now famous suit, which now gives him four artifical limbs, and is acting as a life support system.