tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post3455424109238248520..comments2024-01-26T10:20:37.836+00:00Comments on Diary of a Goldfish: How to be a Disabled VillainThe Goldfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-83211575410107976042009-05-03T07:40:00.000+01:002009-05-03T07:40:00.000+01:00The list was very thought provoking (and more than...The list was very thought provoking (and more than a little amusing, obviously!). I thought I'd throw in one more character in tv who is disabled (and a good guy). The coroner on CSI (the original)!<br /><br />And he's played by an actor who actually is disabled. Who (from what I remember) basically told them to write in disability if they wanted him on the cast, and that he wasn't going to pretend to be cane free just for the script. Oh and also apparently (again this is a memory of some type of interview he gave) often reminds them about the actual mobility issues he would face if confronted with situations in the script that totally forget about mobility.TheDeviantEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11962230588950968738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-50454670305611045182009-04-17T02:07:00.000+01:002009-04-17T02:07:00.000+01:00Ha, I love this! It definetly made me laugh. A lot...Ha, I love this! It definetly made me laugh. A lot. <br /><br />But don't forget about the other side of disabled media archtypes, the angle. The whole "that 10 year old is in a wheelchair/dying of cancer/is blind due to rhumatic fever" and they've illuminated my life SO MUCH. ...Because disability and illness only exist to aid in self realization in the protagonist, after all. <br /><br />Now, if only there was a way to combine the to - a cancer ridden 10 year old who ALSO is bent on world domination. I'd go to that movie. :)Miss Waxie aka A Comic Life, Indeedhttp://acomiclifeindeed.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-79637111207439155372009-04-10T16:10:00.000+01:002009-04-10T16:10:00.000+01:00Gary - Thank you. Yes, time for change indeed. :-)...Gary - Thank you. Yes, time for change indeed. :-)<BR/><BR/>Gone Fishing - congratulations on another Oscar-worthy performance. Here's the <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ogGyNReCac&feature=related" REL="nofollow">Youtube link</A> for everyone else if the frames cut it of. Good luck with that course!<BR/><BR/>Stephen - yes indeed. Oh I didn't get Belleville Rendezvous, I tried but I found it all slightly horrifying.<BR/><BR/>Seahorse - I had forgotten about Lady D'Urberville. And two villainous ladies from <I>Great Expectations</I> I guess; Miss Haversham, who might be a wheelchair-user (I can't actually remember) but was certainly an invalid through her mental health. And of course Mrs Joe, who is a complete tyrant, has a stroke. <BR/><BR/>Cheryl - Yes, I'll post up about that over the weekend, but it will be May 1st as usual. :-)The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-67742001955432956972009-04-10T02:13:00.000+01:002009-04-10T02:13:00.000+01:00Hosting BADD again this year? Just started trying ...Hosting BADD again this year? Just started trying to come up w/an entryCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10665407473272299474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-19195969681641622092009-04-09T23:02:00.000+01:002009-04-09T23:02:00.000+01:00The World is not always an entirely dark place and...The World is not always an entirely dark place and sometimes email replies get over looked.<BR/><BR/> Good to hear from you. I too have one leg shorter than the other from a car accident. Very brave doing courses. Creative courses are not only about learning acting and presenting techniques but also about overcoming fears, increasing self awareness and understanding people. <BR/>The Presenters Course gives people permission to tell their story and be honest so that people learn from each other. Be great to have you in a group. They are only small.<BR/><BR/>Below is a testimonial from someone who went through huge challenges and is now a key note speaker. She has used her adversity as her strength.<BR/>Get back to me as soon as you can.<BR/>I did and now<BR/><BR/>seems I am <BR/>doing a presenters course how weird is thatGone Fishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601595396241016724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-86923055206475171532009-04-09T15:54:00.000+01:002009-04-09T15:54:00.000+01:00Mrs D'Urberville is an interesting one. Is she a v...Mrs D'Urberville is an interesting one. Is she a villain? She possesses many of the 'creepy' attributes that could make her a candidate. Shrouded in the 'darkness' of invalidity... Blind, yet 'all-seeing'. Impotent, yet omnipotent...cliche after cliche but she's certainly complex. Which in itself is a cliche.<BR/>Arch and bitter, yet sympathetic towards Tess. That sense of otherness, wrongness, the alien...she's got it all.seahorsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04006649663400552591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-87785946541264180652009-04-09T15:03:00.000+01:002009-04-09T15:03:00.000+01:00If I may also add, especially after reading about ...If I may also add, especially after reading about built up boots in Gone Fishing's Post and the Goldfish's very own reply - Belleville Rendez-vous. AKA The Triplets of Belleville. The lead character is female, of a certain age, has one leg shorter than the other and yet, to my mind, is also the ultimate action hero.<BR/><BR/>The evil characters of the film are short French men. I feel the pull of nationalistic prejudice, but I refuse to make any comments about that.Stephennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-772302990245318282009-04-09T00:06:00.000+01:002009-04-09T00:06:00.000+01:00I've been reading Charles Todd's Inspector Rutledg...I've been reading Charles Todd's Inspector Rutledge books (set just post WWI) and have been struck by how many non-stereotyped disabled characters there are: <A HREF="http://brokenclay.org/journal/wp_archives/2009/03/30/disability-in-fiction-charles-todd/" REL="nofollow">Disability in Fiction: Charles Todd</A>.Katjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14146656003138371520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-60689754204128105302009-04-07T23:00:00.000+01:002009-04-07T23:00:00.000+01:00Seems I fit the bill as the ultimate Mmmyahahoho h...Seems I fit the bill as the ultimate Mmmyahahoho ho ultimate apparent Supervillan.<BR/><BR/>Almost the architypical Anti Christ <BR/><BR/>Short Leg, Built up BOOTS, well above average intelligence and occupationally induced chemical sensitivities and wildly expert exagerated Brain Injuries.<BR/>How dare I "believe" myself injured and infirmed<BR/><BR/>Plus I am old toohless and bald<BR/>I am good! But should, in the Accident Compensations view be put down at any cost!<BR/><BR/> This comes at a time when I put my full "position" on the line (As I find cuts delays and Oh are you disabled I never noticed crap gets cut out) in a request to attend a Television Presenters Course, an outfit that despite raving enthusiasm about how good its courses are, and not just for such work but in daily life has not bothered to respond to my plea.<BR/><BR/> Nothing unusual in that I find putting my position on the line brings one of two responses, none at all or enthusiastic delight that I have applied and what an interesting character I must be.<BR/><BR/> In a moment of despondency at being once again ignored you inspire me to write a post about such.<BR/><BR/>Maybe later!<BR/> <BR/> watch the guy looking back at the punks, tis me<BR/> great fun <BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ogGyNReCac&feature=related<BR/><BR/> MY ultimate revenge for systematic identity <BR/><BR/> yahahahohoho how dare I<BR/>http://menshealthchallenge.org.nz/chris.html<BR/> <BR/>I find People either love me or hate me and those who hate me I simply consider not to exist in my world.Gone Fishinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601595396241016724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-12622266740577090512009-04-07T19:23:00.000+01:002009-04-07T19:23:00.000+01:00For what it's worth I researched this very topic i...For what it's worth I researched this very topic in university. Historically, the physically and mentally disabled have been presented in books, newspapers, comics, films and television in an almost totally negative manner.<BR/><BR/>Both heroes and villains with physical and mental difficulties have been intimately linked with aggression, murder, violence and other socially unacceptable traits.<BR/><BR/>One study asked the question: 'What do dangerous people have in common?' Answers ranged from: scarred, maimed, ugly, deformed and physically and mentally handicapped to monstrous.<BR/><BR/>I could go on...but I think you get where I'm coming from?<BR/><BR/>Time for change!Gary Millerhttp://www.coniccomputing.co.uk/the-dogs-blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-6174250740851623272009-04-07T16:11:00.000+01:002009-04-07T16:11:00.000+01:00Stephen - movie-makers are very reluctant to have ...Stephen - movie-makers are very reluctant to have any women who don't look exactly like every other woman in the movies. And despite what I said about black heroes and villains, black or Asian women remain a rare sight, let alone disabled women or women of a non-standard physical appearance (or a standard non-Hollywood one for that).<BR/><BR/>I don't think it's actually about sexual attractiveness, more that we don't count as characters in our own right. Most female roles in movies - especially action movies - are still almost entirely relative to the male characters. So an attractive woman (to woo, rescue, whatever) is a badge of male status, and badges tend to be very much alike.<BR/><BR/>Love the mobility device - a bumpy ride, but hey.<BR/><BR/>Mary - I had forgot about Landen in the Thursday Next books, which rock by the way. Books are better at this, although actually the only example I can think of was a pretty badly executed one <A HREF="http://blobolobolob.blogspot.com/2008/06/writing-bodies.html" REL="nofollow">I wrote about here</A><BR/><BR/>Narrator - there was at least that doctor in ER. Lesbian lady who used a cane? Probably some years ago now, can't remember the name of the character. And there is a wheelchair-using councilman in The Wire whose impairment is entirely incidental, which is nicely done - although the Wire breaks with an awful lot of convention . But yeah, you have to look pretty hard for them. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure UK television is that much better with disability, although in general it seems that a lot of American shows are cast entirely from the beautiful people, and it can be hard to tell one actor from another.<BR/><BR/>Jack - Xavier is the only proper one I can think of - the Daredevil, at least in that awful movie with Ben Affleck, <I>could</I> see, just in a weird kind of way. And that bugged me, to be honest. <BR/><BR/>Mind you, most superheros have <I>some</I> weakness or vulnerability. Arguably, Superman was allergic to Kryptonite... Oh and I guess the Rock out of the Fantastic Four is disfigured <I>and</I> he has a blind girlfriend.The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-61570067865979993222009-04-07T14:28:00.000+01:002009-04-07T14:28:00.000+01:00Love the 'Arthur' Dent reference. Took me a minute...Love the 'Arthur' Dent reference. Took me a minute to remember what the character's name actually was.<BR/><BR/>PS disabled characters don't have to be villains - what about Xavier from X-men? Or the superhero 'Daredevil' for that matter....<BR/><BR/>(Of course, it's easier for disabled people to be superheroes, as they are already 'special' and 'brave')JackPhttp://www.thepickards.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-67389996979862789332009-04-07T12:56:00.000+01:002009-04-07T12:56:00.000+01:00Watching "Main Stream Media" in the US I find it i...Watching "Main Stream Media" in the US I find it interesting - only Family Guy and South Park integrate disabled characters routinely in a "normal way." ("normal" being defined by those shows' own universes) But from among the other choices, I guess I'll always choose 'villain' over 'pathetic' and 'helpless.'<BR/><BR/>Besides, whatever it takes to take over the world.<BR/><BR/>- Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-88957043584276054602009-04-07T12:13:00.000+01:002009-04-07T12:13:00.000+01:00Happily the balance is slowly being redressed in b...Happily the balance is slowly being redressed in books. Some books, anyway.<BR/><BR/>Top example is the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. The title character, Thursday, has a boyfriend, Landen, very definitely "one of the good guys", who has a prosthetic leg. It's not a big thing or a plot device. His leg is not used for drug smuggling or to hit people over the head with in a comedy fashion. It's just... there. Him putting his leg on is mentioned in the same way as it might mention her fixing her ponytail.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-78562381461813126762009-04-07T11:45:00.000+01:002009-04-07T11:45:00.000+01:00I have a wonderful book called The Eye of the Beho...I have a wonderful book called The Eye of the Beholder which goes to show just how long the disabled have held their place in the centre of any evilness. 300 is a good example - not only are the physically weird evil, they're also sexually perverse. The two often go hand in hand.<BR/><BR/>Female villains...you thought your film references are bad? Well how about Dr Blight from the animation from the early 90's 'Captain Planet'. Her burnt face and dodgy colour sense set her out as evil from the start.<BR/><BR/>Interestingly, though, as most female characters have to be sexually appealing to the majority of viewers, their problems tend to be either hidden or not severe enough to render them undesirable. Dr Blight may have had half her face damaged, but her hairstyle hid it.<BR/><BR/>Even my beloved Twin Peaks has a tendencey to paint disabled women in the same light. And in that series, even going grey is enough to pick you out as a homicidal maniac. Which is another reason why I suit villainy.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't be surprised if the traditional narrative pattern is the very reason that certain parts of the world remain access unfriendly. It's the same with darleks. They figure that if they put in enough poorly designed spaces complete with staircases, we won't be able to take over the world.<BR/><BR/>What they don't realise is that it's only a matter of time before someone puts a seat on top of one of these things - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww<BR/><BR/>ha ha<BR/><BR/>mwahaha<BR/><BR/>MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA<BR/><BR/>etcStephennoreply@blogger.com